The Department of Education monitors population and development trends so that it can plan to meet enrolment needs in public schools across New South Wales. To do so the Department regularly consults with relevant departments and agencies such as the Department of Planning Industry and Environment, local councils and local developers.

The Department uses numerous strategies to manage fluctuating enrolment demands in the short to medium term including enforcing the Department's school enrolment policy to restrict out of area enrolments, reviewing school catchment boundaries to improve utilisation across schools in a local area, and providing additional demountable facilities, including classrooms and specialist spaces as required.

In cases of sustained and stable enrolment increases, the Department provides additional permanent facilities, or new schools, as necessary.