The network of schools

When expressing its commitment to local students, a board cannot work in isolation. This is because one of the purposes of an enrolment scheme is to enable the Secretary to make the best use of existing networks of State schools.

For any school, the "network" will include at least the school's immediate neighbours catering for the same range of students, but it may also include other, more distant, schools whose rolls might be affected by the school's enrolment scheme. A State integrated school's special character tends to set it apart from other schools in the area, but it must nevertheless function as part of the local network of schools and play its part in providing for the educational needs of students in its area.

In particular, the board of a Sate integrated school developing an enrolment scheme will need to discuss the implications of its scheme with the boards of any other State integrated schools of the same character and class which serve the same general area. But the boards of other State schools in the area must also be consulted.

The Ministry will not approve schemes unless there is evidence of consultation between the board and the boards of other schools likely to be affected by the operation of the scheme. (See also the section on consultation below.)