Halswell Residential College Mother Rejects Co-Ed Safety Claims

Claims that girls are less safe in the co-educational environment at Halswell Residential College, are absolute rubbish.

That from a mother whose daughter has been a student at Halswell for more than a year.

Kate Wynn, whose teenage daughter *Philippa has a mild intellectual disability, says her daughter has flourished at Halswell Residential College.

“Every time Philippa comes home in the school holidays, we see how much she has grown and improved as far as her self-esteem, confidence and overall academic ability go. If it wasn’t safe at Halswell, she wouldn’t be there; safety is not negotiable,” she says.

Kate says the ongoing assertions questioning the safety at Halswell Residential College, particularly now it is co-ed, are not fair on the boys and girls who work hard and are proud of their school.

“The kids at Halswell are quite outstanding,” she says. “These unsubstantiated comments are so unfair on everyone, including the amazing staff but especially the kids,” she says. “Co-ed is very important to me because my belief is that Philippa needs to learn how to act appropriately around both sexes. There are excellent processes for everything, the rules are very clear and staff are always with the students. Halswell is such a well-supported, safe and stable environment for Philippa and she is getting the specialised education she needs, participating in things she would never usually participate in.”

HRC Chair of the Board of Trustees Lois Chick, says it is disappointing that Salisbury School continues to attack Halswell at every opportunity despite no evidence to support its claims.  A legal opinion released by Salisbury last week said that girls transferring from Salisbury to Halswell are less safe in the HRC co-educational environment.

“There is not one shred of information in the latest SAMS (Standards and Monitoring Standards) report, released late last month, that backs up this legal opinion, or the Salisbury Board of Trustees assertions or the subsequent media coverage of that opinion. I can only assume the lawyers didn’t actually see the July SAMS report,” she says.

"A 2014 ERO review and two assessments by Standards and Monitoring Services, New Zealand (SAMS) – one in 2013 and the one last month – have all been extremely positive about Halswell Residential College and our educational programmes, and considered the College was well placed to become co-educational.” 

Lois Chick says the school and board are more than happy to be challenged and be asked to prove themselves, and they have done that without fail, over and over.

“For the sake of our students, staff and families, we want this attacking to stop so we can get on with what we do very well indeed – ensuring the very best outcomes for the girls and boys at Halswell Residential College.                                              

www.halswellcollege.com                                                              

ENDS

*name has been changed

For more information, contact Ali Jones on 027 247 3112 or ali@alijonespr.co.nz

Additional information:

In May 2013, the Minister of Education, Hon. Hekia Parata, gazetted that:

Notice of Limit of Number of Female Students That May be Enrolled at Halswell Residential College (552)

Pursuant to section 146A(3)(a) of the Education Act 1989, I hereby declare that Halswell Residential College, which is a single sex boys’ school, will be able to enrol up to five female students. The number of girls enrolled will not exceed 40 percent of the actual number of boys enrolled at the school at any time. This will take effect from January 2014.

Our first five girls arrived in 2014. We have had to turn away female applications, due to limitations of the quota.

In 2012, and 2014 HRC applied to become co-educational. The Minister deferred a decision.

In 2015, HRC once again applied to become co-educational. This application has now been approved (July 2016).

More about Halswell Residential College

HRC provides round-the-clock, live-in, special education for children and young people with complex needs requiring extra support and specialist resources.  More information is available at www.halswellcollege.com

More about Standards and Monitoring Services, New Zealand (SAMS)

While primarily working under contract to the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development, SAMS undertakes evaluation projects directly with a wide range of Non-Government and Government organisations.

More information is available at www.sams.org.nz