Difficulties At West H.S. With Decreasing Rolls

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30230, 7 September 1963, Page 13

Difficulties At West H.S. With Decreasing Rolls

“I wonder what foe future of foe school, as far as enrolments go, is to be,” the pricipal of Christchurch West High School (Mr T. R. Richards) told a meeting of the school's board of governors, last evening. He was commenting on foe estimate that form 111 enrolments next year would be about 250, a decrease on this year’s figure of 268 and on foe 1962 figure of 319. The school no longer had a residential area from which to draw new pupils. Commerce had replaced many of foe homes. In addition there was a drop in form II numbers which would continue until about 1967. This in turn meant a further decrease in future form 111 rolls, he Mid. Christchurch West also takes a high percentage of second choice pupils, drawing its roll from all parts of Chrirtchurrh. Not only would the drop in form II classes affect its future numbers but also it would lose more when foe proposed new high school is built, he said.

“The tradition of West High draws a percentage of pupils, but so many ex-pupils are settling right out on the outskirts and there is competi-

tion from foe school in these districts,” said Mr Richards.

These factors made it difficult to estimate both foe roll for next year and foe number of teaching staff required. He had encountered the same difficulty a year ago. but it was intensified now. Fees Increased The board agreed to raise the school fees for both boys and girls to 12s 6d a term or £1 10s a year if paid by foe end of foe first term. Tliere would be reductions if several numbers of foe one family attended. For a long time the school had had the lowest fees in Christchurch, said Mr Richards. Last year there had been a loss on working fees which were not equal to • lose spent on activities. The budget had been balanced by profits on trading accounts of foe stationery and canteen funds. “I think that fees should pay for activities,” said Mr Richards. The school is also unique in that up till now the boys have paid more than the girls on foe theory, which is no longer correct, that more is spent on mala activities. rt