WelCom, September 2024
Two Wellington Catholic primary schools are facing potential closure because of growing financial pressures in maintaining the schools and stagnant population growth in the capital.
The Archdiocese’s General Manager, Reuben Norris, and Vicar for Education and Director of Catholic Schools Education Services, Kelly Ross, recently met with parents of children at the two schools. They have issued the statement in the panel below.
Cardinal McKeefry Catholic Primary School was opened in 1970 and later named after the Archbishop of Wellington Peter McKeefry. The school was the first Catholic primary school in New Zealand to be state integrated with a maximum roll of 278. It was designated as a full co-educational primary school in the 1980s. Its roots trace back to New Zealand’s first Marist Brothers’ school that provided education at various places in Thorndon.
Cardinal McKeefry Primary School ranges from year 1 to year 8. As from the 1 July 2024 roll return, the school has 54 students.
St Bernard’s School was originally opened and blessed in the Catholic Church at the top of Jefferson St, Brooklyn, in 1911. After a meeting of parishioners, it was decided a Mercy Sisters convent school would commence in the church building. This was during the term of Fr J F O’Connor sm as parish priest of St Mary of the Angels, when Brooklyn was linked to St Mary’s parish.
A later parish priest, Fr Paul Kane, procured land in Taft St. The church was re-sited there in 1949 and a new school built. The school was called St Anthony’s, but this name was changed in 1961 and the parish and school became St Bernard’s. The Sisters of Mercy continued to run the school until they withdrew in 1972.
As from the 1 July 2024 roll return, St Bernard’s Primary School currently has 47 students.
The Archdiocese of Wellington recently finalised a review of all schools in the Archdiocese network. To fulfil our mission of providing the best education possible for our students, we continually review and assess all schools in our network to ensure viability and sustainability for the future.
Due to growing financial pressures, such as rising insurance premiums and building costs, along with stagnant population growth projections for the City of Wellington, means that the Archdiocese needed to consider these factors in maintaining its buildings across the entire network to meet Ministry of Education standards.
As a result, and after careful consideration, the Archdiocese of Wellington has informed parents of its intention, as Proprietor of these schools, to engage the Minister of Education to consider the potential cancellation of Cardinal McKeefry Catholic Primary School’s and St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School’s Integration Agreement.
We deeply understand that this news has brought a great deal of uncertainty and concern for the staff, students, and families within these school communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this challenging time, and we are fully committed to offering our support to everyone affected.
– Reuben Norris, General Manager, and Kelly Ross Vicar for Education, Wellington Archdiocese