Corran losing students as parents work on merger

Corran School parents, students and teachers met last night to try to smooth the path of a merger with St Kentigern College.

But since the amalgamation was announced, their school has been losing students to neighbouring private schools.

A spokeswoman for the group said it was unlikely the merger could be prevented, but it was important that communication was increased between parents and the school boards.

"There was only one option offered by the boards, and it was made almost in secret. The lack of communication since then makes us suspicious.

"We realise that it is not very realistic to offer new options at this stage, but we want to allow parents and students to have their say. ... "The best outcome of our meetings is to lessen the disruption for girls who remain at the school."

The group believed the Remuera school's board of trustees did not act in the best interests of the school when it decided to merge with St Kentigern College for financial reasons.

Since the merger with St Kentigern, in Pakuranga, was announced, 55 Corran students from the junior and senior schools had enrolled at Diocesan School.

Students had also been lost to Kings College and other private schools.

Some parents in the meeting had wanted a judicial review of the board's decision to merge, but the spokeswoman said it was not in the best interests of the students to take legal action.

Last week Corran School Board chairman Brent von Sierakowski told a hall of outraged parents that the merger decision could not be changed and that Corran's assets and liabilities would be transferred to St Kentigern from the end of this month.