Ruthven Primary School Profile

Ruthven Primary School is situated in the northern suburb of Reservoir and was opened in 1968 with 314 pupils. Reservoir was then a rapidly growing outer area of Melbourne and enrolments grew annually until a peak of 688 students was reached in 1977. By the 1990s additional schools had opened and the area had become older and more established and enrolments declined to 154 in 1993. In 1994 Ruthven merged with Lakeside P.S. on this site.

The school site is 3.5 hectares and contains two brick veneer buildings housing 14 teaching areas, specialist art, music and library facilities, a carpeted multi purpose room equipped with a kitchen, reprography room, a school canteen and a first aid room. All teaching areas are equipped with efficient heating and cooling systems. In 1996 Ruthven entered into a Development and Joint Use Agreements with the Darebin Municipal Council to develop the school grounds. Under this Agreement joint funding of $240,000 was provided for the extensive landscaping and development of the grounds. The project was completed in March 1997. As a result of these developments Ruthven won a State Garden Award in the same year. Since then the grounds have been used by the local community for recreational purposes and local by local sporting clubs.

In 1999 funding of $10,000 was received through Skillsnet to assist in the establishment of a Community Technology Centre. This Centre is now operational providing Internet and computer training for various community groups.