And then there were two…

by Ann Packer

In December there were three schools in Eastbourne. Now there are two. With the closure of San Antonio school at the end of last year due to an unsustainable roll, Muritai School and Wellesley College are the remaining primary schools. Both are full primary schools, teaching to the end of Year 8.

Muritai School principal Stu Davenport, who took up the job in the last term of 2022, says his school roll is looking very stable for the year ahead, with around 370 students, including several new enrolments, across all year levels, to start the new year.

“We of course are looking forward to welcoming our new students from San Antonio too.”

Mr Davenport says exciting things in the pipeline for 2023 include the school’s 125th celebrations in March. And after several years of interruptions due to Covid, they are looking forward to getting camp programmes underway – Years 5 and 6 students will head to Camp Makahika, an outdoor pursuits centre east of Levin, at the end of Term One.

Also, Mr Devenport says, a couple of property projects are happening this year, with the first priority the school hall and kitchen refurbishment, “which will benefit the whole community”.

Wellesley College had an “extremely positive” year in 2022 which led to significant roll growth – additional classes were put on for Years 4 and 7, with another Year 8 class added this term to meet demand, says the school’s marketing manager, Julie-Ann Hedges.

“It is extremely gratifying to see the hard work over recent years from the staff, management, and school board paying off in this way.”

One of Wellesley’s unique offerings in 2023 is the introduction of the William Pike Challenge into the year 7 and 8 curriculum, with students challenged in ways that can’t be achieved inside the classroom. [See EH, September 2022]

“The focus on outdoor activities, community service and the pursuit of personal passion projects is perfectly in tune with the Wellesley ethos of risk taking, service to others and perseverance,” Ms Hedges says. “Their self-worth and self-esteem grow. Their physical and mental wellbeing improves. They develop a sense of purpose by thinking beyond themselves and giving back to others.

"Our students leave equipped with a bank of 21st-century skills and characteristics that not only advance their future, but ours and the planet’s.”

San Antonio School is still going through a formal closure process, says the BOT’s presiding member Luke Mathieson. The Proprietor of San Antonio School, Cardinal John Dew, proposed in October to the Associate Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, that they mutually agree to cancel the school’s integration agreement and close the school. On 21 December the board received a letter from the minister saying she wanted “to consult on the possible cancellation of the integration agreement”. Mr Mathieson says the decision-making process now sits with the Ministry of Education. A decision is expected in 4-6 weeks.