A public meeting is being held at Chisnallwood Intermediate tonight to talk through the Ministry of Education’s plans to significantly cut the school roll by 200 students.

The school, on Christchurch’s east side, was set to close after the Canterbury earthquakes, but was allowed to stay open on the condition the decision be reviewed again in 2020.

However, the school has been told by the Ministry it needs to cut its roll by about a third.

National Party’s spokesperson for Education Erica Stanford called tonight’s meeting to discuss the Government’s planned reduction of the school’s roll by March 2025.

Chisnallwood principal Justin Fields said “Erica Stanford’s is the only support we’re currently getting, and we’re hoping that National can help us review that number.”

“We just don’t feel the Government’s reasons for cutting our school’s numbers are justified,” Fields said.

Stanford said that the reduction of students will have a significant impact on the school and the local community.

“Despite repeated calls from the school community the Government is pushing ahead with the reduction in Chisnallwood’s roll. The Minister of Education Jan Tinetti has refused to intervene, telling the National Party that this is an operational decision for the Ministry of Education,” Stanford said.

Fields said they are expecting a large turnout for tonight’s meeting.

“We’re hoping that our community will vote with their feet. This will send a strong message to the Government that we’re not going away,” Fields said.

Hon Jan Tinetti said “Chisnallwood Intermediate is one of the last schools to enter the Canterbury Earthquake redevelopment programme, and the Government made the decision to rebuild Chisnallwood Intermediate on their current site with a build capacity for 400 students.”

“This figure provides more than enough capacity for all local intermediate students, with room for the school to continue to take some out of zone students. At the time of this decision there were 340 intermediate-aged students in Chisnallwood’s zone, of which 181 attended the school with the other 159 students attending schools outside the area,” Minister Tinetti added.

PUBLIC MEETING: Chisnallwood Intermediate, 7 September, 5.30pm – 6.30pm, 76 Breezes Road, Avondale, Christchurch.