School Enrolment Zoning Sought

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31339, 8 April 1967, Page 14

School Enrolment Zoning Sought

“Something will have to be done in Christchurch to get some order in the system of enrolments,” the headmaster of Hagley High School (Mr T. R. Richards) told a meeting of the school’s board of governors last night.

“Something in the way of zoning, perhaps not so absolute, but nevertheless something in that line will have to be instigated if some schools are not going to lose out in enrolments. "This could be incorporated with some scheme of maximum roles,” said Mr Richards

The present system in Christchurch was unique to the city. Auckland had a zoning system and other centres had allied systems of enrolling for secondary schools. “Christchurch must have a more orderly system. There will have to be some planning in the allocation of pupils,” Mr Richards said. To function properly, a large secondary school should have a sixth form of between 9 and 10 per cent of the total roll, according to expert overseas thinking, said Mr Richards. Hagley High School had a sixth form of only 7 per cent of the total roll. Notice of approval for a grant towards the cost of a gymnasium at the school was received by the board from the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella). The department will subsidise, £2 for.£l. whatever finance for the project the school can raise. The department will pay for ail the changing-room facilities.

There was no order or planning in the system of enrolling in Christchurch secondary schools. Hagley High School could lose many possible pupils because of its geographical position. “If other new schools in the area continue to grow at the present rate, Hagley High School will have no recruiting area,” he said.

Officers elected were.— Chairman, Mr H. R. Peers; deputy chairman, Professor F. M. H. Henderson: appointments committee, Mr W. W. Brough, Mr R. G. Thompson; works committee, Mrs P. L Campbell, Professor F. M. H. Henderson, and Messrs L. V. M. Long and W. D. Johnston; representative to the Christchurch Secondary Schools* Council, Mr Peers.