Delight as Collegiate allowed to join state-school network

Wanganui Collegiate School was granted state integration yesterday, which means it becomes part of the state schooling network from January.

The exclusive secondary school would now be open to a cross-section of students, Education Minister Hekia Parata told the Chronicle yesterday.

She said the process had been difficult and drawn out and the school had been working towards integration for more than two years.

Being state-integrated meant the private school became part of the state system and received government funding for each student, as the state schools did.

She said Collegiate was one of the top-performing schools in the Wanganui region and considered an iconic institution in the history of New Zealand education.

"But being integrated means that a more diverse cross-section of students can now attend the school."

Some parents who couldn't have imagined ever being able to send their children to a school such as Collegiate would now be able to afford the reduced fees, Ms Parata said.

However, she was adamant that the Collegiate decision was a separate issue to looking at the existing network of state secondary schools in the Wanganui/Rangitikei area.

"Looking at other state secondary schools in the area was not in process yet," she said, when asked by the Chronicle how the decision fitted in with the vexed question of roll numbers in other state schools in the region.

Yesterday, the integration decision was greeted with great relief in Wanganui by local politicians, former pupils and parents of students.

However Collegiate management, usually helpful, went to ground when asked for comment, issuing only a written statement. Instead, all media queries were directed to a former old boy of the school in Auckland, media consultant David Lewis.

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows said that announcing the integration of Collegiate this week in the prevailing education climate was "rather hot political stuff".

The school had been made to jump over some pretty tough hurdles to achieve integration, he said.

"They have succeeded, and succeeded well, and now we're at last at the end of the process."

Mr Borrows said the school had sold property - the St George's campus on Grey St was bought by the Wanganui YMCA this year - closed part of the campus, lost staff, cut expenses and paid off debt.

"They did everything they were asked to do."

Mayor Annette Main said she was extremely relieved that integration had been granted.

"This decision will have the biggest impact outside Wanganui because it is a boarding school held in such high esteem by so many throughout New Zealand."

Ms Main said the influence of Collegiate went far and wide and it would have been terrible to have lost such a wonderful school.

"Collegiate is all about influential people throughout New Zealand who never forget their school days. It's about loyalty to their old school and to Wanganui. It really gives Wanganui a positive reputation and is a boost to our economy."

Wanganui Labour candidate and Collegiate old boy Hamish McDouall said the beauty of the school was that it attracted important international attention,

"It was very important for this district that integration was granted ... I am very pleased that it has been."

Mr McDouall said that as well as Collegiate being granted state integration, he hoped the other four state secondary schools in Wanganui were also looked after: "There are top local secondary schools here."

In a press release, Wanganui Collegiate School board of trustees chairwoman Tam Jex-Blake said the decision was welcome news and meant that, with integration, the school could now develop because times had been tough.

She said Collegiate was worth about $60 million annually to Wanganui and it was significant that this contribution to the Wanganui economy would continue.

Collegiate registrar Alan Richardson, who had just returned from recruiting students in Hong Kong and Taiwan this week, said the recruiting drive had been successful.

"Because what we can offer is half the price now of the equivalent top boarding schools in Britain. Wanganui Collegiate School is very well thought of internationally, it's an excellent school."

What is integration:

• 
  Integrated schools are schools that used to be private and have now become part of the state system.
• 
  The schools teach the national curriculum but keep their own special character (usually a philosophical or religious belief).
• 
  The special character of the integrated school means there can be special requirements for some teaching positions.
• 
  Integrated schools receive the same government funding for each student as state schools but their buildings and land remain privately owned. The schools charge attendance fees to meet their property costs. The Government is responsible for the school's day-to-day expenses,  including teacher salaries.

COLLEGIATE HISTORY

• 
  Wanganui Collegiate School has a unique character and proud history.
• 
  It was founded in 1854 and has educated Governors-General, senior judges, leading member of business and iwi, government Ministers and MPs, many All Blacks and prominent New Zealand sports representatives, along with farming and other community leaders.
• 
  Prince Edward has tutored there and former All Black captain David Kirk is an old boy.
• 
  The school roll is now  about 420.
• 
  Fees detailed on its website are $10,000 a year for day students, $13,000 for Wanganui boarders (Monday to Friday) and full board $20,000.
• 
  In 2010, after 83 years, falling numbers forced its feeder school St George's to move from its own campus and share facilities with Collegiate.