West Coast's Runanga School cans all outings, school camps for 2017

Runanga School has canned school camps and all outings for 2017 after it was put under the control of a commissioner earlier this year. Photo / Google

Runanga School has canned school camps and all outings for pupils in 2017 while it reviews education outside the classroom (EOTC) activities.

The school was put under the control of a commissioner earlier this year.

Acting principal Dave Pritchard said the EOTC review was one of a raft of issues raised by the Education Review Office, and until the review had been completed the school could not hold camps or other outings.

ERO noted there had been no police vetting in place for school camps and swimming, and in a number of instances "serious incidents have not been reported to parents and, where appropriate, teachers".

The commissioner, Sheila Grainger, was in meetings today and could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Runanga School will be halved in size next year to use only three of the six classrooms.

"There are two reasons, one because the roll is dropping like everywhere else, and two, to make teaching the children all at the same end of the school more cohesive," Mr Pritchard said.

He was not overly concerned with the falling roll. "Next year we will be starting in the high 50s. Currently we have 61 and we are losing Year 8s, but have already enrolled two new families in the last couple of days for 2017."

He said the school was going forward after a rugged year.

"We lost a principal, got a pretty bad ERO report, but we are positive and are moving forward," Mr Pritchard said.

A new principal is due to start next year.

- Greymouth Star