Part 2: The School Roll
The school started with an approximate roll of 162 children. From 1960 to the early 1970s, the school roll fluctuated between 330 and 410 children. From 1974, Form 1 and 2 students began attending the newly built Ashburton Intermediate School, which had a significant impact on the school roll.
From the mid-70s to 1980, the roll varied from around 230 to 310 pupils. During the 1980s the roll gradually declined to around the mid-200 mark as the suburb became gentrified. From the 1990s to the present (2024), the roll has remained generally stable, ranging from 100 to 180 children. As of the end of May 2024, the roll is 176.
To avoid overcrowding, the school implemented an enrolment zone in 2020. The current modern-day technical capacity of the school is 168 pupils with seven main classroom teaching spaces. The eighth teaching space was converted into a board and resources room with space for the special educational needs coordinator and learning support coordinator. However, due to a high roll, the eighth teaching space is being used as a smaller classroom.
Ashburton Netherby School students at the County Sports in the 1970s carrying the original Ashburton Netherby School shield, which sits proudly in the school office to this day.
School Hall
​
The school hall was officially completed in 1965 by Bradford Construction and was opened on 20 September 1965 by the Minister of Education, Mr Kinsella. The hall is sizeable at 2800 square feet, and originally cost £7300 to build. Taking inflation into account, the insurance cost to rebuild the hall to its current size in 2024 is close to $1,000,000.
Building the school hall in 1965.
The school hall in May 2024.
The hall foyer entrance to the right of this picture was built in 2011 and opened by the then Board Chair, Chris Bennett, on 15 December 2011.
Previous: Building the School | Next: Adventure Playground and School Pool