By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK
Auckland Grammar wants permission to ditch its zoning scheme to stop families shifting into its zone simply to guarantee their children enrolment at what many regard as one of the country's top state schools.
The school has been swamped by enrolments over the past 12 months, many
from families who have not long shifted into the zone.
A law change last year forced popular schools to define a geographical home zone and accept enrolments from all students living within it.
But Grammar headmaster John Morris says it cannot afford to operate under the scheme. In-zone enrolments for the third form rose by 100 after the law change.
"Families are moving into our zone just to get their boys into the school," he says. "We've got a major problem on our hands."
Grammar leaders will meet Education Minister Trevor Mallard next week to seek an exemption from the Education Amendment Act that forces the popular state schools to define home zones.
The school also wants to break Ministry of Education rules by capping the number of students attending Auckland Grammar at 2070.
The roll is expected to grow to 2220 by the start of the next academic year.
"We have a unique problem and we need a unique solution," said Mr Morris.
Auckland Grammar would continue to serve its local community without a strict zoning enrolment scheme, he said.
Mr Mallard declined to comment because, he said, he was due to meet Mr Morris "shortly to hear his views about this issue".
The ministry wants Grammar to reduce the size of its zone and to stop accepting enrolments from out-of-zone siblings of students already at the school.
Ministry executive Brenda Radford said Auckland Grammar could not continue to accept such a high rate of enrolments.
A recent ministry report said the school could not plan classes and timetables because of the unpredictable number of enrolments.
