Five Dunedin schools to merge

Minister of Education Anne Tolley has revealed that five Dunedin schools are going to merge due to a decline in student numbers. File photo / Christine Cornege

Five south Dunedin schools will be merged into two, Education Minister Anne Tolley announced today.

Labour says the move will disadvantage some families.

College Street, Caversham and Calton Hill schools will merge to become one full primary school on present Caversham site, with a second campus at Calton Hill. The operation of the second campus will be reviewed in two years.

Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury schools will merge and operate from the Macandrew site.

"The continuing decline in student numbers in the area has seen all five schools experience a reduction in funding," Mrs Tolley said.

"I'm confident these changes will strengthen education in South Dunedin, and will provide security to families that the new schools will be sustainable in the decades ahead."

Labour's Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said the minister had ignored community views when she made the decision about Forbury School and Macandrew Intermediate.

"Her ministry did not allow the schools the courtesy of telling their own staff and pupils of the outcome, instead releasing the decision to the media while the principals and board of trustees were being informed. This shows callous disregard of the impact of these decision on the local communities," Ms Curran said.

"These schools cater for a significant and close-knit community, many of whom are on low incomes and rely heavily on public transport. Closing them will cause considerable hardship for numbers of families. Hopefully it will not disadvantage our children's prospects of getting the best possible education."

Mrs Tolley said school boards and communities participated in the consultation and she had considered feedback.

"Having visited both Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury School recently, I am certain that the Macandrew site provides much better facilities for children," she said.

"There is a wider range of teaching spaces, including a refurbished school hall and technology facilities. The site will also be able to accommodate other services such as social workers and health professionals, and with some property work it will be an excellent school for the younger children who will soon be attending."

The changes would be in place before school started next year.

New school boards would include members of the five original school boards, to guide the school communities through this time of change.

- NZPA