Schools reaching capacity a concern

The Government has acknowledged it could be doing more to prevent overcrowding at schools as new data shows many South Canterbury schools are near, or over, full capacity.

A just-released Ministry of Education (MOE) report, compiled using 2016 data, shows 16 of South Canterbury’s 45 schools were near or over capacity.

Some of the region’s schools have been forced to run classrooms in libraries and staff rooms to cater for growing rolls. Capacity was defined as 100 per cent use of a school’s buildings. Overcrowded was any school operating above 85 per cent capacity.

Highfield School was the most over capacity in the region, at 116 per cent. That was followed by Timaru Girls’ High School at 101 per cent, and Timaru Christian School at 96 per cent.

The Minister of Education disputed the data’s accuracy, but admitted the Government could be doing more to prevent overcrowding.

South Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association president Jane Culhane said schools were made aware at the end of 2016 that there would be an increase in numbers.

She believed schools had planned for that as best they could.

‘‘But often you don’t know what’s coming into the area that’s new, that’s very difficult for schools.

‘‘It comes in swings and waves, and schools just have to do their absolute best to try and accommodate them really.’’

There were schools occasionally using libraries or staff rooms in lieu of classrooms, she said.

‘‘I guess it comes down to having reliable information to make predictions with, and the Ministry planning strategically around this is very important.

‘‘The Ministry needs to plan ahead and they need to listen and they need to be able to allow schools to be flexible in response to growing numbers.’’

The Education Network Annual Assessment report was produced to identify and address overcrowded schools and those near capacity. It outlines potential remedies, including new property, enrolment schemes, or monitoring roll numbers. The report was obtained by the Labour Party under the Official Information Act.

There were 13 South Canterbury schools, which did not have Timaru Girls’ High School Timaru Christian School Roncalli College Mackenzie College Pleasant Point Primary School Beaconsfield School Geraldine High School Gleniti School Timaru Boys’ High School Arowhenua Maori St Joseph's School Timaru Glenavy School an enrolment scheme in place, operating at or above 85 per cent.

Three schools which had an enrolment scheme in place were operating at or above 85 per cent. Timaru Girls’ High School principal Sarah Davis had not seen the report and said she was surprised to hear her school was over capacity.

‘‘Our junior classes are currently around 24 to 26 students per form class, many of our senior classes are smaller.’’

The school had experienced healthy enrolments in recent years, and had a building project underway which was a four classroom equivalent Modern Learning Environment, she said.

Further building projects were also planned for the near future.

Labour Education Spokesman Chris Hipkins said it was concerning there were a large number of schools around New Zealand operating at or near capacity.

‘‘It shows the Government aren’t planning ahead for the future.’’

Schools were constantly having to play catch up rather than being able to get ahead of demand, he said. ‘‘The demographic numbers have been widely available so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to them and the education system. They should have been able to plan for this growth.’’

Kaye could not be reached for comment but said in a press release that the report’s data was out of date and misleading.

‘‘So there’s a range of things that aren’t considered in that information including board owned property.’’

Kaye said schools did not want to have lots of vacant classrooms, and there was an optimum level in terms of utilisation.

However, she agreed the Government needed to plan better.

‘‘I do believe we have to continue to do better to plan ahead and make sure there aren’t situations where we have huge numbers of schools that have over 100 per cent utilisation.’’