By Lloyd Burr
Five schools in Dunedin will close and form two new schools because of dropping role numbers, it has been announced today.
Three of the schools; College Street School, Caversham School, and Calton Hill School, will merge to become one full primary school with two different campuses at the Caversham School site and the Calton Hill School site.
The second merger involves Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury Schools and they will form another full primary school at the Macandrew site.
Both new schools will be for children in years 1 to 8.
Education Minister Anne Tolley says “the continuing decline in student numbers in the area has seen all five schools experience a reduction in funding.
“I’m confident these changes will strengthen education in South Dunedin, and will provide security to families that the new schools will be sustainable in the decades ahead.”
Ms Tolley says an extra $1.8 million in funding will help the transition and raise achievement standards for the students.
“Having visited both Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury School recently, I am certain that the Macandrew site provides much better facilities for children. There is a wider range of teaching spaces, including a refurbished school hall and technology facilities.
“I will be appointing boards of trustees to the merged schools shortly, including members of the five original school boards, to guide the school communities through this time of change.
The names of the new schools have not been decided yet but will be over the next few months by the new boards. Ms Tolley says local communities may be involved in devising the new names.
The changes are planned to be in place for the beginning of next year.
3 News