Dargaville Primary School Enrolment Scheme Consultation

Closed 26 Apr 2023

Opened 29 Mar 2023

Contact

Taitokerau.enrolmentschemes@education.govt.nz

Results updated 1 Jun 2023

Results of consultation for the Dargaville Primary School enrolment scheme consultation.

  1. Section 72 of The Education and Training Act 2020  states that if overcrowding occurs or is likely to occur at a State school, the Secretary must establish an enrolment scheme for the school.
  2. Ministry of Education analysis shows that Dargaville Primary School is overcrowded, and implementation of a scheme is required.
  3. The process to develop an enrolment scheme is outlined in schedule 20, clause 4 of the Education and Training Act 2020.  When developing a scheme, we must initially consult the school’s Board and take reasonable steps to understand the views of a school’s community and then:
    1. the parents of students at the school
    2. the people living in the area for which the school is a reasonably convenient school
    3. the students and prospective students of the school (depending on their age and maturity)
    4. the boards of other schools that could be affected by the proposed enrolment scheme
    5. iwi/hapū.
  4. Feedback was analysed after consultation. There were 24 submissions. The points raised were:
    1. Comments about the boundary of the home zone – 4
    2. Comments about the surrounding infrastructure – 1
    3. Comments about parental choice – 17
    4. Supporting comments – 1
    5. Other – comment about a school in the Dargaville network - 1
  5. As a result of these submissions:
    1. The Ministry of Education has responded individually to the submitters who requested further contact.
    2. A drafting error in the proposed home zone has been amended to align with the transport entitlement zone of Dargaville Primary School as requested by the submitters
    3. The agreed approximate capacity of the school is 438 subject to the type and age of students

The finalised Enrolment Scheme including the Home Zone is attached below.

 

Files:

Overview

The Ministry of Education is currently working with the Board of Dargaville Primary School to establish a new enrolment scheme. 

Enrolment schemes are needed to help manage enrolments across schools.  This allows Boards to manage the risk of overcrowding, provides a fair and transparent process for enrolment and ensures we are making the best use of schooling facilities across the area.

Enrolment schemes do mean that choice is limited in this area – all families will have entitlement to attend a school that is reasonably convenient to them, but won’t have the same entitlement to enrol at Dargaville Primary School.  (Note - students already enrolled at a school before a home zone is implemented or changed are entitled to stay at their current school).

It’s important that we hear and understand community perspectives before we establish these new schemes – especially the practical implication and whether the new boundaries accurately reflect the area.  Please have a look at the maps and overview information available below before you participate in the consultation process. 

This consultation process is about enrolment schemes, which determines the entitlement to enrol.  It’s important to note that a student’s eligibility to enrol may be different to their eligibility for School Transport assistance.  Further information about eligibility to school transport can be found here.

The proposed enrolment scheme map, written description and factsheet for Dargaville Primary School can be found in files attached on the bottom of the page (please read these before taking part in the consultation).

The Ministry of Education is currently undertaking consultation about the new enrolment scheme. You can have your say by:

  • Completing the survey below
  • Emailing Taitokerau.enrolmentschemes@education.govt.nz if you have further questions or comments.

Ministry will consider all feedback and liaise with the Board before making a final decision. The new scheme and will come into effect for the beginning of term 3, 2023.

Submissions are official information

Submissions you make become official information. The content of submissions can be asked for under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Under the OIA, we must make information available unless there is good reason for withholding it.

Tell us if you have any objections to the release of any information used in your submission, particularly which part(s) you believe should be withheld, along with the reason. Reasons might include that it is commercially sensitive or it is personal information. We will take into consideration any objections when responding to OIA requests. However, any decision the Ministry of Education makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.