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Fees are proving to be a barrier for roll growth at Christian-based schools in lower socio-economic areas, despite a growing appetite for the education they offer.
Living Way School in Wellsford announced it will shut its doors next month and, while its roll is steady, Otamatea Christian School is not growing.
There are currently 64 schools under the New Zealand Association for Christian Schools across the country. Some operate as private, while others are integrated.
The difference means that integrated schools only have to cover capital expenses and not operational as well.
Both Otamatea Christian and Living Way operate as private schools and have fees of $3000 and $3900 respectively per child per year, although the cost for further children from the same family is at a reduced rate.
Otamatea Christian School principal Mark Bell says although his school has very low fees in comparison to other private establishments, it’s still too much to ask from low income families.
“The education we offer is individualised and teaches good values, but being in a low socio-economic area, it’s still difficult to attract growth,” Mr Bell says.
Living Way School principal Peter Thomas cited this as the main factor behind a decline in roll that has caused his school to fold.
Both schools use the Accelerated Christian Learning (ACE) teaching system and, while Mr Bell says becoming integrated would help them financially, it would likely mean a switch to the NCEA system.
“The ACE system means students are all assessed individually and then do work according to their academic level. We really value that way of teaching as a school.”
New Zealand Association for Christian Schools chair Shaun Brooker says this problem is a nationwide issue for private Christian schools.
“Schools operating in the regions really rely on parents who are especially keen for their children to have a Christian-based education,” Mr Brooker says.
“Particularly private operations, where fees are often between $4000 and $5000 annually, compared to the $600 or $700 per child you might expect at an integrated school.”
Meanwhile, Christian schools in higher income areas are experiencing huge demand, including from non-religious families, even as the Christian population in New Zealand is in decline.
One local example is the integrated Horizon School in Snells Beach, which started operating the Beehive Childcare Centre this year and has a college on the way.
Manager Kingsway Pre-Schools Debbie Stratton says there seems to be a desire for values-based education.
“Both families that are Christian and those that aren’t seem keen to have their children taught with Christian values. They also like the fact that pupils here can continue to learn this way through our primary school and soon to be college,” she says.
“We also have preschools in Red Beach and Silverdale and both of those are operating at full capacity.”
Ms Stratton noted the higher teacher-to-child ratio as a drawcard for the schools.
Mr Brooker says demand for Christian education is especially strong in the main centres, where waiting lists are growing, particularly as most Christian schools can only take a small proportion of students from non-religious families.
“When I was at Elim Christian School, we had 200 children waiting to get in, and I think that’s a testament to the values-based education,” he says.
“Obviously it costs more than going to a state school, so parents must see the cost as being worthwhile for the teaching that is offered.”
