In 1997 (term 4), the school opened as a primary school in Centenary Park called "Edmonton State School", after a nearby town.[1] In 1998, it was renamed "Bentley Park College" with commencement in operation as a P–7 school, a corresponding name change which was subsequently reflected in the suburb of "Centenary Park", which was renamed "Bentley Park".[1]
In 2011, the school's original motto, "Achieving Tomorrow's Visions Today" was replaced with its current motto of "Aspire Learn Achieve".[1]
Infrastructure
Medical Precinct
In 2022, Bentley Park College launched a $1.4m medical precinct, allowing High school students throughout Cairns to fast track their career in health care.[6]
Sports
On 25 February 2019, Bentley Park College launched a $1.65 million sport hall upgrade, funded under the Queensland Government's $200 million Advancing Schools initiative, an external covered multi-purpose court, new louvre systems, covered entrances, and a new kinesiology laboratory, with space for a full class of students, laptops and a fully equipped gym.[7]
Students
Bentley Original
A "Bentley Original" is a term coined for a student who attended Bentley Park College from Preschool, Prep Year or Year 1 until their Year 12 Graduation. The terms was coined by a group of Year 11 Bentley Park College students in 2010 ("2012 Bentley Originals"), a year after the graduation of the initial students who met the "Bentley Originals" requirement, i.e. those beginning Preschool in 1998, or Year 1 in 1999, and graduating in 2009.[8]
Years
The school first opened its doors to preschool age students in 1997.[1] In 1998, it commenced operation as a P-7 school.[1]
On 17 September 2001, Middle School specialist and general learning classrooms, Middle and Senior School Library, College Administration building and Middle and Senior School Canteen were officially opened. In 2001, The school began accepting middle school students (grades 6–9).[citation needed] In 2002, senior school students (grades 10–12).[citation needed] In 2003–2004, senior school students moved into their own building apart from the middle school students.[citation needed] The first cohort of Year 12s graduated in 2004.[1]
In 2011, the middle school was removed paving the way for Year 7 to transition into high school ahead of other schools in the area, with the former 'Junior School' (Years P-5), 'Middle School' (Years 6-9) and 'Senior School' (Years 10-12) being merged into two sectors: P-6 and 7-12[1]
In 2015, Anna Bligh's state-wide "Flying Start" program was officially implemented to align Queensland with the other states by transferring Year 7 into the high school system,[9] As a result, Bentley Park College moved its Year 7 into the high school domain in 2015.[1][10]: 2
This produced the school in its current form, teaching the initial Prep Year to final Year 12 (P–12).[3]
Student enrolments
In 2023, Bentley Park College was reported to have a maximum student enrolment capacity of 2,270 students.[11] The 2023, limit on students entering the Prep in any given year was 150 students in 6 classrooms, which was only to be exceeded if there were more than 150 students enrolling from within the catchment area.[11]
In 2005, there were approximately 1800 students enrolled in the school, 400 of which were senior school students.[citation needed] The trend in school enrolments (August figures) has been:-
^ abcd"Bentley Park College". Bentley Park College (www.bentleyparkcollege.eq.edu.au). Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
