The draw of a rural school
Dozens of children have missed out on attending a popular rural school that picks pupils by the luck of the draw.
Koputaroa School, in Horowhenua, is so inundated with parents wanting to enrol their children that it draws names at random to choose out-of-zone entrants.
Children in its zone have automatic entry and preference is given to siblings of current pupils, but for all other children, it’s a gamble.
For 2018’s intake, all 25 available spots went to siblings and inzone children, so the others have been ranked at random in case a spot becomes available.
Levin man Kieran Woodmass found a rejection letter in the mail in early November saying his 4-year-old son Liam did not get entry for 2018 because of other children taking priority.
Koputaroa School is about 10 kilometres from Levin in a small farming community and Woodmass likes its country feel.
It has a system where three teachers share three year groups. It has a vegetable garden, lamb and calf day, and a computer for each pupil.
Liam visited Koputaroa School this year, but Woodmass didn’t push the idea of attending in case his name wasn’t drawn first.
‘‘We didn’t get too much into it with him because of the disappointment.’’
In August, the Manawatu¯ Standard spoke to Woodmass, who said he would consider moving the family to his mother-in-law’s, in Koputaroa, if Liam didn’t get in.
But, Woodmass has decided a different school is a better option, so he and Liam will visit Levin East School to see if it’s a good fit.
‘‘We’ve got to be realistic. To do something like that just for school is a bit much.’’
There is still a glimmer of hope for Liam, who is fourth on the waiting list and could get in if other children didn’t accept the invitation.
‘‘I don’t know how high that chance is.’’
Katrina Henry, whose 1-yearold daughter Gemma was on the school waiting list and 4-year-old son Evan was in the ballot, recently moved from Levin to Koputaroa so her children will get automatic entry.
Evan is now excited at the prospect of attending the school.
Henry said it was a relief not to be in the ballot any more, as she had heard many out-of-zone children hadn’t made it in and she wanted to move to Koputaroa anyway.
‘‘It ticks all our boxes and solves all our problems.’’
Koputaroa principal Danielle Maclean said 25 pupils were leaving at the end of the year to go to high school, freeing up their sought-after spots.
But as quick as they became available, all the spaces were filled by siblings of current pupils, so 17 new-entrant children from the ballot were unable to enrol, Maclean said.
Their only hope is if any sibling of current pupils withdraw.
There were also 24 children on the waiting list for older year groups, but no ballot was held for them due to a lack of space, she said. ‘‘The ballot process is explained very clearly to parents on application. Whilst they may be disappointed, they understand it is literally the luck of the draw.’’
Names are picked in front of a police officer and all successful applicants had two weeks to accept the position, Maclean said.
‘‘All unsuccessful applicants also receive a letter which identifies their position on the ballot list. If one of the students that ‘got in’ declines the place, the first student on the balloted list is then offered a position.’’
Other schools around Levin, such as Poroutawhao and Fairfield, also held a ballot, she said.
Fairfield principal Regan Orr said it was likely 30 places would be available for new-entrant children in 2018. ‘‘The exact number will depend on the number of inquiries we receive from people who live within our zone.’’