Govt will not appeal Phillipstown ruling

Phillipstown School supporters protesting earlier this year after the announcement that the school was being closed. The High Court ruled the closure was illegal.

The Government will not appeal against the High Court's ruling over Phillipstown School in Christchurch, and will instead resume consultation procedures.

Last month the school won a legal battle in its opposition to Education Minister Hekia Parata's plans to merge it with Woolston School.

Today Ms Parata announced she will begin consultation with Phillipstown over the proposed merger, in line with High Court judgement, which ruled the decision to close the school had been unlawful.

"The Judge ruled there had been an inadvertent error in the way information about estimated property costs was provided to Phillipstown school. The Judge said this error could be corrected by continuing to consult on those aspects of the proposals," Ms Parata said.

"Therefore, today I have advised both schools that I am proposing to continue consultation."

The process will not start until the final business case for the Government's Education Renewal Plans in greater Christchurch has been considered by Cabinet in the next few weeks.

"I am mindful this process has been difficult on the school community and the families in greater Christchurch have already been through a lot," Ms Parata said.

"I have sent letters to parents via the two schools to update them on the current situation."