Bethlehem College has expanded into Ōmokoroa, opening a preschool four months ago and now aiming to build a state-integrated primary school next door.
Christian Education Trust (CET) general manager Dr Tim Collins said at a recent Ōmokoroa community meeting that the trust was entering negotiations with the Ministry of Education to establish a primary school for Years 1 to 8.
He said the trust hoped to open the Bethlehem College Ōmokoroa primary school at 28 Kayelene Place by at least 2029.
It would provide a preferential entry path into Bethlehem College Tauranga in Year 9.
“We don’t have plans for secondary at this stage in Ōmokoroa. Pupils will leave at the end of Year 8 and come through to Bethlehem College in Tauranga from Year 9.”
Collins said the design for the proposed primary school had been lodged with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council for resource consent.
“The key thing now is the integration agreement, which has to be signed between us and the Ministry of Education. The ministry has invited us to enter into negotiations.”
Collins said the ministry supported the information evening held by the trust in Ōmokoroa on November 19 and attended by about 35-40 people.
“They knew we were holding it, and they approved of the way we answered the questions. They are very much behind what we did the other night.”
He anticipated many of the questions raised at the meeting.
“One of the big questions is, ‘Does this mean the ministry is not going to build its own schools?’ And the answer is no, it does not.
“This is straight from the ministry. They want to offer choice to parents in the Ōmokoroa community, and Bethlehem College Ōmokoroa is, in their mind, one way of doing that. It doesn’t change their plans to build their schools.”
The Ōmokoroa Christian Preschool, which opened in mid-June, is operated by Bethlehem Early Learning Centres (BELC), an arm of CET. It is the fifth BELC preschool, joining centres in Te Puke, Rotorua and two in Tauranga.
“We continue to consider expansion opportunities in the ECE [early childhood education] sector,” Collins said.
CET has owned the Ōmokoroa site since about 2017 and always planned to begin development with a preschool.
“Just like at Bethlehem College, where children leave preschool at 5, walk across the driveway and start primary school, that’s our plan for Ōmokoroa,” Collins said.
If an integration agreement is secured, he hopes the new primary school could open by 2028, though 2029 remains possible. The goal is to have the agreement finalised next year.
“But there’s no guarantee the ministry will sign it. They do, however, know and approve that we’re talking to the community.”
He said the ministry had confirmed that Ōmokoroa Point School, Ōmokoroa No. 1 School, Whakamārama, Pahoia and Te Puna were all at capacity.
Collins said parents also asked whether enrolling at a Bethlehem College Ōmokoroa primary school would guarantee entry to Bethlehem College for Year 9.
“I said we are working on that with the ministry. We can’t guarantee it yet, but we know it would be really important.”
Ministry of Education operations and integration leader Sean Teddy confirmed the CET had written formally to the minister expressing interest in establishing a state-integrated school in Ōmokoroa.
“This is the first step for proprietors seeking integration. The ministry will then work with the proprietor on their application before asking the minister to consult.”
If approval to consult and negotiate was given, the proprietor and the ministry would begin negotiating the terms of an integration agreement and consult with school boards that might be affected. The minister would then decide whether to approve or decline integration.
Teddy said the ministry assessed whether a proprietor could meet property and safety standards, demonstrate a clear special character, and operate sustainably within the schooling network.
Roll projections, local demand and potential impacts on existing and planned schools were also considered.
“As we haven’t received a formal application from CET to establish a new state-integrated school, we’re unable to give any indicative timeframes.
“When we receive the application, we will support CET with their proposal as we would with all proprietors. Any decision to integrate a school ultimately rests with the minister.”
Teddy said proprietors could speak to parents about their vision and potential demand, but had to state clearly that enrolment could not be guaranteed until the integration process was complete.