Please ensure you have digital copies of the following before you proceed: 

• Proof of address, copy of a utility bill.

• child's birth certificate, or passport

• Immunisation records 

• Visa (if applicable)

• Completed Medication agreement

• Our enrolments officer will email you to confirm receipt of your application, and to let you know what happens next.

• The school will contact you prior to your child’s starting date to organise transition visits into your child’s class.

We look forward to working with you and your child. Please do not hesitate to phone or email us with any questions you may have.  We are more than happy to hear from you and to assist in any way.

We welcome new students from other schools or who are new to NZ at any time, so long as they live within our zone.

New students and parents are welcome to visit and tour the school prior to starting with us. This is a good opportunity for meeting the teachers and familiarising themselves with the physical environment.  During the enrolment process we will contact you to see if you would like a school visit and to organise a time that suits, prior to having their first day at Discovery School.

For all New Entrant enrolments the school appreciates if all procedures are completed prior to starting day.  This includes:

• completing all necessary forms / paper work

• meeting the Principal and class teacher

• purchasing necessary stationery and paying school donations

• arranging your pre-school visits

Children are encouraged to attend pre-entry visits which assist children in settling in to school life. By attending these visits students will have an opportunity to get to know others at school and become familiar with the classroom and some simple routines. 

The pattern of visits is for the following times for two weeks prior to children starting school. While the days and times are not confirmed for any pre-entry visits, it will give you some indication of how many visits are typical and probable days and times.

Wednesday: 9.00am - 11.00am
Friday: 11.30am -1.00pm 

Bring lunch to eat and then have a play at school

We endeavour to keep Y0/1 class sizes to approximately 18-20.

You may decide which day, on or after their fifth birthday your child will start school.

Teachers will make a time to guide you through how your child has settled into their learning after their 6 week check, by making an appointment time to meet with you.

Each year the Board will determine the number of places, if any, which are likely to be available in the following year for the enrolment of students who live outside the home zone.   If there are places, the Board will publish this information by notice in a community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school.  The notice will indicate how applications are to be made and will specify a date by which all applications must be received. 

Applications for enrolment will be processed in the following order of priority: 

First Priority: will be given to any applicant for enrolment in a special programme. No approved special programmes operate at Discovery School so this category is not applicable. 

Second Priority: will be given to any applicant who is the sibling of a current student of Discovery School. 

Third Priority: will be given to any applicant who is the sibling of a former student of Discovery School. 

Fourth Priority: will be given to any applicant who is a child of a former student of Discovery School. 

Fifth Priority: will be given to any applicant who is either a child of an employee of the board of Discovery School or a child of a member of the board of Discovery School. 

Sixth Priority: will be given to all other applicants. 

If there are more applicants in the second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth priority groups than there are places available, selection within the priority group will be by a ballot conducted in accordance with instructions issued by the Secretary under Section 11G(1) of the Education Act 1989. 

Parents will be informed of the date of any ballot by notice in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school. Applicants seeking second or third priority status may be required to give proof of a sibling relationship. 

Our school is divided into three teams:

Junior Team (Years 0 - 3)

Middle Team (Years 4-6)

Senior Team (Years 7-8)

Within teams teachers work closely together, so that planning and teaching is consistent, however every teacher will cater for the needs of the students in the class and will put their personal style into their teaching.

The placement of students is dependent on roll numbers within each year group.  When children turn 5 they enter one of our reception classes where they remain until the end of the year. Other classes throughout our school tend to be composite classes, that is two year levels are combined.  Our criteria for placing children in a particular room include:

• gender balance

• work habits

• balance of abilities

• equity of classes

• balance of behaviour type

• friendships

• teacher / student compatibility

• previous placement 

We endeavour to meet parent requests but the total school / class need will take priority over individual needs. 

• Students who have completed 2 full years by 1st January will be promoted to Year 3. Those who have completed one year and eight months by 1st January will be considered for promotion, 1 May is the date that we look closely at for considering promotion. We decide based on social maturation and academic ability.

• Once children have completed a year in Year 3 they are then promoted to Year 4 and are usually advanced to a new class each following year.

• While acceleration may seem advantageous at the age of 6 or 7 years, it may cause social and emotional difficulties for the child on entry to secondary school when they are placed with others more mature.

• Holding a child back because of lack of achievement may lead to frustration and behaviour problems due to the child working alongside others less mature physically, socially and emotionally. This will only be done with parent consultation. Research shows this is most damaging to students. At Discovery School we believe in open dialogue with parents regarding level placement.