Room for all at Bay's primary schools

News that some primary schools in high growth areas are facing capacity rolls within the next couple of years and will need to build extra classrooms or restrict entry is unlikely to happen here.
Western Bay principals say the Bay's biggest growth is happening in Papamoa and the Ministry of Education has addressed it by giving the coastal suburb two new schools.
Ministry of Education figures show new entrant numbers are projected to rise from 57,815 this year to 65,070 in 2015, with parts of the Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Auckland and Canterbury particularly affected.
The spikes were the result of baby booms from five years ago and the ministry said popular primary schools could end up turning away existing pupils' little brothers and sisters.
President of the Western Bay of Plenty Principals' Association and principal of Bellevue School Dave Bell was surprised by the Ministry of Education's projected figures for the Bay.
"It's not true at all. If the spike is right, it's a blessing rather than a curse," he said.
Mr Bell said if any part of the Western Bay was likely to be affected it would be Papamoa, as that was the area growing the fastest.
However, the ministry had already addressed Papamoa's population spike by building Golden Sands School and Papamoa College. Both will open in February next year.
Tauranga schools have projected an increase in 5-year-olds in 2012, but Mr Bell did not believe the spike would be dramatic enough to turn away children.
Siblings had the "highest priority" when enrolling at the same school as their brother or sister and many schools had enrolment schemes and enrolments zones in place to manage demand.
Principal of Papamoa School Phil Friar said new entrant enrolments at his school had been averaging between 90 to 110 a year and in 2009 the Ministry of Education helped the school in getting an additional classroom to cope with the pressure.
That pressure, however, had "vanished completely" with Golden Sands School.
"In 2011 parents will have a choice to send their children to Papamoa School or Golden Sands School," he said.
Principal of Tahatai Coast School, Ian Leckie, said he did not anticipate any impact in projected growth at Tahatai.
"We would cope very well with anyone in-zone."
Principal of Te Akau Ki Papamoa School Bruce Jepsen said if anything, they had placements to be filled.
The Ministry is decapitating Te Akau Ki's Year 7-8 roll next year.
Year 1 children make up the biggest cohort at Te Akau Ki and losing students created room for more.
Deputy principal of Golden Sands School, Miriam Collins, said enrolments had only opened for Golden Sands at the beginning of this month, but already they expected the bulk of their enrolments to be for 5-year-olds.
"The staff we have employed know they have to be really versatile. We know there is a need out there and the ministry has come to that realisation too."