School rejects poach claims

ST MARGARETS School is refusing to enter debate over whether Haileybury College is poaching its students for a senior girls college in Keysborough.

A report last weekend in The Age newspaper claimed Haileybury had poached students from several highprofile private girls schools including St Margarets.

The Berwick school this week confirmed that Haileybury had offered around 20 students scholarships to its girls college.

But St Margarets principal Doctor Helen McDonald said the school would not enter into an interschool rivalry with Haileybury by commenting on whether it felt its students were being poached or not.

Dr McDonald said St Margarets was in the middle of massive growth and now had to cap enrolments.

It is important to emphasise that St Margarets enrolment has continued to grow over the last six years, she said. Next year is no exception and in 2007 it is again necessary to employ new staff to manage extra classes.

Haileybury College this week denied claims it has been poaching female students.

Haileybury principal Robert Pargetter released a scathing statement saying that The Age newspaper had taken particular delight in promoting a negative perception of independent schools in its poaching report.

Mr Pargetter said the Senior Commencement Scholarships were for Haileybury Girls College.

The program was advertised in the school newsletters, in the local press across the Haileybury catchment areas, and on the website, he said.

No students were approached directly, all applications were through the registrar, and all those admitted went through a rigorous process of interview, with family, examination of academic records and other information, counselling on subject choice, and an individualised orientation program which is still continuing. The students admitted were outstanding young women chosen on merit. We did not discriminate against applicants because of the school they currently attend.