$16m expansion at Rototuna High Schools not enough, principals say

Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Rototuna Junior and Senior high schools were opened in 2016 and 2017 respectively and are among the fastest growing schools in New Zealand. The schools share facilities.

The Government is giving a multi-million dollar funding boost for Rototuna Junior and Senior High Schools, but the principals say it isn't enough to support their burgeoning school-rolls.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced on Tuesday that the schools were receiving $16 million to cater for 500 extra students across the two schools.

It is part of a region-wide announcement detailing new classrooms for around 2,500 students at 42 schools and kura across Waikato and Hawke's Bay.

Hipkins said the Rototuna schools were receiving the funding because they were based in an area of significant population growth.

Rototuna Senior High School Principal Natasha Hemara speaks with Education Minister Chris Hipkins at Rototuna High School on Tuesday.

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But Rototuna Senior High School principal Natasha Hemara said the expansion falls short of what the schools need.

It was always planned the schools would be catering for an extra 500 students - though it is helpful the Government will fund this, Hemara said.

(From left) Labour MP Jamie Strange, Rototuna Senior High School Principal Natasha Hemara, Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Rototuna Junior High School Principal Fraser Hill.

The expansion would take the form of an extension onto the current school buildings, and would take approximately three years to complete, she said.

'Our junior school has already reached capacity, they are bursting at the seams.

'Next year there is no under capacity in either school.'

Junior High School principal Fraser Hill agreed, adding he hoped the Ministry of Education would find ways to provide extra space to support the busy school while the expansion was built.

The Junior High School has a roll of 1247 but a capacity of 1200 students.

The Senior High School has a roll of 550 which is expected to increase to 750-770 in 2020. It can cater for 800 students, Hemara said.

Over the next three to five years, the schools expected to need capacity for another 800-1000 students in total, Hemara said.

'This is a fast growing community, we are seeing a huge influx of people wanting to move into the area to come to the schools.

'We know other areas in Hamilton, such as near the Peacocke's housing development, is also experiencing large growth.'

Hemara said school roll projections came from numbers of students arriving from the local primary schools, and from Ministry of Education information based on housing developments.

Hipkins said he thought the funding was enough for the immediate future.

'In any area where the population is growing as rapidly as this, we'll be keeping it under a very close watch.

'Generally in the past we've been a little bit too late to come in where we need to and grow extra space - and one of my goals is to get ahead of that.'

Chris Hipkins says he will keep a close eye on the expanding population growth at Rototuna, but believes the funding is enough for now.

Thirty other Waikato schools will get 79 classrooms, a $42 million investment. This includes three kura who will receive 12 of these new classrooms, and a special school getting one new classroom.

The Ministry of Education's National Education Growth Plan document also signals there is significant pressure on Hamilton East primary schools and says they are looking to acquire three primary school sites.

In the Hawke's Bay/Tarāwhiti, 10 schools are getting 23 classrooms worth $15m. This includes eight classrooms for three kura, and a special school receiving four new classrooms.

The new funding is designed to cater for 13,500 extra students in Waikato and Hawke's Bay highest growth area, Hipkins said.

The government forecasts 100,000 new student places will be needed across the country by 2030.

'The previous government didn't adequately plan for growth and for too long schools have had to make do by using libraries and school halls when their school rolls increased.'

National MP for Hamilton East David Bennett said while he welcomed the funding increase for the Rototuna Schools, it was too late.

'The Minister could have signed off on this expansion for extra students last year,' he said.

He rejected the assertion that the previous government had not funded for school growth.

'In National's time in government, we built both Rototuna Junior and Senior High, and our Public Private Partnership (PPP) Schools.'

He said he knew of the expanding pressure on primary schools in the area, and argued it was not just about building bigger schools, but building enough new schools to cater for population growth.

Hamilton City Council projects the city's population will grow from 169,300 (at June 2018) to nearly 190,000 by 2028.