Full timetables are becoming a 'constant trend” for Tauranga secondary schools – with the new school year seeing rolls filling up fast.

One Tauranga high school has declined about 15 new students due to an influx of students – and principals are noticing more families shifting homes to be closer to a particular school. This has seen one college add an extra class for Year 9 and 10 students to the timetable for 2014.

Tauranga Boys' College principal Robert Mangan is anticipating a significant increase in his school's roll this year.

Another school told SunLive it could face having to appoint additional staff this year to cater for increasing rolls.

While Tauranga Boys' College principal Robert Mangan says it is too early for schools to provide accurate enrolment numbers for 2014, but he anticipates a significant increase in new enrolments.

Robert expects an increase of 410 Year 9 students, based on enrolments so far and the total school roll to increase from 1780 to 1800 students.

'I anticipate an increase of Year 9s from our 2013 roll; and the consequence of this will mean I may need to appoint additional teaching staff.

'It appears there is strong demand for places at Tauranga Boys' College, for a variety of reasons.”

Otumoetai College has had to decline about 15 Year 9 students because principal Dave Randell says the school is exceeding full capacity.

The school was built for 1800 students and the school roll is 2010, says Dave.

'We have declined a number of out-of-zoners because we don't physically have the room or the options available anymore.

'We lowered our number for Year 9s anyway, because we knew our Year 10s were going to increase; and we've had quite an influx of people moving into the zone who are Year 10.”

Year 9 enrolments at Otumoetai College have decreased this year, with less than 400 students enrolling – but Year 10 figures are growing with 24 new students entering that year level, says Dave.

'It's been like a ‘baby dip' that's hit the Otumoetai region in the last couple of years. We predicted it for this year.

'But even though our numbers are slightly under 400, it's quite good because our Year 10 is huge we're up to 480.”

Mount Maunganui College has accepted 266 students so far, with 15 on the waiting list. The school's total roll at present is 1305 students.

Associate principal Tina Yule says enrolment numbers are up for all year levels this year.

'More families are shifting to the area and are enrolling students at our school.

'The consequences are that our timetable becomes very full and trying to balance the student numbers is an issue.”

Tina says full timetables are a constant trend for the college, so an extra Year 9 and 10 class was scheduled in anticipation of student numbers increasing again this year.

Tauranga Girls' College has accepted 330 Year 9 students into its current roll of 1507 students this year, and doesn't have a waiting list.

Principal Pauline Cowens says the school has received about 50 new enrolments across all other year levels, with Year 12 a particular area of growth.

'There are about 45 students enrolling from out of the school zone and they are mainly Year 9.”

The number of enrolments is similar to last year, says Pauline, who reckons the number of Year 13 students enrolled is the highest the school has ever had.

'The roll is stable… [But] fluctuations are dependent on a range of things.

'Job opportunities for parents are bringing people into town and taking them away. And for us, as a girls' school, [it depends on] how many girls there are versus boys in families.

'There are now 10 secondary schools in the Tauranga area, so there is plenty of choice of quality schools for families to send their children to.”

Aquinas College has a school roll of about 780 and accepts students from Year 7. Principal Ray Scott says there is as many of 120 students in each year level from Year 7-13.

Bethlehem College's capped school roll is 1530 with about 60 international students.