Enrolment Scheme

Home Zone

All students who live within the home zone described below and/or shown on the attached map shall be entitled to enrol at the school.

Starting at the intersection of Boundary Road and Te Irirangi Drive, travel southwest along Boundary Road (even addresses 24-104A only included) to Israel Avenue. Travel north along Israel Avenue (both sides included) to Ravenna Way. Travel north along Ravenna Way (both sides included) to Flat Bush Road. Travel west along Flat Bush Road (even addresses 50 and above only included and odd addresses 45 and above only included) to Rapson Road. Travel north along Rapson Road (even addresses 30-36 only included and odd addresses 29-37 only included) to Collett Road. Travel north along Collett Road (excluded) to Murray Road. Travel east along Murray Road (both sides included) to Dawson Road. Travel southeast along Dawson Road (odd addresses 11-165 only included and even addresses 18-136 only included) to Coombe Avenue. Travel north along Coombe Avenue (both sides included) and onto Rongomai Road. Travel southeast along Rongomai Road (odd addresses 15 and above only included) to Te Irirangi Drive. Travel south along Te Irirangi Drive (odd addresses 141-199 only included and even addresses 98-234A back to the starting point.

All residential addresses on included sides of boundary roads and all no exit roads off included sides of boundary roads are included in the zone unless otherwise stated.

Special Programmes

This priority category is not applicable at this school because the school does not run a Special programme approved by the Secretary.

Out of Zone Enrolments

Each year the board will determine the number of places which are likely to be available in the following year for the enrolment of students who live outside the home zone. The board will publish this information by notice in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school. The notice will indicate how applications are to be made and will specify a date by which all applications must be received.

Applications for enrolment will be processed in the following order of priority:

First Priority This priority is not applicable at this school because the school does not run a special programme approved by the Secretary for Education.

Second Priority will be given to applicants who are siblings of current students.

Third Priority will be given to applicants who are siblings of former students.

Fourth Priority will be given to any applicant who is a child of a former student of the school.

Fifth Priority will be given to any applicant who is either a child of an employee of the board of the school or a child of a member of the board of the school.

Sixth Priority will be given to all other applicants.

If there are more applicants in the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth priority groups than there are places available, selection within the priority group must be by ballot conducted in accordance with instructions issued by the Secretary under Section 11G(1) of the Education Act 1989. Parents will be informed of the date of any ballot by notice in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school.

Applicants seeking second or third priority status may be required to give proof of a sibling relationship.

Why then do some schools have enrolment schemes?

An enrolment scheme is a means of limiting the roll to prevent overcrowding at the school and enabling local students to enrol. The Ministry of Education is also able to make best use of the current accommodation at schools in the surrounding area.

What does the legislation have to say about enrolment schemes?

Schemes should:

• as far as possible exclude no more students than necessary to avoid overcrowding;

• enable the Ministry to make best use of the existing networks of State schools;

• ensure that the selection of applicants for enrolment at the school is carried out in a fair and

• transparent manner;

• enable students to attend a reasonably convenient school;

• as far as possible, not exclude local students.

What is this that I hear about zoning?

Each enrolment scheme must contain a home zone with clearly defined boundaries. Students who live within the home zone have an absolute right to enrol at the school.

What if I live outside the home zone?

A school with an enrolment scheme may have the capacity to take students from outside their home zone. In this case the school is required to advertise the availability of places and the application process including dates. ‘Out of zone’ students may then apply for enrolment, if there are more applicants than places available a ballot will be held.

Applications for enrolment will be balloted in the following order of priority:

(a) students accepted for enrolment in a special programme run by the school;

(b) brothers and sisters of current students

(c) brothers and sisters of former students

(d) children of a former students of the school

(e) children of board employees and board members children

(f) all other students.

What if I am unsuccessful in the ballot?

Your name will be drawn and you will be placed on a waiting list. The school will advise you of your place on the list.

