When there are too many applications

The need for a scheme

A more detailed treatment of this issue is contained in the paper "Enrolment Schemes in State Integrated Schools", which answers basic questions about the need for a scheme.

In other State schools, an enrolment scheme is a tool to enable the board to avoid overcrowding or the likelihood of overcrowding. In consultation with Ministry staff, each board will determine an optimum figure around which the roll must be managed if the capacity of the school is not to be exceeded.

The boards of State integrated schools, however, have a predetermined roll management tool. This is the maximum roll specified in the school's integration agreement. For some State integrated schools, the maximum roll is regularly a limiting factor, because each year they experience a situation where the number of applications from preference students exceeds, or comes close to exceeding, the number of spaces available. These schools need an enrolment scheme. Some State integrated schools may have a maximum roll which is higher than the actual capacity of the present school accommodation. If a school in this situation receives more applications than the capacity of the school can cope with, then it too needs a scheme - unless, of course, the proprietor is willing to extend the school capacity within the limit of the maximum roll.

In consultation with the board and the proprietor, the Ministry will make a judgement as to whether the maximum roll (or school capacity) is regularly under pressure from applications from preference students and if necessary will require the board to develop an enrolment scheme under Section 11H(1).

No enrolment scheme is needed if the only problem is that there are more non-preference students applying for enrolment than the maximum number of non-preference places allowed for by the integration agreement. An enrolment scheme is needed only if the maximum roll and/or school capacity itself is under pressure. When there is pressure on the maximum roll and/or school capacity, the board should be mindful of the requirement of the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act 1975 that non-preference students may be enrolled only if places are available after all preference applicants have been enrolled.

Foreign fee-paying students

Note that Section 4(3) of the Education Act 1989 provides that a board is not permitted to enrol foreign students if this action has the effect of excluding a domestic student who is entitled to be enrolled. However, Section 4(6) provides that even though domestic students are unable to be enrolled, foreign students can still be enrolled if the enrolment places are provided out of the fees paid by the students themselves. If a State integrated school has an enrolment scheme, this places increased emphasis on the need to ensure that foreign students do not occupy places which could be filled by domestic students. It means that a foreign fee-paying preference student cannot be enrolled ahead of a domestic preference student, even if the foreign fee-paying student lives closer to the school. The exception would be if the place occupied by the foreign student is funded by the fees paid by the student.

Catering for new arrivals

In other State schools, the principle of not excluding local students is given greater emphasis in the requirement to specify a geographic area (the "home zone") which gives an absolute guarantee of enrolment to those students who live inside its boundaries. This guarantee applies no matter when the application to enrol is made.

Although a State integrated school with an enrolment scheme does not have to create a home zone (though it can choose to do so), its scheme must, as far as possible, ensure that it does not exclude local students [Section 11A(2)(a)]. Boards must be particularly careful to ensure that the offer of a place to a non-preference student does not later compromise its ability to enrol a preference student seeking enrolment at his or her local school.

At the time of pre-enrolment, therefore, a board will not necessarily be able to accept applications for enrolment up to the limit set by the maximum roll or the school's capacity (if that is less than the maximum roll). This is because a situation may subsequently occur where a preference student, who is a new arrival in the area or who simply seeks to transfer from a nearby State school, seeks enrolment and the school is clearly a local school serving the area in which the applicant lives. A few applications from students who have a low priority for enrolment under the scheme may, therefore, need to be declined to allow a little flexibility to cater for students with a high priority at a later date.