Auckland plans 30 new schools, with major school zone changes on the way. Parents, prepare early!

Last Friday, the New Zealand Government unveiled plans to build 61 new schools nationwide by 2030: 30 new schools in Auckland and 61 outside Auckland.

 

However, this longer-term solution will not ease the immediate pressure.

 

As Auckland's population continues to rise and new homes are completed, schools face growing pressure. Over the next 3 years, more schools will tighten enrolment rules and adjust their zones.

 

First, let's look at where Auckland's new schools will be located:

 

North Auckland

• Warkworth North Primary School: capacity for 400 students

• Warkworth South Primary School: capacity for 400 students

• Orewa Northwest Primary School: expected to begin enrolling in 2021, with capacity for 420 students and scope for an additional 380 places later

• Milldale Primary School, capacity for 370 students, with scope for an additional 330 places later

• Wainui #2, another new primary school in Milldale, with capacity for 370 students

• Wainui Secondary School, also in Milldale: capacity for 800 students

• Albany North Primary School: capacity for 350 students, with scope for an additional 350 places later

• Takapuna Metro Primary School, land acquisition yet to be confirmed

 

West Auckland

• Scott Point Primary School, Hobsonville: construction plans announced, with capacity for 650 students

• Whenuapai #1 Primary School: capacity for 420 students, with scope for an additional 380 places later

• Whenuapai #2 Primary School: capacity for 420 students

• Red Hills North Primary School: capacity for 350 students

• Northwest Secondary School: capacity for 800 students

• New primary school in New Lynn: capacity for 420 students, with scope for an additional 280 places later

 

Central Auckland

• CBD Primary School: capacity for 400 students

• Primary school at the Unitec campus, Mt Albert: capacity for 700 students

• Primary school at the Epsom campus, currently a University of Auckland site: capacity for 700 students

• Tāmaki Park Primary School: capacity for 700 students

 

East Auckland

• New primary school in Flat Bush: capacity for 350 students

• New special school: yet to be confirmed

 

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South Auckland

• Ōtāhuhu/Māngere East Primary School: capacity for 370 students, with scope for an additional 330 places later

• Middlemore Primary School: capacity for 350 students

• Māngere/Favona Primary School: capacity for 300 students, with scope for an additional 200 places later

• A new urban school may be built in Manukau

• New primary school in Takanini: land acquisition yet to be confirmed

• Drury #1 Primary School: construction plans announced, with capacity for 370 students

• Drury #2 Primary School: capacity for 370 students

• Drury #3 and #4 primary schools: capacity for 1090 students

• Drury #1 and #2 secondary schools: combined capacity for 1600 students

• Hingaia South Primary School: capacity for 420 students

• Kingseat Primary School: capacity for 370 students, with scope for an additional 330 places later

• Paerata Primary School: construction plans announced, with capacity for 370 students and scope for an additional 330 places later

• Belmont Primary School, Pukekohe: construction announced, with capacity for 350 students and scope for an additional 200 places later

• Pokeno Primary School: capacity for 350 students.

 

Auckland schools to tighten enrolment over the next 3 years

 

Under the National Education Growth Plan, 103 state schools in Auckland will establish enrolment zones over the next 3 years. These schools currently have no zoning restrictions, but once zones are established, students living outside them may be turned away.

 

The 277 state schools that already have enrolment zones also face pressure from population growth.

 

Parents will therefore have far fewer choices when selecting schools for their children, and most may be forced to send them to the nearest state school. Attending a school outside the local zone will become increasingly difficult. Media have previously reported that Mt Albert Grammar School and Albany Primary School adjusted their zones because of rapid population growth within their catchments.

 

The principal and teachers of Mt Albert Grammar School

 

Schools in Auckland's higher-income, higher-priced residential areas generally have enrolment zones. In central Auckland, 26 of the 27 state schools have zoning restrictions.

 

However, as the Government plans to build more homes in state housing areas, lower-income areas where school boundaries were previously less clearly defined or there were no zoning restrictions are also beginning to establish zones. These areas include Tāmaki, Northcote, Mt Roskill, Māngere, Ōtara and Manurewa.

 

Auckland Central MP and former education minister Nikki Kaye said tighter school zoning posed a challenge for some communities, as it meant virtually every school in Auckland was beginning to have zoning restrictions.

 

In Northcote on Auckland's North Shore, the construction of numerous high-density housing developments will force more schools to tighten their zones as student numbers exceed capacity.

 

High-density housing in Northcote

 

Housing and education are a family's biggest investments, so remember to consider future school zone changes when buying a home!