How do you define living in the “home zone”?

If your usual place of residence is within the home zone you may apply for enrolment. When enrolling, the school may require proof of residence e.g. tenancy agreement, certificate of title or utility bills, etc. If the school finds that you have given false information, the school may refuse to enrol the student or annul the enrolment.

What can I do if a school tells me that it cannot enrol my child?

First of all, contact the school and ask whether the school has an enrolment scheme. If it does not, the school should not be declining any enrolments. Ask the school to put the refusal in writing stating the relevant details. You can then contact your nearest Ministry of Education office.

If the school does have an enrolment scheme, check to see whether you live in the home zone. You will be able to see a copy of the scheme at the school or visit www.schoolzones.co.nz

If you do not live in the school’s home zone, then there will be another school that is reasonably convenient to your home that your child could attend.

If there are exceptional circumstances why your child should be enrolled at a particular school you may be able to apply to the ministry for a directed enrolment. However, the ministry rarely directs an enrolment.

Are things any different at a State integrated school, a Kura Kaupapa Maori or a Designated Character School?

Schools of these types may have authority to operate enrolment schemes if there are likely to be more applicants for enrolment at the school than there are places available. Enrolment schemes at these schools do not have to include a home zone or provide for a ballot.

A State integrated school is a school with a special (religious) character, which has been integrated into the State system. Every integrated school has a maximum roll which it is not allowed to exceed. First of all an integrated school has to cater for students who meet the school’s special character requirements. If there is room left, the school is able to enrol a small number of students who do not meet the special character requirements.

A Kura Kaupapa Maori is a State school where teaching is in the Maori language and the school’s aims, purposes and objectives reflect the Te Aho Matua philosophy. Kura Kaupapa Maori are able to restrict enrolments to the children of parents who accept the kura’s aims, purposes and objectives.

A Designated Character School is a State school with a particular character, but different from integrated schools and kura kaupapa Maori. These schools are able to restrict enrolments to the children of parents who accept the school’s aims, purposes and objectives.

For further information regarding these schools contact the school directly.

Frequently Asked Querstions

Q. If I do not live in zone for the school I would like my child to go to, can I still somehow get in?

A. If the school has spare spaces available, they may decide to hold a ballot for out of zone students. In this instance you will need to get in contact with the school to see if they are holding a ballot.

NB. Secondary/Intermediate School ballots have already been and gone in most cases – check with school.

Q. If I live in zone, does a school have to accept my child?

A. Yes, if you genuinely live in zone and are able to provide evidence of this to the school.

Q. If I live in zone for a school, do I have to go to that school?

A. No

Q. If I live one street out of zone, can I still attend?

A. If it is not in zone, then no you do not have automatic right of enrolment.

Q. My grandchildren/nieces/nephews/whanau are coming to live with me; can they attend my local school?

A. If your local school does not have a zone, then they will be able to attend without any problems. If your local school does have a home zone and you live within that zone, you will need to provide evidence to the school that you have primary duty of care for that child and you both do indeed live in zone.

NB. Addresses of convenience are not acceptable. If your address is temporary or false, you may have your enrolment annulled.

Q. My child attends a school with a zone; I now have to move to a new address which is not in zone for that particular school. What should I do?

A. If you have started at the school, you will need to inform the school that you have to move, there should not be a problem if the school feels that the enrolment is genuine. If however, the school believes you have used a temporary address to gain access to the school, they may decide to annul the enrolment.

If you have not yet started at the school, you can not attend that school. You will need to enrol at your new local school

Q. How does a ballot work?

A. You will need to check with the school to see if they are holding a ballot, if so, you will need to put you child’s name forward. Out of zone students who apply for enrolment at the school must be accepted in the following order of priority:

(a) students accepted for enrolment in a special programme run by the school;

(b) brothers and sisters of current students

(c) brothers and sisters of former students

(d) children of a former students of the school

(e) children of board employees and board members children

(f) all other students.