Auckland Grammar's roll just keeps on growing

By ALAN PERROTT

Auckland Grammar's roll could swell to 3000 students in three years because of the present zoning legislation says its principal, John Morris.

Rising population densities around the city fringe and the ongoing influx of new migrants meant the school was accepting enrolments throughout the year, he said.

The school's roll has grown from 1850 to 2500 in four years.

"Just how big does the Government want successful schools to become?" he asked.

"One possibility is to shrink our zone, but this is a central city school surrounded by high-rise apartments and townhouses.

"People can rent an apartment within that zone for short space of time and Bob's your uncle, their kids are in. How can we keep track of that sort of thing?"

Mr Morris called for a sensible discussion between schools and Education Minister Trevor Mallard on how far school rolls could grow.

"The legislation may work in other areas, but I think there is a lack of understanding of the problems around Auckland.

"This is where the vast majority of migrants come and regardless of how long anyone has lived here, you can't turn kids away if they live in your zone.

If it carries on at this rate we will reach 3000 kids in three years. Is the Government happy with that?"

Bali Haque, principal of Pakuranga College and former head of the Secondary Principals' Association, said several Auckland schools faced similar problems and wanted extra funding to help root out parents who cheated to get their children enrolled in favoured schools.

"The alternative is to allow schools to cherrypick and select students on the basis of their own requirements and that would be difficult for communities to support.

"In principle, local kids going to local schools is appropriate. I know the legislation isn't perfect, but the alternative is worse."

Associate Education Minister Steve Maharey said schools concerned about overcrowding could write an enrolment scheme that limited the number of students they accepted.

The current zoning policy was intended to guarantee children right of access to their local school so rich schools could not select the best students while local children were forced to travel elsewhere.