ABOUT US

Paparoa Range School was established in 2005 following on from a District Network Review by the Ministry of Education.  Brunnerton, Kaiata and Stillwater schools merged onto the Brunnerton site at Dobson and the Blackball School became a satellite school of Paparoa Range.  The two schools are approximately 18 kilometres apart.

Paparoa Range is a U2 and has a decile 5 rating.  We have three classrooms at Dobson site and one classroom at Blackball.

Paparoa Range School is located 10km inland from Greymouth.  The buildings at the Dobson site consist of six permanent teaching spaces, library, a multipurpose room, new administration block, covered swimming pool and a community hall across the road. The school grounds have been upgraded.  The Blackball site consists of 3 classroom spaces and an administration area.

The Dobson site students come from Dobson, Kaiata, Taylorville, Stillwater and Ngahere.  Blackball site students come mainly from Blackball and Atarau.  The school owns and operates 1 bus and has a minivan.  A ministry school bus also operates from Atarau to Blackball.

The population is mainly of European descent, twenty per cent of our students are Māori and we do not have any Pasifika children. Community involvement in the school is encouraged, our parents and other members of the community are very supportive of the school and some assist with sport, fundraising, school trips and attending assemblies.