Education Minister Erica Stanford at Lincoln Primary School for Canterbury schooling announcement. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
The country's fastest growing district is celebrating the announcement of $108 million for a new school, 52 more classrooms and a future school site.
At an announcement in Lincoln, Education Minister Erica Stanford outlined the government's plans for schools in the Selwyn district.
It included 10 new classrooms for Lincoln Primary School.
Principal Chris Nord said they were desperately needed.
"Up to the end of last term, we had no more spaces. All of our spaces are full - and, in fact, some spaces that weren't supposed to be classrooms are now spaces. We actually ended up having to empty an entire resource room and make that into a classroom," he said.
Two prefabricated temporary classrooms had been installed at the school this week.
While it would provide enough space for the enrolments expected through the rest of the year, beyond that, the ten classrooms announced today were needed sooner rather than later.
"All the modelling is great, but still there's an unknown factor," Nord said.
"That's what we've found - we have walk-ins. This week we've had nine students enrol, walk in off the street. That's what we're experiencing and we're trying to get the Ministry [of Education] to understand there's no modelling or prediction that can describe what we experience."
Stanford came to meet with principals from the district's schools late last year.
She said she had heard what they told her loud and clear and the government had listened.
"We know that there is extraordinary growth in this region. We know that just last year 722 additional students turned up and that is significant growth. And I have been and seen all the housing developments and the local community have been crying out for more classrooms," Stanford said.
The intention was to get to work in the summer holidays on a new primary school in Prebbleton as well as new classrooms for two schools in Lincoln and three in Rolleston.
But the government was also planning for the future, she said.
"We know that we have to be strategic in this region. I want parents to know they can raise a family here - they can feel confident that there will be schools for their children and classrooms for their children. That's why we are also land banking here for future growth," Stanford said.
That included buying the land for a future school in Lincoln.
"Our priority is getting spades in the ground as soon as possible..." the education minister says. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Selwyn District Mayor Sam Broughton said more schools were needed in the district.
Wednesday's announcement was a step in the right direction, but more would be needed, he said.
"It's really stage one of what's going to be required as we grow," Broughton said.
"The most important part to me in today's announcement was actually the land banking and saying we're thinking about the future. As a council we plan out for the next 30 years, we know the pressure we're going to be under, so to have the government say 'yeah, we can see there's a need to put some land aside' that's a really positive move."
There was also funding for 51 new classrooms in the wider Canterbury region, including a new primary school in the Christchurch suburb of Halswell, which neighboured the Selwyn district.
"The Selwyn community has been loud and clear, they don't have enough classroom space to keep up with demand. We are acting decisively to address this through a comprehensive growth plan to provide certainty and ensure more children can flourish," Stanford said.
"Delivering this scale of projects in Canterbury was made possible by the government driving efficiencies in school property delivery. The use of standardised building designs, offsite manufacturing, and streamlining procurement have lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 per cent. This has allowed 30 per cent more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to the year before.
"All Kiwi kids deserve to thrive at school, that starts with warm, safe and dry classrooms. Our priority is getting spades in the ground as soon as possible so schools, families and communities have certainty and benefit sooner."
The full list of projects:
- 10 classrooms at Lincoln Primary School
- A 12-classroom expansion for Ararira Springs Primary School in Lincoln, including two learning support spaces
- A six-classroom expansion at Te Rōhotu Whio Primary School in Rolleston
- An expansion at Te Rau Horopito, including 12 classrooms, six outside technology spaces and multipurpose space
- A 12-classroom expansion and admin spaces at the new campus for Rolleston College
- The purchase of a site in Prebbleton for a primary school, and funding to start construction on the first stage, which includes 12 teaching spaces, an admin area and multi-purpose space
- A site in Lincoln for a new primary school
- A new primary school on Milns Road, which includes 12 classrooms, admin block and multipurpose spaces
- Eight classrooms at Woodend School
- Two classrooms for Sefton School
- Four classrooms at Addington Te Kura Taumatua
- Two classrooms at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo
- Four classrooms at Te Kura o te Tauawa Halswell School
- Three classrooms at Wigram Primary School - Te Piki Kāhu
- Two classrooms for Te Kura o Mōkihi Spreydon School
- Four classrooms at Christchurch East School
- Four classrooms for Knights Stream School - Mingimingi Hautoa
- Four classrooms for Pareawa Banks Avenue School
- Two classrooms for Hinds School in mid-Canterbury
