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Overview#
If overcrowding occurs or is likely to occur at a state school, the Ministry of Education must establish an enrolment scheme for the school. This is to assist the school board to manage the risk of overcrowding, provide a fair and transparent process for enrolment and to ensure we are making the best use of schooling facilities across the network of local schools.
Enrolment schemes – New Zealand Legislation
A key part of an enrolment scheme is the home zone.
The proposed home zones for Timaru Girls’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School set out geographic areas from within which students would have a right to enrol at the school.
Timaru Girls’ High School proposed home zoneTimaru Boys’ High School proposed home zone
The enrolment scheme is proposed to commence from 1 January 2026 (Term 1, 2026).
It should be noted that this consultation is regarding the enrolment schemes for Timaru Girls’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School and changes to the enrolment schemes for other schools are not being considered as part of this process.
All ākonga | learners who live within the home zones of Timaru Girls’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School will have an entitlement to attend the schools and those that live outside the home zone may be accepted if there are out-of-zone places available and their application meets the legislated requirements. To be able to do this, boards at State schools keep an eye on the number of applications received from in-zone students to help them determine the places they might have available for out-of-zone students once all in-zone enrolments are accepted. It is up to each board to determine how many out of zone places are offered. We do not expect the roll of either school to reduce as a result of these proposed enrolment schemes.
Any students accepted as a boarder at either schools’ boarding hostel is deemed to live within the school’s home zone.
Note that all students who are already enrolled at Timaru Girls’ High School or Timaru Boys’ High School before the enrolment scheme commences are entitled to stay at that school. Siblings of enrolled students will have priority access to any out-of-zone places offered by the school.
It is important that we hear and understand community perspectives before we establish these new enrolment schemes at Timaru Girls’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School, especially the design and practical implications of the home zones. Have a look at the maps and overview information available before you participate in the consultation process.
This consultation process is about enrolment schemes, which determine the entitlement to enrol.
It is important to note that a student’s eligibility to enrol may be different to their eligibility for school transport assistance. More information about eligibility to school transport can be found here.
FAQs on new enrolment schemesHave your say#
Take part in the consultation by clicking on the link at the top of this page and below.
