Announcement is Positive News for Students and Their Families

The decision for Christchurch’s Halswell Residential College (HRC) to become a co-educational campus is being welcomed by staff, students and families.

The Minister of Education Hon. Hekia Parata has today confirmed that HRC will become fully co-educational, a status they first applied for in 2012.

Chair of the Board of Trustees Lois Chick says she is very pleased they will no longer have to turn a student away because she is female.

“Since January 2014, we have been able to enrol up to five girls at Halswell Residential College however we were still officially a “single sex boys school”, which disadvantaged female students”, says Mrs Chick, adding that the College has been forced to deny enrolments for girls who with their families requested a place at HRC.

“Now the classrooms and campus will better reflect how life really is, with both males and females being a part of the school community,” she says. “It adds an important dimension to the work we do with our students, a number of whom transition to mainstream co-ed schools and beyond that, will live and work in communities made up of both men and women.”

"A 2014 ERO review and two assessments by Standards and Monitoring Services, New Zealand (SAMS) in 2013 and 2016 were extremely positive about the College and its educational programmes, and considered the College was well placed to become co-educational. 

Lois Chick says HRC students are happy and do very well, something reflected in their achievements and the support the College receives from parents, staff and the wider community.

“All of our students are supported with individualised programmes and work alongside highly-trained staff in a stable and nurturing environment. Now that environment will be co-ed and we couldn’t be happier for our students, family and staff,” she says.

ENDS

www.halswellcollege.com

Additional information:

In May 2013, the Minister of Education, Hon. Hekia Parata, gazetted that:

Notice of Limit of Number of Female Students That May be Enrolled at Halswell Residential College (552)

Pursuant to section 146A(3)(a) of the Education Act 1989, I hereby declare that Halswell Residential College, which is a single sex boys’ school, will be able to enrol up to five female students. The number of girls enrolled will not exceed 40 percent of the actual number of boys enrolled at the school at any time. This will take effect from January 2014.

Our first five girls arrived in 2014. We have had to turn away female applicants, due to limitations of the quota.

In 2012, and 2014 HRC applied to become co-educational. The Minister deferred a decision.

In 2015, HRC once again applied to become co-educational. This application has now been approved (July 2016).

More about Halswell Residential College

HRC provides round-the-clock, live-in, special education for children and young people with complex needs requiring extra support and specialist resources.  More information is available at www.halswellcollege.com

More about Standards and Monitoring Services, New Zealand (SAMS)

While primarily working under contract to the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development, SAMS undertakes evaluation projects directly with a wide range of Non-Government and Government organisations.

More information is available at www.sams.org.nz