'Tough' call for families as Hunter schools fill: Maitland parent

Since 1997, public schools have managed their enrollments each year by giving preference to prospective students who live within a certain radius, known as their zone. Each school manages how closely it needs to stick to this policy, largely based on how full the school is, to make sure no children who live inside that zone miss out on a place.

But Cindy Baker says the system should be tweaked to give greater consideration to children whose older brothers or sisters already go to the school, even if they live out of zone, so siblings don’t have to go to different schools.

Ms Baker said she pulled her son Kayden from Bolwarra Public School this year after she could not get her other son Cameron enrolled in kindergarten there, because the family lived outside Bolwarra’s catchment area.

While the boys are now enjoying their time at Largs Public School, Ms Baker said it was a difficult decision.

“It’s tough on all the families out there. There are a lot that I know of that can’t get their kids into out of zone schools that have siblings there. We missed out this year,” she said. “Hopefully they have a grace period and let siblings in.”

A NSW Education spokesman said enrolments to Bolwarra Public School and Maitland Grossmann High were at the point where out of zone enrolments had to be reduced to make sure there were enough places available for students who lived inside the catchment area.

“Every student who wishes to attend a NSW public school will be given a place at their local school,” he said.

“The department’s enrolment policy explains how schools can consider out-of-zone enrolments if they have spare permanent classroom space once local students are enrolled.

“Schools able to consider out-of-zone applications often give having a sibling already at the school a high priority, but they are not in a position to give guarantees given the priority that must be given to local enrolments.”