CARLY UDY
THE closure of Tauranga's only private school bucks a national trend that shows a 12 per cent hike in private school enrolments.
That's according to David Tait, principal of the Western Bay's only remaining private school, Matahui Road School, in Katikati.
Mr Tait, whose school celebrates its 20th anniversary next term, said he was disappointed and saddened to learn Wickham Private School had closed at the end of last term.
Matahui has attracted some of Wickham's former pupils and their roll is now in the low 80s, with room for 100 students. Mr Tait would not say how many Wickham students he has enrolled.
Wickham Private School did not open for the first week of term this week due to a lack of students and money. But the closure was not consistent with how independent schools were faring, Mr Tait said.
"Independent schools are growing 12 per cent nationwide.
"People are more involved in education now and are prepared to look around and search for what they want. Independent schools offer something a bit different and are more able to cater for individual needs."
Finances were always a "balancing act" for private schools, especially when teachers were not being paid by the Education Ministry.
There was a balance of getting high calibre teachers and keeping fees low, Mr Tait said.
Ian Leckie, principal of Tahatai Coast School in Papamoa and newly elected national vice-president of NZ Education Institute, Te Riu Roa, said confidence in the state system was growing.
Tahatai Coast is currently turning away five out-of-zone families a week.
A good publicly provided school was something all state schools strived to be and many marketed themselves just as strongly as private schools, Mr Leckie said.
Geoff Opie, principal of Otumoetai Primary School and president of the Western Bay of Plenty Principals' Association, said it was unfortunate Wickham Private School had closed as it removed another option for parents.
Plans to boost the number of private schools in Tauranga are uncertain but it's rumoured an Auckland organisation is interested in setting up a 17-ha private school in Tauranga catering from pre-school to Year 13.
As previously reported in the Bay of Plenty Times, the Christian Education Trust's $25m project to build a private primary and secondary school at Papamoa within the next two years, is going ahead.
The trust is aiming to have the school integrated so that fees are kept low but it will go private if this cannot be negotiated with the ministry.
