Single-sex schools decline to sign new zoning agreement

Wednesday, 17 January 2024

A desire to make single-sex education available to as many people as possible is behind a decision by Christchurch’s single-sex state schools not to reduce out-of-zone enrolments.

Thirteen Christchurch mixed schools have signed a renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreeing to “minimise the enrolment of out-of-zone domestic students in order to support the wider network of schools in greater Christchurch”.

Single-sex schools Avonside Girls', Shirley Boys', Christchurch Girls' High and Christchurch Boys' High had over 1600 out-of-zone students between them last year, but have not pledged to reduce these numbers.

Avonside Girls’ principal Catherine Law declined to sign the agreement as she did not want to limit access to single-sex education.

“I really believe that young women need an environment they can truly thrive in, that challenges them and gives them confidence and wide-ranging leadership opportunities.”

Many young women experienced an “enormous amount of harassment” from men, and many learnt better in a single-sex space, she said.

Avonside Girls’ is the only state girls’ school on the east side of the city. Last year 324 of its 1021 students were from out-of-zone.

Despite not signing, Law said she was “absolutely committed to the intent of the MoU” in supporting the wider schooling network.

“One of the unique qualities of the Canterbury Principals’ Association here is the intent of all the principals to work together in the light of the earthquake.”

Shirley Boys’ principal Tim Grocott said the school also wanted to “cater for people who want that single-sex option”, but would be “very respectful” of the memorandum’s intent.

Christchurch Girls’ acting principal Peter Sawyer said its response was likewise based on “equity of access” for families within the state system. Christchurch Boys’ was unable to comment this week.

Burnside High School had 533 out-of-zone students last year and was the only co-ed school on the memorandum that did not sign the renewed version.

Board of trustees presiding member Chris Dann said in recent years the school had not accepted any students from the out-of-zone ballot, only specialist music students and siblings of existing students.

Burnside’s total out-of-zone roll numbers had dropped significantly, from 918 in 2021, and Dann said the school did not envisage taking out-of-zone ballot students in the foreseeable future.

“We are going to adhere to the spirit and intent [of the MoU] regardless.”

The memorandum was first signed in 2018 with an “agreed maximum roll” for each school, based on earthquake rebuild numbers.

Joe Eccleton, president of Canterbury and West Coast Secondary Principals Association, said those limits quickly “became outdated” as rolls grew.

“You’ve got to take legally any in-zone student that’s on your books, so they just became irrelevant - they just weren’t a key factor,” he said.

Eccleton, also principal of Cashmere High School, had a maximum roll of 1800 yet had over 2000 in-zone students for the past three years, and none from the out-of-zone ballot.

Where the memorandum had succeeded, he said, was in “principals sharing a common set of values” and not poaching each others’ students.

“Once that starts happening you can get into a situation where a school really grows to the detriment of that other school.”

Signatories to the memorandum also agree that schools with high levels of out-of-zone students will “make every endeavour” to reduce them by attrition. It is up for a second review in 2028.

Eccleton said while the memorandum was not a binding document, its spirit and intent was a “collaboration of principals coming together”.