Nelson Central School

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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 (2013) 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.LocationNelson Central School is situated three blocks east of Nelson Cathedral.EnrolmentAs 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.HistoryNelson 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 (photo needed). 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 first school in the new Pākehā settlement of Nelson had opened in March 1842, "in a house built of toi toi", just a few months after the New Zealand Company's first settlers landed.)