At-risk schools revealed

The Ministry of Education is looking at closing four Northland schools and spending more than $1 million to merge pupils into other schools.

A leaked memo is the first indicator of which schools could be closed next year as the ministry reviews the fate of 18 schools - six in the Russell Peninsula and 12 in central Northland.

The schools involved in the Russell review are Helena Bay, Karetu, Ngaiotonga Valley, Punaruku, Russell and Waikare.

Under the proposals, the students of the closed schools would take a significant one-off sum, known as an educational district initiative, with them to the new school.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the options were only "preliminary models".

- NZPA