Nelson Central School


Nelson Central School is a state primary contributing school located in the inner city of Nelson at the top of the South Island of New Zealand teaching children of both genders aged 5 to 11 years.
Currently the board of trustees consists of six elected parent representatives, the Principal and the staff representative. The current chairman is Dr Bradley Hannigan.
For the school year ended in December 2012, the school roll opened with 392 students and closed with 452. During the school year, staffing entitlement ranged from 24.64 in February to 24.73 by December.

Location

Nelson Central School is situated in the city of Nelson, New Zealand, three blocks east of Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson.

Enrolment

As a primary contributing school, Nelson Central School sends pupils to Nelson Intermediate School, Nelson College for Girls Preparatory School and Nelson College Preparatory School. Nelson Central School enrols children between 5 and 11 years of age. Typically, about 50–60 five-year-old children start each year.

History

Nelson Central School is now the oldest school in New Zealand still functioning on its original unitary site. Consequently, its main building and Renwick House are of architectural interest. The site of the present school was purchased by the Nelson Education Board in 1893 for £1600. The official opening ceremony of the main school building was held on Monday 23 June 1930. The school building is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category II historic structure. The building was added to the register on 25 November 1982, with register number 1596.

Māori

The number of Māori children enrolled at the school is proportionately greater than would be expected given the total Māori population in the City of Nelson. This may be due to the presence of four Māori language immersion classes with a full-time Kaiarahi reo within Nelson Central.
All students take part in the school's Mana Maori programme as required under the Treaty of Waitangi and all students have the opportunity to acquire some knowledge of Maori language and culture.