NEW ROLL LIMITS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 11

NEW ROLL LIMITS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

“Although the disadvantages of very large schools are still fully recognised by the Education Department." it has decided that in special circumstances the roll limits of certain primary schools should be raised. In 1953 it was decided that for full primary schools the optimum roll should be 401 to 440 pupils <ll classes) and the maximum 481 to 520 <l3 classes); for contributing schools, optimum 361 to 400

<lO classes) and maximum 441 to 180 <l2 classes); and for intermediate schools, optimum 471 to 510 <l3 classes) and maximum 551 to 590 <l5 classes). The number of applications being made for new school? to relieve large-existing schools in fast-growing housing areas has caused the limits to b& reviewed, says the Director of Education

iMr A. E. CampbelJ) in a circular letter to the Canterbury Education Board. “The establishment of these new schools makes demand on valuable urban land and in some cases results in schools being located very close to one another —sometimes as little as half a mile apart. Problems arise such as fixing new school boundaries acceptable to parents." the director says.

Although the 1953 figures are still regarded as general policy. Mr Campbell says it has been agreed that full primary schools in built-up urban areas may be increased to 600 pupils (15 classes), and contributing schools in built-up areas to a maximum of 481 to 520 pupils <l3 classes). No change was proposed for intermediate schools because of difficulties which would arise in organising manual training in schools with 16 or more classes “It will be understood that the sizes ouoted refer to the number of pupils who can be housed in nermanent accommodation.” says Titr Campbell.

Education Boards would naturally ask for a definition of “special circumstances.” Each case must be considered as a separate problem. "Broadly speaking, however, special circumstances would exist when a roll in ex-

cess of the maximum would have to be accommodated for several years, when the distance the smaller children would have to travel to school would not be excessive, and when the school site would be large enough to cope with the increased numbers permanently.” says Mr Campbell “As boards will know, a special problem is creaated by the fact that in new housing areas abnormally-high school rolls are reached in the first few years, after which rolls decline to stabilise at a figure often well below the peak. Thus special care must be taken to ensure that permanent accommodation is not left vacant when peak rolls have passed.

“With’ the above points In mind, boards are asked to consider <when they are drawing up their building programme) whether any existing schools in ranidlyexpanding urban areas could reasonably be provided with additional permanent accommodation up to the revised limits set out above and whether by doing so the need to provide new schools could be avoided.” Mr Campbell says.