Proposed zoning for Taupo¯-nui-a-Tia

Taupo-nui-a-Tia College is adopting a new enrolment scheme to help it meet new zoning rules, to be applied next year.

Taupo-nui-a-Tia Principal Peter Moyle said the projected number of students was too high, and was due to the increase in primary and intermediate students coming through.

He said it the numbers were now catching up with them in secondary school, so the Ministry of Education has instructed them to zone the school yet again, to manage the numbers.

The school was previously zoned in 2007, for several years.

At present about 1150 students are attending the High School. This was estimated to rise to 1200 at the start of next year.

‘‘We are coping with that number, but in all honesty would not like the school to get that much bigger,’’ Moyle said.

They would also be working closely alongside Tauhara College to manage secondary schooling in Taupo¯ .

The zoning area was still in the proposed stage, but the zoning outline was the same as the previous zoning period, from 2007-2010.

‘‘Despite there being a proposed zone in place, we encourage all students wishing to attend Taupo¯ -nui-a-Tia College to fill in an enrolment form.’’

A consultation period is required by the Ministry of Education and closes on September 29 this year.

Moyle said the number of students coming through had caught the Ministry by surprise.

Should the proposed zone be approved by the Ministry of Education a ballot will take place for those students who are not in the Taupo¯ -nui-a-Tia zone.

To be considered for the ballot, enrolment forms need to be at the school office by 3.30pm Friday November 3, 2017.

The ballot to cater for those students who are not in the zone will take place Friday November 10, with the applicant being notified in writing within three school days after the ballot has taken place.

Any student within the Taupo¯ nui-a-Tia zone is still eligible to enrol at any other school.

However, students who are outside the proposed zone and are currently attending Taupo¯-nuia-Tai can continue to do so.

Moyle said he is ‘‘real reluctant to have a zone,’’ as it limits students choices and increases stress and anxiety for both parents and students.