Choice lost – Parents’ fears win

The Ministry of Education has stepped in to quell the school enrolment zone battle for the streets of Greenlane and Remuera.

One Tree Hill College was advised by the ministry to put an enrolment scheme in place due to rapid roll growth thanks to a turn around in achievement results.

But the proposed home zone of the decile 3 college overlapped with Epsom Girls’ Grammar School and Auckland Grammar School.

Selwyn College in Kohimarama is also consulting the community about a proposed zone which overlaps with the same two schools.

On Wednesday the Ministry moved to amend the proposed school enrolment areas so the boundaries no longer overlap with the enrolment zones of Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls’.

‘‘The original proposal included an overlap so that parents would have a choice of either a single sex or co-educational school. However there has been considerable feedback from those families that they do not want that option,’’ head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey says.

‘‘The strength of the feedback is such that rather than wait for the end of the consultation period, we are amending the proposed zone now in the interests of the schools and their communities.’’

Epsom Girls’ and Grammar principals met with ministry officials on July 17 after the outcry from residents who own houses in the overlapping areas.

Parents were concerned that being part of the college zone might mean their streets were eventually axed from the Epsom and Grammar zones by the ministry.

The ministry refuted that, saying it would be up to the board of either Epsom Girls’ or Grammar.

Parent Jo Thomson says families buy into the area so their children can attend EGGS and Grammar and want certainty around that choice.

The submission period for One Tree Hill College has been extended to 5pm on August 4. The ministry says feedback will continue to be received until August 4 on all other aspects of the proposed enrolment schemes.