Phillipstown School was a state co-educational full primary school located in the Christchurch, New Zealand, suburb of Phillipstown. Founded in 1877,[2] the school had students from Years 1 to 8 (ages 5 to 13). It closed at the end of 2014 when it was merged with Woolston School on the Woolston site.

Phillipstown School
The original school building at the centenary in 1977 just before it was demolished
Address
Map
39 Nursery Road
Phillipstown
Christchurch 8011
New Zealand
Coordinates43°32′15″S 172°39′23″E / 43.5376°S 172.6563°E / -43.5376; 172.6563
Information
Funding typeState
Ministry of Education Institution no.3474
PrincipalTony Simpson
Years offered1–8
GenderCoeducational
School roll[1] (August 2024)
Socio-economic decile1
Websitewww.phillipstown.school.nz

The school had an attached technology centre, which taught "manual training" technology subjects to 1,200 Year 7 and 8 students from Phillipstown and 30 other full primary schools in Christchurch.[3] Unlike intermediate schools and Year 7–13 secondary schools, most full primary schools in Christchurch do not have the roll numbers, staff or facilities to fully provide technology subjects to Year 7 and 8 students, so the technology centre catered for these schools. Students attended the centre for 90 minutes per week and rotated every term through six different areas of study: wood, metal, plastic, textiles, food and electronics.[4]

Phillipstown came to national attention in 2013 when it sought a judicial review over a decision by the minister of education, Hekia Parata, to merge it with nearby Woolston School. The closure was delayed when the High Court subsequently ruled in favour of Phillipstown and overturned the minister's decision.[5] However, ultimately, the school was closed.[6]

The buildings have subsequently been put to use as a community hub.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ "The History of Phillipstown". Phillipstown School. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ Turner, Anna (24 November 2012). "Fears centre will go if schools merge". The Press. Christchurch. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Scheme of Work 2013 – Technology Centre". Phillipstown School. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  5. ^ Mathewson, Nicole; Dally, Joelle; O'Callaghan, Jody (11 October 2013). "Phillipstown School one, Parata nil". The Press. Christchurch. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
    - Mead, Thomas (10 October 2013). "Govt's decision to merge Phillipstown school overturned". 3 News NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ^ O'Callaghan, Jody (12 December 2014). "Bell rings final time at Christchurch's Phillipstown School". The Press. Christchurch. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Phillpstown Community Hub". Christchurch: CPIT. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
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