Students being turned away

Secondary schools in Palmerston North are already turning students away for next year as rolls reach record levels.

Palmerston North Boys' High School is bracing itself for an increase of about 50 students next year, tipping the roll to a record 1700.

The roll is now closed at 1770 but once exam results were released, some students would decide not to return, rector Tim O'Connor said.

Freyberg High School's roll is also closed at 1450, but principal Peter Brooks expects that number to increase due to late enrolments from within the zone.

Two extra teachers will bump the number of fulltime teachers to 104 next year, Mr Brooks said.

They were also negotiating with the Ministry of Education for new classrooms.

The year nine intake was steady about 300 but more senior students were returning, reflecting the changing nature of society, Mr Brooks said.

He had not signed any early exemptions for students aged under 16 to leave school this year.

Boys' High's year nine intake peaked at 415 and a waiting list for prospective students living in the zone sits at 10.

"Anyone coming in at any other year level is just a `no'," Mr O'Connor said.

Students living outside the zone are being declined at a rapid rate, he said.

One-third of next year's roll would be made up of students out of the zone but accepting them meant the ministry would not fund more classrooms, Mr O'Connor said. He had noticed boys, rather than the parents, were choosing the school.

"Previously it had been parents directing their sons here for perceived discipline and structure," he said.

Awatapu College should have a similar roll to this year's 750, principal Tina Sims said.

"We don't have an enrolment scheme in place, there are still some places available."

St Peter's College expected a slight increase in student numbers next year to 585, principal David Olivier said.

NCEA had encouraged seniors to stay in school longer because of the flexibility of studying different levels, he said.

Palmerston North Girls' High School was forecasting the same roll size as this year's 1200, principal Melba Scott said.

"We are operating a waiting list, with some year levels being more heavily oversubscribed than others."

Queen Elizabeth College couldn't be reached for comment before going to press.

- © Fairfax NZ News