Phillipstown School Explained

Phillipstown School
Address:39 Nursery Road
Phillipstown
Christchurch 8011
New Zealand
Coordinates:-43.5376°N 172.6563°W
Fundingtype:State
Years:1–8
Gender:Coeducational
Moe:3474
Principal:Tony Simpson
Roll:
Decile:1

Phillipstown School was a state co-educational full primary school located in the Christchurch, New Zealand, suburb of Phillipstown. Founded in 1877,[1] the school had students from Years 1 to 8 (ages 5 to 13). It closed at the end of 2014 when it was merged with Woolston School on the Woolston site.

The school had an attached technology centre, which taught "manual training" technology subjects to 1,200 Year 7 and 8 students from Phillipstown and 30 other full primary schools in Christchurch.[2] Unlike intermediate schools and Year 7–13 secondary schools, most full primary schools in Christchurch do not have the roll numbers, staff or facilities to fully provide technology subjects to Year 7 and 8 students, so the technology centre catered for these schools. Students attended the centre for 90 minutes per week and rotated every term through six different areas of study: wood, metal, plastic, textiles, food and electronics.[3]

Phillipstown came to national attention in 2013 when it sought a judicial review over a decision by the minister of education, Hekia Parata, to merge it with nearby Woolston School. The closure was delayed when the High Court subsequently ruled in favour of Phillipstown and overturned the minister's decision.[4] However, ultimately, the school was closed.[5]

The buildings have subsequently been put to use as a community hub.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The History of Phillipstown . Phillipstown School . 4 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929122426/http://www.phillipstown.school.nz/about_us/history . 29 September 2013 . dmy-all .
  2. News: Fears centre will go if schools merge . Anna . Turner . The Press . Christchurch . 24 November 2012 . 4 December 2013.
  3. Web site: Scheme of Work 2013 – Technology Centre . Phillipstown School . 4 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929122525/http://www.phillipstown.school.nz/our_technology_centre/tech_centre/2012_scheme . 29 September 2013 . dmy-all .
  4. News: Phillipstown School one, Parata nil . Nicole . Mathewson . Joelle . Dally . Jody . O'Callaghan . The Press . Christchurch . 11 October 2013 . 4 December 2013.
    - News: Govt's decision to merge Phillipstown school overturned . Thomas . Mead . 3 News NZ . 10 October 2013 . 4 December 2013.
  5. News: Bell rings final time at Christchurch's Phillipstown School . Jody. O'Callaghan. . Christchurch. 12 December 2014. 1 July 2015.
  6. News: Phillpstown Community Hub. 25 May 2015 . CPIT . Christchurch . 1 July 2015.