Enrolment Schemes Alexandra Primary and The Terrace

Overview

The Ministry of Education is currently working with the Board of Alexandra Primary School to establish a new enrolment scheme.  We are also working with The Terrace School Board to amend this school’s existing enrolment scheme.

Enrolment schemes are needed in the Alexandra area 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 other state schools.  (Note - students already enrolled at a school before a home zone is implemented or changed are entitled to stay at their current school).

We know that establishing new enrolment schemes and changing existing home zones can be challenging for current families who have younger siblings that may be impacted when they start school.  Changes to the legislation last year (Education and Training Act 2020) now allow us to include grandparenting clauses.  This means that provided certain criteria are met, younger siblings may also be able to attend the same school as their older brother and sister who are currently enrolled.

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. We’re also interested in understanding the impact of grandparenting clauses – so even if you don’t have a comment about the boundary areas, we would encourage you to participate in consultation so we can gather as full a picture as possible about families that qualify for grandparenting clauses if these are included.

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 https://www.education.govt.nz/school/property-and-transport/transport/sta-eligibility/

Public information meeting

An independent facilitator will be holding a community meeting that people can come to discuss these proposed schemes and ask questions in person.

There will also be sessions that can be booked in 10-15 minute slots for one to one meetings so you have a dedicated time to discuss your particular circumstances, using the directions below.  We are also happy to discuss the changes with people at the community meeting. The facilitator and a school representative will be available to talk to about the proposed amendment to The Terrace School enrolment scheme and the new enrolment scheme for Alexandra Primary School.

Wednesday 23 June

Individual meetings

• 9am – 12pm at Alexandra Primary School
• 1pm – 3.30pm at The Terrace School

Community meeting

• 7pm - 9pm at Community House, 14 Centennial Avenue - Rooms A&B - no booking required for this community meeting

How to book a session

• at Alexandra Primary School: Go to  https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code?code=erz9v, select 'Make a Booking' and enter your child’s name or your name if you have more than one child or do not have a child at the school
   
• at  The Terrace School : call the office (03 448 8124)  to set up an appointment time or email  office@theterrace.school.nz

Information (please read these before taking part in the consultation)

Alexandra Primary School

• Factsheet
• Map
• Written description of proposed zone

The Terrace School

• Factsheet
• Map
• Written description of proposed amended zone
• Examples of how a grandparenting (transitional) clause would work

Frequently asked questions

Map of Alexandra showing the two proposed zones