Enrolment

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Enrolment Information for Whānau Seeking Enrolment in St Anthony’s School (Pahiatua)

We look forward to you becoming part of our faith and learning community of St Anthony’s School.

How to Enrol at St Anthony’s School

Please contact our Principal, Marg Hyslop, in the first instance to discuss your child’s enrolment. Please phone the school office to make an appointment for this on  06 376 8523. Enrolments are accepted from Year 1 to Year 8. 

Preference Enrolments

• Those being considered for enrolment at St Anthony’s School will see a designated member of our local St Brigid’s Parish, Agent of the Bishop, who determines the eligibility for preference of enrolment, using the criteria set by the Catholic Bishops of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our agent is Parish Priest Father Ralph Barcelo.
• Catholic State Integrated Schools select Preference students as per the following criteria to determine whether or not the parents of a child have established such a particular or general religious connection with the Catholic Special Character:

5.1 The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church.

5.2 The child’s parents/guardians have already allowed one or more of its siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.

5.3 At least one parent/guardian is a Catholic, and although their child has not yet been baptised, the child’s participation in the life of the school could lead to the parents having the child baptised.

5.4 With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a significant familial adult undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church. The significant familial adult is expected to be practising their faith in their own local parish. They may be a grandparent, aunt or uncle who is actively involved in the child’s upbringing.

5.5 One or both of a child’s non-Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.

​​​​​​​Non Preference Enrolments

• Non preference or non-Catholic enrolments, will be enrolled only if enrolment places are available after all preference applicants have been enrolled. The maximum number of places available for non-preference students is 15% of the total maximum roll and dependent upon vacancies at the time of enrolment. In this grouping, priority will be given in the following order:
  1. Siblings of a student currently enrolled at St Anthony’s School.
  2. Close relatives of students currently enrolled at St Anthony’s School.
  3. Non-preference applicants who are children of employees or BOT members of St Anthony's School.
  4. Other non-preference applicants.
• Non Preference applicants accept that they will be required to pay attendance dues as set by the Proprietor of the Diocese of Palmerston North and these are not voluntary.
• The applicants accept that they will be coming to a school of Catholic Special Character and that their place in the school is conditional on their participation in the programme. 

Maximum Roll

St Anthony’s has a maximum roll of 145 students. 

Please note that should our preference roll reach 85% of our maximum roll allowance, then no further Non Preference students would be enrolled. Currently there are no Non Preference places available for 2025. There are 26 Preference places available for 2025.

Should St Anthony’s School roll reach 85% of our maximum roll then preference enrolment priority will be given in the following order;

1. Sibling of a student currently enrolled at St Anthony's School.
2. Close family member of a student currently enrolled at St Anthony’s School.
3. Child of an employee or BOT member of St Anthony’s School.
4. Child of an ex student of St Anthony’s School.
5. Other preference applicants.

Waiting List Procedure

All unsuccessful applicants may choose to have their names placed on a waiting list. The waiting list will be kept current within relevant priority categories, ranked in order. Students on the waiting list may be offered places at a later date if they become available. 

For further information please refer to the Board of Trustees section on the school website under Catholic Character/Policies & Procedures.

Reviewed February 2025