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QUEENSTOWN SCHOOL ROLLS STILL RISING

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February, 2021

Expats and Aucklanders are filling up places at Queenstown schools and
most rolls are increasing, despite predictions they would be hit by
people leaving the area because of Covid-19.
Remarkables Primary School principal Debbie Dickson said it was an
interesting time, as more than 20 new children had arrived without
warning to boost the schools roll to 565.
"We have people from Invercargill, Auckland, New Plymouth, Canada,
Australia, the UK ... A range of people have moved into the area over
Christmas."
The school had the full quota of teachers at the moment, but as it took
on more children throughout the year it would look to absorb more
relief staff into full-time roles, she said.
The issue was the harder task of then replenishing those reserves lists.
Space was at a premium and four new classrooms were planned, two to
be added to an existing annexe and the others to make up a new,
separate block. Work began on the "two-classroom pod" last week,
construction firm Cook Brothers putting the buildings together on the
playing fields ready to crane into position when the foundations were
ready.
Mrs Dickson said the school would look to redesign the zoning for pupils
once Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau opened at Hanleys Farm, after
which numbers were likely to fall.
Elsewhere, Queenstown Primary Schools roll grew from 616 last June to
647 this week.
Shotover Primary School jumped from 494 to 522 and expected more in
the coming weeks.
At the state-integrated religious schools, St Josephs increased by six
and KingsView remained the same.
Glenorchy School had one pupil fewer than last June, at 30.
The areas only secondary education provider, Wakatipu High School,
had a minor increase, 1120 pupils attending this week.
Principal Steve Hall said as with everywhere, this number would change
over the coming months.
Mr Hall said it was not unusual for pupils to be joining from around New
Zealand, but there were also some pupils starting who had been living
abroad.
It bucked an expectation some held that the school roll would decrease
following Covid-19, but the school had anticipated and planned for
some growth, he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times