Delight as King's avoids roll cuts

Dan Reddiex
Dan Reddiex
For the first time since the Ministry of Education imposed an enrolment scheme at King's High School, the school has revealed its delight in avoiding major cuts to its roll.

The school has remained silent since meeting the ministry on August 21, when it agreed to introduce an enrolment scheme, and cap its roll at 1035 pupils.

In the latest King's Week newsletter, rector Dan Reddiex said it was a ''positive outcome'', because the ministry's initial intent was to reduce the school's roll numbers.

He told parents there would be no enrolment scheme for 2016, which meant all pupils wishing to go to King's next year, would be able to do so.

''This was important as there was not sufficient time to construct or communicate clearly what an enrolment scheme might entail.''

He said the enrolment scheme would begin in 2017, and the school's target would be to maintain its roll at 1035 pupils.

''We are confident that very few, if any, students will be prevented from attending King's at this number.''

Mr Reddiex said the school had already started enrolment interviews with prospective year 9 pupils for 2016.

Initially, the ministry told King's to establish an enrolment scheme by August 7, and when the school vowed to fight any intervention, the ministry threatened to appoint a limited statutory manager to establish the enrolment scheme for the school.

But as the ministry's deadline approached, both parties entered talks to resolve the situation.

Mr Reddiex thanked the community for its support of the school's interaction with the ministry.

''The letters from parents, students and supporters of the school were hugely influential in signalling the discontent of the community at large to this scheme.''

The enrolment scheme will not take effect officially until 2017, but if the school roll goes over 1035, as defined by the March 2016 roll return, the enrolment scheme will be brought forward to apply from May 1, 2016.

The school's roll sits at 1021 domestic pupils at present.

Ministry enablement and support head Katrina Casey said it would ensure the network of schools across Dunedin was used well in the interests of all pupils, because there were plenty of spare spaces at other schools that educate boys.

-john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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