Here are answers to questions which parents sometimes ask when they need to enrol their child at a school. If you want more detailed information, contact staff at one of the Ministry of Education offices listed at the bottom of this page. Staff there will be able to help you.

All children have the right to be enrolled at a State school between their fifth birthday and the first of January following their nineteenth birthday.

An enrolment scheme is a means of limiting the roll to prevent overcrowding at the school and enabling local students to enrol. The Ministry of Education is also able to make best use of the current accommodation at schools in the surrounding area.

Schemes should:

• as far as possible exclude no more students than necessary to avoid overcrowding;

• enable the Ministry to make best use of the existing networks of state schools;

• ensure that the selection of applicants for enrolment at the school is carried out in a fair and transparent manner;

• enable students to attend a reasonably convenient school;

• as far as possible not exclude local students.

Each enrolment scheme must contain a home zone with clearly defined boundaries. Students who live within the home zone have an absolute right to enrol at the school.

A school with an enrolment scheme may have the capacity to take students from outside their home zone.

In this case the school is required to advertise the availability of places and the application process including dates.

'Out of zone' students may then apply for enrolment. If there are more applicants than places available, a ballot will be held.

Applications for enrolment will be balloted in the following order of priority:

(a) students accepted for enrolment in a special programme run by the school;

(b) brothers and sisters of current students;

(c) brothers and sisters of former students;

(d) children of board employees;

(e) all other students.

Your name will be drawn and you will be placed on a waiting list. The school will advise you of your place on the list.

If your usual place of residence is within the home zone, you may apply for enrolment. When you enrol, the school may require proof of residence e.g. tenancy agreement, certificate of title or utility bills, etc. If the school finds that you have given false information, the school may refuse to enrol the student or annul the enrolment.

First of all, contact the school and ask whether the school has an enrolment scheme. If it does not, the school should not be declining any enrolments. Ask the school to put the refusal in writing stating the relevant details. You can then contact your nearest Ministry of Education office.

If the school does have an enrolment scheme, check to see whether you live in the home zone. You will be able to see a copy of the scheme at the school or visit www.schoolzones.co.nz. If you do not live in the school's home zone, then there will be another school that is reasonably convenient to your home that your child could attend.

If there are exceptional circumstances why your child should be enrolled at a particular school, you may be able to apply to the ministry for a directed enrolment. However, the ministry rarely directs an enrolment.

Schools of these types may have authority to operate enrolment schemes if there are likely to be more applicants for enrolment at the school than there are places available. Enrolment schemes at these schools do not have to include a home zone or provide for a ballot.

A state integrated school is a school with a special (religious) character, which has been integrated into the state system. Every integrated school has a maximum roll which it is not allowed to exceed. First of all, an integrated school has to cater for students who meet the school's special character requirements. If there is room left, the school is able to enrol a small number of students who do not meet the special character requirements.

A kura kaupapa Maori is a State school where teaching is in the Maori language and the school's aims, purposes and objectives reflect the Te Aho Matua philosophy. Kura kaupapa Maori are able to restrict enrolments to the children of parents who accept the kura's aims, purposes and objectives.

A designated character School is a state school with a particular character, but different from integrated schools and kura kaupapa Maori. These schools are able to restrict enrolments to the children of parents who accept the school's aims, purposes and objectives.

For further information regarding these schools contact the school directly.