Taipa Area 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 Taipa Area 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 Taipa Area 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, the Ministry of Education 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 3 submissions. The points raised were:
    1. Concerns regarding school transport in the area – young students having to change buses to attend their local school (it appears one bus collects students for several schools, takes them to a certain point and then they change to another bus and go on to their school)
    2. Supportive of the implementation of the scheme so that the board can manage their numbers.
    3. Concerns about pedestrian walkways in and around Taipa and the need for busses to be more available as few students walk to Taipa Area School.
    4. Concerns that an Enrolment scheme will affect the busses provided by Taipa Area School that provide transport to other students. This may impede access to a school and result in lower levels of attendance.
  5. There were no issues raised that required a change to the proposed enrolment scheme. Concerns raised about transport will be referred to the Ministry of Education Regional Transport Advisor, however no action was requested by the submitters.

Files:

Overview

The Ministry of Education is currently working with the Board of Taipa Area 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 Taipa Area 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 Taipa Area 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.