Parents of Ranzau School were told a move to a new location in the Richmond West subdivision will give their kids access to better facilities, more opportunities and teachers with more professional development at a meeting last Wednesday night.
But some parents said they felt they were being “sold to” and the disadvantages of moving were not addressed.
The Ministry of Education has asked the school’s Board of Trustees if it would like to move Ranzau to a new purpose-built school catering for up to 300 students in the new Richmond West development.
The board is engaging with parents and seeking feedback before passing a recommendation to the ministry before the end of the year.
If the school did move, it would be unlikely that it would be built before the 2025 school year. If it decided not to move, a school in Richmond West would be built anyway, says the ministry.
Currently Ranzau School has 150 pupils, only one third of those are from within the school’s zone. The rest come from Brightwater, Richmond, Appleby and even further afield.
With 1200 homes expected in Richmond West it would have a greater catchment of students but did would mean those families currently in zone for Ranzau would have to find transport solutions.
Other concerns from parents included losing the 173-year history of the school, it’s rural setting which is an attraction for parents, that its classrooms were all recently refurbished and its connection with the neighbouring church.
Roger Hornblow, the former founding principal of Pegasus Bay School, which was created when Waikuku School moved there in 2014, spoke to parents about the benefits of the new school, including modern playgrounds, improved IT, music, science and sporting facilities.
“We went from the outhouse to the penthouse,” he said.
He said the students thrived in the new facilities and achieved at a higher level.
A member of the Board of Trustees read out some examples of schools that had moved, mainly in Christchurch, all said it was a positive experience. Only one hadn’t and had seen a drop in its roll.
A survey by the Board of Trustees is open until November 2 and the board says it will communicate its decision with the community before the end of term 4.
