Private college at Taupo put off until early 2007

Plans to open a private school in Taupo next February have been delayed because the promoters say they need more time to prepare a resource consent application.

Beaumont School and College will now not open until February 2007, say Auckland businessmen Alex Findlay and Stephen Fleming, co founders of the Strathallan Campus at Karaka and Wentworth College, Gulf Harbour.

Mr Findlay said it was a tight timetable to achieve a 2006 start.

"Given the scale and complexity of the project, it was felt prudent to make sure all issues were thoroughly addressed."

A resource consent would be sought from the Taupo District Council for a 15ha site between Taupo and Kinloch.

The co-ed school would be designed to take up to 1000 preschool, primary and secondary students. The first stage would involve 300 primary pupils.

Taupo principals are sceptical about the need for a competing private school. Taupo Intermediate School head Bill Clarke said all principals believed it would have an effect on their schools.

"But we are only guessing until we know the fee structure. All we are doing in the meantime is to make sure our personal performance is up to scratch to give our parents a choice."

Hilltop School principal Dave Hughes said his decile 9 school was on the same side of the lake as the proposed school and could be significantly affected.