When then-Opposition leader Mark McGowan announced in January that Labor planned to move Perth Modern School from its leafy Subiaco location to a high-rise in the city, there was an immediate outcry, with parents, students and famous alumni queuing up to condemn it.

Last week a group of parents and students marched from the school to Parliament House to present the Government with a 6,000-signature petition opposing the move.

Labor has been repeating the same line. It has a mandate and will forge ahead despite the opposition.

But today Education Minister Sue Ellery seemed less convincing, repeatedly refusing to guarantee its plans to overhaul Perth Modern School still stood.

Why has the announcement proved so controversial, and why is it being planned at all?

Here's an explanation as to what's going on.

What exactly is the plan?

To move the state's only fully academically-selective high school, Perth Modern, from Subiaco to a high-rise building above the Perth City Link development in Northbridge.

The Government pledged $45 million for the new school, likely to be renamed Perth Academic College, which would included a purpose-built fit out of the high-rise school.

By 2020, the existing Perth Modern school would then become an open access public secondary school, to ease pressure on already-crowded western suburbs high schools.

Western suburbs school closures: Scarborough SHS (1999)

Scarborough SHS (1999) Swanbourne SHS (2000)

Swanbourne SHS (2000) Hollywood SHS (2000)

Hollywood SHS (2000) City Beach SHS (2005) Enrolments 2013 v 2017: Shenton College up from 1,306 to 1,970

Shenton College up from 1,306 to 1,970 Churchlands SHS up from 1,481 to 2,581

Why is it controversial?

It's a shift towards students learning in a high-rise city building instead of traditional school grounds with lots of open space.

It would not be the first high-rise school in WA, but it would be the first state school located in a high-rise.

Why is it needed?

The pressure on western suburbs public schools has long been recognised as a problem, after a number of secondary schools in the area were closed in quick succession.

Scarborough Senior High School closed its doors in 1999 under the Court government, while the amalgamation of Hollywood and Swanbourne high schools into Shenton College followed a year later.

And City Beach High School was closed by the Gallop government in 2005, when it had just 87 students.

But a change in demographics, with more families choosing to live in the inner-city, and an economic downturn in a post-mining boom environment has meant the remaining schools servicing the western suburbs are bursting at the seams.

The Perth Modern move means the former Barnett government's $84 million plan to open a new western suburbs high school on the site of the former City Beach High School by 2020 has been scrapped.



What don't people like about Labor's plan?

Perth Modern is WA's only fully academically selective school. ( Wikimedia Commons: Kollision )

The proposal sparked fierce opposition from the school community, prompting the creation of a Save Perth Modern School website and Facebook page.

The group argues the "physical and mental health" of students will be impacted by the high-rise environment, and are worried that students will be exposed to crime and drugs in the inner-city.

They say the school community was not consulted about the plan.

What happens next?

Labor plans to have the first intake into the school by 2020 and be fully operational by 2025.

Ms Ellery said today the plan would proceed, but when pressed by journalists about details and if she would consider a "rethink" because of the community opposition, the Minister would not be drawn.

"The fairest way to categorise our position is that I'll have more to say in the not too distant future," Ms Ellery said.