Southland Adventist Christian School in Invercargill, New Zealand, has announced a historic development in its journey, with approval granted to expand to a full Year 1–13 school.
Principal Joshua Taylor announced that the Ministry of Education has approved the school’s application for a change of class and maximum roll increase, clearing the way for a staged expansion into secondary education.
“It gives me great pleasure to make the biggest announcement in our school’s history,” Mr Taylor said. “We are becoming a high school!”
Currently a Year 1–8 school with 116 students, Southland Adventist will introduce Year 9 in 2027, followed by Year 10 in 2028, Year 11 in 2029, Year 12 in 2030 and Year 13 in 2031. By the time the transition is complete, the school’s maximum roll will increase to 260 students.
The expansion represents what Mr Taylor described as “a dream come true for our community and an answer to many, many prayers”.
Nine years ago, during his first term as principal, Mr Taylor was approached by a parent asking whether the school would one day become a high school. “I hesitantly said I would look into it and that maybe it could happen one day in the future.”
Since then, the journey has included extensive consultation and two applications to the Ministry of Education. An earlier bid to add Years 9 and 10 was declined, a setback Mr Taylor described as disheartening. “However, God clearly had bigger plans in store as we will now be able to go all the way through to Year 13,” he said. “I praise the Lord for His leading throughout this journey.”
The school is preparing for the transition, with two new classrooms close to opening to support the initial growth while further building development is planned.
Adventist education in Invercargill dates back to 1955, with the current Durham Street campus opened in February 2021.
“This exciting new journey begins now,” Mr Taylor said. “We will not be perfect, but with God in charge, we hope that this change will enable us to raise a generation of difference-makers who will spread hope in our community and beyond.”
