ANGLICAN SCHOOLS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 15

ANGLICAN SCHOOLS

Reports To Synod Reports from the four private day schools under the care of the Diocese of Christchurch were presented at the annual Synod of the Diocese yesterday. Presenting the report of the Victory Memorial School, the school chairman, Mr C. L Dobbs, said that in the last year there had been a marked improvement in all matters relating to the school. “And it can be fairly claimed that we have surmounted our earlier difficulties and the future seems reasonably assured,” he said. The present school roll now stood at 78, which was gratifying, Mr Dobbs said. The school kindergarten section was also proving worth while as a “feeder” to the main school roll.

Reporting on the St. Michael and All Angels’ Church Primary Day School, the vicar, the Rev. C. Gault, said that the present roll remained almost stationary at 200 pupils, 103 boys and 97 girls.

The annual report of the St. Francis Church Primary Day School presented by the church vicar (the Rev. W M. Davies) said that the school’s roll was 39 pupils, slightly lower than the figure for 1960. The report of the St. Mark’s Church Primary Day School, presented by the vicar (the Rev. R. O Williams), gave reasons for the school’s gradual decline in numbers in the last few years.

Until the roll returned to its economic optimum. Mr Williams said, the board did not feel that stability would be achieved in the school. Educationally and economically the school was geared for a roll of 130 pupils. The present roll was only 102. Reasons for the decline included uncertainty in the school because of the fluid state of the fee scale, lack of a kindergarten as a “feeder” to the school and the opening of a model school at St Martins.