Rolleston College opened in 2017 with capacity for 1100 students but the Ministry of Education's growth projections show a second high school may be required for the area in the next six to eight years.
The process to find an appropriate site is underway, said ministry head of education infrastructure service Kim Shannon.
“As part of the evaluation process, we shall be engaging with the Selwyn District Council on the factors that may influence location and timing,” she said.
“We have had discussions with the principal of Rolleston College and the chair of the college’s board of trustees. Where practical, we also try to ensure local communities are aware of our plans.”
Rolleston College principal Steve Saville said he is aware of the growth projections but is yet to have detailed discussions with the Ministry.
The Ministry of Education funds land purchases through its capital budget.
The Ministry’s Canterbury National Education Growth Plan 2030 predicts Rolleston College could reach its capacity of 1800 students by 2027/28.
It says in the medium-term, the Ministry anticipates an additional 700-1000 primary-aged and 600-820 secondary-aged students will need access to a local state school in the Rolleston area by 2030.
“Rolleston’s growth over the past 10 years has been rapid. This growth is set to continue with major economic drivers providing secure employment opportunities in the town," said director of education for Canterbury Coralanne Child.
“In our 20-year plan for Rolleston, we have already been future-proofing the town’s education needs through additions to the Rolleston school landscape with West Rolleston Primary, Lemonwood Grove Primary, Rolleston College and the relocation of Waitaha School.”
Planning is under way for additional capacity at the school to provide 700 more student places.
“We are still looking at where the growth is and whether it will continue. The Ministry keeps us very closely informed about it and has been no detailed discussion yet,” he said.
Mr Saville said the Ministry’s prediction that Rolleston College could reach its capacity by 2027/28 is looking accurate.
“I’d say that is looking comparatively accurate, yes. The growth is rapid but because our school design is a rather new design, you can’t always use the traditional student guidelines to measure capacity and things. So that could change quite dramatically."
He said the growth they have seen so far has been expected and aligns with what was set out in the school’s five-year growth plan when it opened.
The report also outlines the need for a new primary school in Rolleston. It says site acquisition is under way for a new primary school in the south-east of the township and will be completed in 2019.
Planning is under way for an initial capacity of 400 pupils at the school and master-planned for 750. The report says it is expected to open in 2021/22 and will complete the spatial plan for primary school provision across Rolleston.
MoE growth projections show that demand for primary schooling in Rolleston could reach 2700 places by 2021.
