The Department of Education has written to the Coburg High School group to say that there will be consultation with stakeholders to come up with some options for high school students in Melbourne’s north by 2016.

The next step will be establishing a community working party.

Coburg High School group spokeswoman Cate Hall said campaigners would push for school councils to be involved in the early consultation and that, ideally, the school would be developed sooner rather than later.

‘‘There’s a need now,’’ she said.

‘‘But the need is going to be even greater in the future.’’

Campaigners and parents had feared that progress would stall after the change of government. A high school taskforce promised by the Labor government had been due to meet for the first time early in February, but until last week local parents did not know what was happening.

Ms Hall said there were plenty of primary schools in the area, but fewer options for older students – particularly boys.

‘‘I think they are compelled to do it, it is just a matter of when,’’ she said.

Ms Hall said a new school would alleviate pressure on Brunswick high schools and provide an option for parents in Preston and Reservoir.

Wills MHR Kelvin Thomson said the school was needed more than ever following the closure of St Joseph’s in Pascoe Vale.