From: Charter Schools <info@charterschools.govt.nz>
Date: Friday, 20 December 2024
Subject: Charter schools update, December 2024
To:
Tēnā koe
This email outlines next steps for sponsors who submitted applications earlier this year to establish new charter schools, or to convert existing schools to charter schools.
We acknowledge and recognise the time, effort and resources required to prepare applications and would like to thank you for your continued support as we work towards providing a new and different education model for our students, families and whanau.
As you know, seven sponsors were contracted to open charter schools in term one next year. These schools will provide a diverse education that will help lift attendance and achievement levels. They will provide greater flexibility in teaching and innovation in learning, ultimately benefitting the students |ākonga.
We’re about to enter into contract negotiations with additional sponsors of schools that intend to open later in 2025 and into 2026.
There will be another round of applications in the new year to select sponsors that intend to open charter schools in 2026.
The Board will also re-consider applications from sponsors such as yourselves who were not progressed to contracting in the first round. The Board will do this based on the information you’ve already submitted and will be in touch if it needs any further information. All sponsors will receive an update in the new year.
Around the same time, there will also be a call for any new applications. Any sponsor can submit a new application at this stage, including sponsors who have had a previous unsuccessful application.
At this point, we’re expecting the Board to interview shortlisted sponsors around May/June next year.
We’ll communicate early next year, so keep an eye out for these email updates and check out our website. We’ll be adding information in the new year.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please email applications@charterschools.govt.nz
The seven new charter schools are:
Christchurch North College
Christchurch North College is a school initially for Years 7-10.
The focus will be on students who have become disengaged from the education system, getting them ready and excited for secondary school. Christchurch North College will do this by providing individualised education and striving for educational equity.
Barriers to learning have been identified as a significant factor in a student’s disengagement. To combat this, the school will remove barriers to education by providing items like uniforms, stationery, access to technology and meals for its students at no cost.
The BUSY School NZ
The BUSY School NZ, based in Auckland, is the New Zealand campus of The BUSY School which has nine campuses in Australia.
It will target disengaged Year 11-13 students who are at risk of ‘falling through the cracks’ by providing education using a dual curriculum. Students will learn the national curriculum, as well as a vocational curriculum which focuses on their chosen career path.
The school will also provide students with a holistic wrap-around support system focused on mental wellbeing to ensure they get the most out of their education. It aims to help students gain meaningful employment opportunities after they graduate by creating a clear pathway from education to employment.
Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki
Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki is a co-educational academic intervention school for year 1 to 8 students with academic distress or disengagement from mainstream learning.
The charter school will be located in Hillsborough, Christchurch with a starting roll of around 50 students, and capacity to grow to approximately 210 at the current site.
Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki is a partner school of Mastery Schools Australia, which has opened five campuses since 2021.
Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao
Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao will provide Kaitaia families with an option for educational immersion in reo Māori for mokopuna at primary school level.
Their innovation is their unique landscape and the intentional move to work together on the whenua. The 22-hectare property sits at the foot of Taumarumaru reserve in Doubtless Bay and encompasses three historical pā, connecting mokopuna to the land and its legacy.
The land will serve as the school’s pūtaiao (science) classroom for exploration, species identification, kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and research.
Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland
Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland will offer an Agency for French Education Abroad (AFEA) accredited education which will ultimately be offered to both primary and secondary school students.
AFEA is supervised by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, ensuring the quality and consistency of the French curriculum is high. AFEA accreditation gives access to the French educational network abroad, which is the world’s largest educational network.
The school’s mission embraces the NZ International Education Strategy: Delivering an excellent education and student experience; Ensuring international education is resilient and sustainable and Developing global citizens.
The school will support the passing of language, culture, and heritage to generations and improve the ability for international companies’ recruitment and presence in NZ.
TIPENE
TIPENE (formerly St Stephen’s School) is an active collaboration between the St Stephen’s Old Boys Association and the St Stephen’s Queen Victoria’s Trust. It is a full-time boarding school for Māori and Pacific boys in years 9-13 located in South Auckland.
It will use well-established cultural frames and pedagogies, which promote success, and are specifically designed to inspire Māori boys. One aspect of this will be the schools focus on creating a home away from home, a positive kaingarua, because students will board on the premises.
It will focus on high student engagement in education and vocational pathways by emphasising individual learning plans and a ‘boy centric’ approach. Learning programmes will be tailored for diverse learners and to recognise connections between tauira, kaiako, whānau.
North West Creative Arts College
North West Creative Arts College will ultimately provide Auckland-based year 7-13 students with a co-education where they are taught the New Zealand Curriculum alongside a creative art of their choice.
This innovative model will help students develop their creative talents while working towards NCEA, benefiting the students, families, and community.
The college will focus on a strong pastoral care programme as-well-as community outreach which will help students build connections through community-based projects.
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