Buildings a risk to pupils' safety

By STACEY BODGER education reporter

The safety of students at West Auckland's Rutherford High School is at risk because of the school's run-down buildings, says the Education Review Office.

The school was highly praised in its latest ERO report for delivering quality education to students, who demonstrated a great deal of pride in their school and achievements.

But the report said the poor condition of art, technology and physical education facilities meant that teachers could not deliver the curriculum properly.

Other buildings, including the dance and drama studio and music rooms, were putting students' health and safety at risk because they were so overcrowded.

"It is of great credit to staff and students that students achieve as well as they do given the number of poor quality facilities," the report said.

It urged the Education Ministry to examine the facilities.

Rutherford High principal Cliff Edmeades said he had been battling for 12 years to get the 40-year-old buildings upgraded.

Despite minor repairs, most remained in their original state.

Mr Edmeades said buildings were poorly ventilated and some floors did not meet safety requirements.

In the art block, a toilet had been converted into a photography dark room because of the student demand for the subject.

"That's clearly inadequate - some parts of my school are dangerous and it's really cheesing me off now. It also makes me sad because I want the best for my youngsters but you can't deliver today's curriculum in rooms that are 40 years old."

Mr Edmeades said the school had missed out on funding for upgrades because the money had historically gone to schools with growing rolls.

But Rutherford's roll had begun to grow again.

Over the next 10 years, it will receive $3.4 million for property upgrades.

The report said that did not address the need for major campus redevelopment and Mr Edmeades said the money was needed urgently.

The ministry's Auckland district property manager, Karl Hutton, said the ERO report was accurate about the state of the school's buildings.

But Rutherford High is not the only school in Waitakere City in need of property upgrades.

Property staff at the Auckland ministry office have been meeting all Waitakere secondary school principals to develop an area strategy to try to solve the problem.

Mr Hutton said principals would be consulted on the strategy over the next few months.