Two Wellington Catholic schools will close this year

Education Minister Erica Stanford told the Board of Trustees of Cardinal McKeefry School in Wilton of her decision to accept a proposal to cancel the integration agreement and close the school on December 15, 2025. A similar decision was taken by the Minister concerning St Bernard’s School in Brooklyn, which will also close at the end of this school year.

Last year, the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington announced it was considering closing the schools due to “growing financial pressures in maintaining the schools and stagnant population growth in the capital”. St Bernard’s had 47 students last July after five years of no growth, while Cardinal McKeefry had 54, having dropped from 83 in 2020.

All students and families would be supported, said Kelly Ross, vicar for education and director of Catholic schools education services at the Archdiocese of Wellington.

This year, Ms Stanford told Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul that, in each instance, students would be moved to neighbouring schools.

A statement from a Cardinal McKeefry School board of trustees spokesperson said that the Minister’s decision to accept the archdiocese’s proposal “is very sad news, as we had hoped for a different outcome, having made a strong case for keeping the school open”.

“However, I am grateful for the kind of community we have – one that pulls together in good and hard times to support and care for each other. I believe that is what we will do in this situation,” the spokesperson said.

“The Board and principal will work with the Ministry of Education and the archdiocese to ensure an orderly and dignified process for winding down.”

The board statement added that some immediate priorities are “confirming process and support for parents and caregivers who wish to move their tamariki to one of the Catholic schools in the archdiocese, and confirming what support is available for school staff”.

FULL STORY

Stagnant rolls and no population growth see closure of two Catholic schools (By Tom Hunt/The Post- subscription required)

Wellington Catholic primary school faces potential closure | The Post (The Post)

Cardinal McKeefry School eNewsletter (Cardinal McKeefry School e-newsletter)