Information about this consultation#

This consultation is about the enrolment scheme for Petone Central School.

It is important that we hear and understand community perspectives before we establish this new enrolment scheme at Petone Central School, especially the design and practical implications of the home zone and the proposed commencement date.

Overview of enrolment schemes#

If overcrowding occurs or is likely to occur at a state school, we must establish an enrolment scheme for the school. This is to:

• help the school board to manage the risk of overcrowding
• provide a fair and transparent process for enrolment
• make sure we are making the best use of schooling facilities across the network of local schools.

Read about the purpose and principles of an enrolment scheme on the New Zealand Legislation website.

Enrolment scheme purpose and principles – New Zealand Legislation

Proposed enrolment scheme#

A key part of an enrolment scheme is the home zone.

The proposed home zone for Petone Central School sets out a geographic area from within which students would have a right to enrol at the school.

All students who are already enrolled at Petone Central School before the enrolment scheme commences are entitled to stay at the school. Siblings of enrolled students will have priority access to any out-of-zone places offered by the school.

The enrolment scheme is proposed to start from Term 3 2026.

Entitlement to enrol#

All students who live within the relevant home zone of Petone Central School will have an entitlement to attend the school. Those that live outside the home zone may be accepted if there are out-of-zone places available and their application meets legislated requirements.

Each year, applications for enrolment in the following year from in-zone students will be sought by a date which the school will publish. This will enable the board to assess the number of places which can be made available to students who live outside the home zone.

Additional entitlement to enrol#

This is also known as a ‘grandparenting’ or ‘transitional’ provision.

Section 75(1)(b) of the Education and Training Act 2020 permits siblings of currently enrolled students, whose addresses become out of zone because of the implementation of this enrolment scheme, to enrol as if they are in-zone students while the original sibling is still at the school. Once the originating sibling that was enrolled and residing within the home zone prior to the implementation of the new enrolment scheme leaves the school any more siblings that come to enrol are not counted as in zone.

Additional entitlement to enrol in certain circumstances – New Zealand Legislation

Have your say#

Read the proposed enrolment scheme document before you participate in the consultation process. It includes a map of the proposed home zone.