John Paul College wait list disappointing for parents

Lauren James and Maringi James, 13. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Getting a Catholic education is so important to one Rotorua family that it is considering sending its daughter to a school more than two hours away if she can't get into John Paul College.

Lauren James' daughter, Maringi James, 13, was put on the wait list for John Paul College for Year 9, despite meeting all the special character requirements.

Ms James said she was considering Rotorua Girls' High School as an alternative but said it was "not ideal".

"I like that it's an all-girls school but we want that religious education, which you can only get in Rotorua at John Paul College.

"Our other option is sending her outside of Rotorua to St Joseph's Maori Girls' College but ultimately we would prefer to stay local.

"Our family is Catholic and regular attendees of church. Sending my daughter to a Catholic school was a way to acknowledge that upbringing."

Maringi attended Te Kura o te Koutu and Ms James wanted to ensure she continued to be academically and spiritually nurtured.

She said Te Kura o te Koutu was brilliant at pushing boundaries and did not want to lose that attribute by moving her daughter to a mainstream school.

"The whole situation leaves us in limbo because we have to have a back-up plan but then also need to be prepared if she does eventually get accepted into John Paul College.

"It is a Catch-22 situation that could end up costing us more than usual if we have to pay to go to one school and then have to sort out transfers.

"I understand where the Ministry of Education is coming from in that they won't give one school more room if another already has space, but there should be an allowance for special character schools.

"Parents consider these schools often specifically for their special character, in this case, that John Paul College is a Catholic school. If no other schools with space offer that element of education, there should be some flexibility."