More classrooms needed at schools
One Kapiti school is considering changing its staffroom into teaching space as the district’s schools and the Ministry of Education struggle to deal with a student population explosion.
Schools in Paraparaumu and Waikanae, north of Wellington, have been building new classrooms to deal with what one principal says is unprecedented growth.
However, a Ministry representative said an independent report concluded only the non school-age part of the Kapiti population was growing, but they had retained land in Waikanae in case that changed.
Paraparaumu School principal Steven Caldwell said his roll had grown from 153, when he took over in May 2014, to 226.
‘‘I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen growth so quick,’’ he said. ’’At the moment we’re jam-packed.’’
The roll was forecast to continue rising, and Caldwell said with another ‘‘10 or 15’’ enrolments, they would have to have a class in the staffroom.
It already has a class in its hall and one in a breakout space, a common area usually shared by two classrooms.
The school lost four classrooms and a library to arson in 2014, and has been using five temporary classrooms.
Caldwell said the school would like to keep them permanently if the Ministry allowed, even after six replacement classrooms are completed in time for next year.
The Ministry had also mentioned zoning as a possible option, but the school was not considering it yet because of the importance of parental choice.
Waikanae School principal Bevan Campbell said his roll, at 492, would top 500 later this year for the first time since 2011.
The school opened two new classrooms earlier this month which were now full, but Campbell said they were using makeshift classrooms before that.
The school would need another room by the middle of next year, but he was unsure if they would get it.
‘‘The Ministry of Education tend to be reactive not proactive in that regard.’’
Campbell said several reasons were behind the growth of about 75 new students in the past three years.
‘‘The economy’s picked up. The road’s [Kapiti Expressway] bring- ing people in. The property market’s picked up.’’
Campbell said the school would ideally have no more than 560 students, a figure it is expected to reach in 2018.
The roll for Waikanae’s second school, Kapanui School, is at an all-time-high of 612.
‘‘We have had sufficient buildings to cater to students, but we’ve come to the end of that now. We’re really full. If we continue to grow, we might struggle,’’ principal Des Hedley said.
The school had been turning away most out-of-zone students in the past few years, Hedley said.
Ministry head of sector enablement and support Kim Shannon said $850,000 was spent on extra teaching space and upgrading facilities at Kapiti Primary School, Te Horo School and Kenakena School in the past three years.
The ministry also met with the board of trustee chairs and principals of Te Horo, Waikanae and Kapanui schools last year and agreed to monitor their growth, she said.
‘‘If their roll growth was anything beyond what was discussed, we’d expect the schools will let us know. School rolls fluctuate. Some schools can experience pressure temporarily, but then the situation can improve.’’
She said the ministry worked with schools and analysed data from several sources to help them plan ahead.
By about next July, $5 billion would have been invested in upgrading and expanding school property nationwide since 2008.