School applies for closure because of declining roll

Corstophine School has become the third Dunedin primary school in three months to apply for voluntary closure.

School board of trustees chairwoman Sheralyn Weepers said the school roll had gone from 110 pupils four years ago to 17 pupils this year.

"There's lots of reasons for the roll decline.

A lot of people in the area, whose kids went to school here, still live in the area.

So no new families are coming in.

"We're also fighting a stigma that the school educates kids from Mongrel Mob families."

While the Mongrel Mob's headquarters was a few blocks up the street from the school, Mrs Weepers said it was not true they educated the gang's children.

The school had contacted other schools in its vicinity and attempted to amalgamate, as Ocean View and Brighton Schools had done.

However, the bid was unsuccessful.

She said the situation had left her and staff at the school frustrated and disappointed.

"This has been a hard decision for me.

"My belief is that schools should not be taken out of service, because they are a centre for the community.

"But at the end of the day, kids deserve the best education, and when you've got so few kids, it limits their choices.

"It's hard to make a sports team with 17 kids of varying ages."

She said the school board hoped the Ministry of Education would approve the school's closure by the end of term two (July 2) this year.

Principal Marion Carter declined to comment on the situation last night.