Is there a future for small rural schools? : the closure of Hunter School : a case study

Abstract

In New Zealand, small rural schools situated away from cities have falling rolls due to changes in population. While these schools are under pressure to amalgamate or close, small schools are viewed by principals, teachers, parents and trustees to be effective at utilising resources available to benefit educational opportunities for students and providing rewarding experiences for teachers. For the subject of the case study, Hunter School, the contributions made by the school's community due to a feeling of ownership were the major contributing factor to its financial and educational success. The contributions, through fundraising, school fees and voluntary help made it possible to purchase assets and undertake educational programmes that would otherwise not be available. The community will feel a sense of loss when the school closes, which will affect their feeling of ownership. The author proposes that small schools be the preferred primary school format and that government consider capital input into a network of small schools to maintain cost-effective quality education for rural, small town and urban areas.