New Intermediate School Opens Next Monday

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 15

New Intermediate School Opens Next Monday

The new Cobham Interne- i diate School, costing more

than £140,000, is ready to take a full roll of pupils, but next Monday only 220 first formers will attend. They will remain a comparatively isolated group until next year. The reason for the absence of Form 11, which is normally included in an intermediate school, is that some of the contributing schools 'notably Fendalton and Burnside) objected to their children going into this class at a new school and then having to make another move to secondary schools after only one year. These objections were raised from the time the Cobham school was first contem-

plated but the Education Department did not give in until last year when local members of Parliament were approached. Rooms Idle A good deal of the new intermediate school will therefore be idle this year. Another effect of the temporary arrangement is that Fendalton, Burnside, and Kendall Primary Schools will have no Form I so their rolls this year will jump from Standard IV to Form 11. The other contributing schools, Wairakei, and Aorangi, will not be so greatly affected because their upper forms already go to the Heaton Intermediate School. Under the new arrangement senior pupils from this area will go to the Heaton or Cobham, which ever is nearer their homes. The Cobham Intermediate School is ready to offer a full range of courses. (In earlier objections to the change-

■ over it was claimed that this i could not be done.)

Because of the change of plans the initial staff will be small—the headmaster (Mr C. L. Griffiths, formerly, head of the Ham Primary School), six general teachers, and two manual training teachers but the last two are qualified to teach both woodwork and metalwork, clothing and cookery and Form H pupils from Burnside will go to Cobham for this instruction. Next year the teaching staff will be doubled and. with a full roll, classes will be easier to organise. It is expected that the roll will rise to 600 in three or four years.

Extensive Buildings In the six blocks now ready for occupation, the new intermediate school has:— (DA magnificent assembly hall, to seat more than 500, foyer, administrative offices, library and four classrooms. (2) Four classrooms near the stream. (3) Another four nearby. (4) Science and art rooms. (5) Metalwork and woodwork shops. (6) Clothing and cookery rooms with a model flat attached. The six blocks are separated by garden courts but handy to each other. In most places the exterior finish is brick up to chest level with weatherboard above. Inside there is panelling to the same level with acoustic tiles on all upper walls and ceilings, painted in attractive colour*. The builders were Messrs Paynter and Hamilton, Ltd. The 12 acres at ground were levelled and sown some

years ago when an earlier start on the school was expected before objections gained strength. They are well established for 'field games. Two very large concrete drill squares are ready. ’’’Here are one or two fine trees on the property and more will be added. This site lends itself particularly well for landscaping because on its eastern boundary it has about 900 yards of the Wairarapa stream. To the west the grounds abut those of the Bumside Primary School so there is space in all directions.

Jellie Park Is opposite the Cobham Intermediate School’s front gate in Ham road. The interim committee is keen to see the Jellie park lido swimming pool built because the school may be able to use it and save building one of its own. Cobham parents are therefore likely to get behind the public pool project.

Uniform* The school's uniforms will be distinctive and, accidentally, present a patriotic pattern of red, white, and blue. Girls will wear in summer seerloop frocks with a junior navy and white check effect In winter they- wilt wear Stewart dress tartan pleated skirts, white blouses with red ties, and junior navy Haters or cardigans. Boys wtß wear grey aborts and shirts with grey pullovers or blue Hazen and an optional red tie. Their socks will have a blue band. Sports uniform* will also be arresting—scarlet jerseys and white- shorts for boys and scarlet rompers and white blouses for girl*.