Meadowbank principal steps into Selwyn College wrangle

A feeder primary school to Auckland's Selwyn College says the college is failing to meet the needs of its community, with parents looking at all options before sending their children there.

Meadowbank Primary School principal Peter Ayson has spoken out after an email wrangle between the college's principal, Carol White, and first-term National MP for Tamaki, Allan Peachey.

In an email to Ms White, refusing an invitation to speak at the college's prizegiving, Mr Peachey wrote, "Yes I do have a knife in your back, so be careful."

The former head of Rangitoto College and now National Party education spokesman apologised in Parliament on Tuesday for the email, but Mr Ayson says Selwyn College needs to look at its public relations.

"That is the feedback I'm getting from parents ... they are very wary about enrolling their children at Selwyn College," Mr Ayson said.

It is understood Mr Peachey has previously made disparaging remarks about Selwyn College to parents at feeder primary school meeting.

Mr Ayson said there was no enrolment scheme at Selwyn College or ballot as with Glendowie College, Epsom Girls Grammar or Auckland Grammar because the school was not full.

Selwyn College co-principal Paul Williams said he did not want to get into an argument with other principals in his area, who worked to achieve the best outcome for students.

"Parents in this rather wealthy area have always chosen to send their students to private schools.

"This is not unusual, it's been happening for probably 40 years," Mr Williams said.

Selwyn College promotes itself on a liberal and inclusive approach to schooling and says it is adapting to the needs of its community, but Mr Ayson said the more than 60 per cent of Meadowbank parents who sent their children to schools elsewhere did not think so. Selwyn College had tried to change its image, introducing uniforms to the junior school three years ago, but that was not enough he said.

"Our parent community doesn't see that they have adapted ... they may have adapted to meet the needs of some people but in doing so they have overlooked the needs of the Meadowbank community."