Roll-cap increase denied

Kaikohe Christian School year 11 students Amy Vesey of Kaikohe and Jeana Perrett of Okaihau protesting the MoE’s refusal to lift the roll cap at their school.

At the beginning of the year the Kaikohe Christian School applied again to have the roll cap of 100 lifted on the Kaikohe campus after the ministry had reduced it to 100 in 2005. The minister declined to lift the roll cap on the Kaikohe site, maintaining “a maximum roll increase, if granted, could have a detrimental effect on the viability of other schools in the local network.”

The Christian schools in Kaikohe and Kerikeri come under legislation that gives the minister control of the growth and establishment of state integrated Christian Schools.

Board chairperson Mike Shaw says “unfortunately, the roll-cap at Kaikohe means that families who already have their older children in the school cannot enrol their five-year-olds next year.”

“Several families have said that if the Christian School could not take their children they would have no option other than to leave town or send their children to boarding school.”

Mr Shaw says neighbouring school principals of a number schools strongly supported parental choice in the area and did not oppose the growth of the Christian School which was seen as a valuable and viable alternative choice for parents and students.