H.S. ENROLMENTS CHANGE LIKELY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29798, 14 April 1962, Page 10

H.S. ENROLMENTS CHANGE LIKELY

A significant change in the agreement on enrolment procedures for Christchurch high schools is indicated by a statement issued yesterday by the principals concerned. It omits last year’s warning that, if applications are made (at the outset) for entry to more than one school, both applications will be held invalid. The statement says:— “The principals of the Christchurch State postprimary schools, with the concurrence of their boards of governors, have agreed that applications for enrolment in ,1963 will be received by Monday, July 2. 1-962. This is a month later than the date on which applications were received last year. Prospectuses and enrolment forms will be available during the first week in June

“As a guide to parents, the following statement on the enrolments in the Christchurch State post-primary schools for 1963 is supplied by the principals of all schools with the concurrence of chairmen of boards: “Parents of pupils seeking enrolment at State postprimary schools next year are recommended to study the courses offering at postprimary schools and to make application for enrolment at the school of their choice This application must be made on the school’s application form and must reach the school concerned by July 2 Accommodation For AU "Though it is likely that some will not be accommodated at the school applied for, parents can be , assured that there will be sufficient places for all in the Christchurch post-primary schools. "Some time will be needed after July 2 for co-ordina-tion of enrolments within the conditions set down by each board for the admission of pupils On the afternoon of July 23, notices will be sent to all parents who have applied, informing them whether their application has been, successful.

“If, for any reason, an application for enrolment at a school has not been accepted. parents will then have the opportunity of making an application to another school. A list of schools where there are still vacancies will be supplied This second application must be made by August 3 ” It is believed that moshigh schools will continue with the agreement that applications should, in the first instance, be made to only

one high school. But two single-sex schools are believed to hold the view that this means unwarranted restriction of the right of choice They may, therefore, ■ agree to consider applications from pupils who also apply elsewhere as a second choice. The final decisions of all boards on this point will not be known until prospectuses are published and these will need to be studied closely for any special conditions imposed. 93 P.C. Accepted Under last year’s system of single applications, about 93 per cent, of pupils were accepted at the schools of their first choice. This was better than any principal expected and it was thought the same system would continue. Different systems of enrolment might produce the same result, but some interested persons are fearful there may be grave disappointment for some pupils rejected. If such pupils make duai applications under conflicting rules, they could be rejected for other reasons by a school willing to entertain such applications, rejected as invalid by a school retaining last year’s system, and then find third or fourth-choice schools full when they apply on the second round Primary Reports

It is reported that in June more high schools will ask for recent primary school reports to accompany applications for entry next year. As primary pupils receive only one copy of such reports. probably they will be sent to the first-choice high schools. If the report is not attached, another high school may set that application aside.

Most high schools opposing multiple applications for entry consider these breed a system in which all schools are inclined to “take the cream” of the offering until all their available places are filled and then leave the rest to try their luck elsewhere “Creaming” has in fact become an accepted term tn the vocabulary of educationists.