Enrolment at Pakuranga Heights School
Commencement
At all levels the first day of the school week is the sole starting day. For new entrants this will be the first day of the week following their 5th birthday. This organisation ensures the class teacher is fully prepared with books and furniture and there is little disruption for existing students. In some cases interpreters need arranging.Placement
Where possible we try to place children in single year level classrooms. However, the size of some class levels sometimes makes it necessary to have a composite classes. Our criteria for placing children in a particular room include:- gender balance
- work habits
- balance of abilities
- equity of classes
- balance of behaviour type
- pupil / pupil compatibility
- teacher / student compatibility
- previous placement in composites
- non-placement of siblings in the same room unless requested by parents
We endeavour to meet parent requests but the total school / class need will take priority over individual needs. Roll growth sometimes causes class continuity in new entrant rooms to be broken. In these rooms continuity is maintained until class size forces movement to other rooms.
New Entrants
For all New Entrant enrolments the procedure should be completed at least a month prior to starting day. This includes:-- completing all necessary forms / paper work
- meeting the Deputy Principal and class teacher
- purchasing necessary stationery and paying school fees
- arranging your pre-school visit days.
Children are encouraged to visit the school on the three Wednesdays prior to enrolment, from 9.30-11am, and to start school on the Monday after their birthday.
We aim for a maximum class size of 20.
Progress Through The School
- Students who have completed 2 full years by 1st January will be promoted to Year 3. Those who have completed one year and eight months by 1st January will be considered for promotion, 1 May is the date that we look closely at for considering promotion. We decide based on social maturation and academic ability.
- Once children have completed a year in Year 3 they are then promoted to Year 4 and are usually advanced to a new class each following year.
- While acceleration may seem advantageous at the age of 6 or 7 years, it may cause social and emotional difficulties for the child on entry to secondary school when they are placed with others more mature.
- Holding a child back because of lack of achievement may lead to frustration and behaviour problems due to the child working alongside others less mature physically, socially and emotionally. This will only be done with parent consultation. Research shows this is most damaging to students. At Pakuranga Heights School we believe in open dialogue with parents regarding level placement.
Class Sizes
- Teachers are allocated to schools based on the roll numbers the previous July. One must always be wary when listening to politicians statements regarding classroom numbers. They normally fail to mention that the ratios provided to schools include the Principal, Reading Recovery Teacher and any specialist teachers (Music, Phys Ed, ICT). So as soon as these staff are taken out of classrooms, the numbers of students in each class increases.
- They also don't mention that the allocation of classrooms to schools is at a different ration to the allocation of teachers.
- At Pakuranga Heights School we aim for the following class sizes Y0 - 20; Y1 - 24; Y2/3 - 26; Y4-6 - 30. Achievement of this is not always possible and the normal cause for this is unexpected new enrolments after the school year commences.