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Remarkables School Principal, Debbie Dickson - Source: ONE News -
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A population boom in Queenstown may mean hundreds of kids could be denied access to their local school over the next few years.
Remarkables Primary School was purpose built only two years ago to meet the needs of the ever-expanding community.
School principal Debbie Dickson told ONE News the school will not have room for the 900 new entrants projected to enrol in the next three years.
"Queenstown is known for a rapidly growing area and our current statistics our birth rate statistics are showing that," said Dickson.
Those figures are a concern to the Ministry of Education, and its solution is for the school to reduce the size of its zoning catchment.
With a reduced zone Remarkables Primary would not be obligated to accept so many new pupils.
"This is a band aid measure that they've asked us as a board to decrease our zone," Dickson said.
"They're looking at a school for 2014, 2015. But that's too late we need action now."
Education Minister Anne Tolley promised via a statement that there will be school places for all children in the area this year and next.
She said the ministry will be watching population trends and will bring forward plans to build a new school if necessary.
The Remarkables Primary School board has been asked to present a proposal to the ministry by next month.
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