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Allenton School is set to get two new classrooms as part of a $62.5 million government investment package to upgrade schools across the South Island.
The package, which will pay for new classrooms at seven schools in Canterbury, was announced by Minister of Education Erica Stanford last week.
Allenton School principal Andrew Leverton said the classroom space has been needed ‘‘for some time” with a supper room next to the school hall being used as a new entrant classroom for the past two years.
‘‘The old Cebus block of five classrooms was removed and replaced with a new seven classroom block a few years ago. These additional two classrooms have been full since then,’’ he said.
“While we knew we were in the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) thinking for roll growth classrooms, it all depended on the 2026 budget announcement and from there where Allenton sat in the list of priorities.’’
He is predicting an exciting time ahead for the Year 0-6 primary school which has a current roll of 430, and is expected to finish the year at around 450.
‘‘We have been working with the MOE property team, so that the planning was in-process, pending an announcement,” he said.
“This is a change to what has happened in the past where some schools had to go through overcrowding before roll growth classrooms were even discussed. This new method seems to be a lot fairer and inclusive for schools.’’
He said the next few weeks included identifying the preferred space for new classes to go but once this was signed off, it was possibly a six-month period to have the classrooms delivered.
Stanford said the investment South Island wide would deliver 59 additional classrooms and provide funding for upgrades at other schools.
Seven of the schools receiving new classrooms were in Canterbury.
“We are ensuring that students are learning in safe, warm, dry and fit-for-purpose classrooms as their communities grow,” she said.
Minister for the South Island James Meager said the investment was great news for South Island families and communities.
“This funding is about making sure South Island students have the classrooms and learning environments they need to thrive.
“We’re seeing strong growth in several South Island communities, and this investment helps ensure local schools can meet that demand and plan for the future.
“I know how important it is that growing communities aren’t left behind when it comes to essential infrastructure like schools.
“This is a practical investment in the future of the South Island. It supports students, backs growing towns, and helps deliver the facilities communities need.”
Stanford said the investment was to get ahead of demand, so schools were ready for the young families arriving in these communities.
“We are taking a practical, value for money approach to delivery,” Stanford said.
“We’ve significantly reduced the average cost of a classroom through increasing the use of standard or modular builds, which allows us to get spades in the ground faster, deliver classrooms at a lower cost and make every dollar go further.
Other Canterbury schools to get upgrades are: Lincoln South, Darfield School, Darfield High School, Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo, Amuri Area School and Rolleston College.