Principal News

I was extremely proud to present the Kaikorai School story along with my colleagues from the Hills Cluster; Halfway Bush School, Balmacewen Intermediate, Wakari and Maori Hill to nearly 100 leaders from around the world.

We had the opportunity to meet and talk with education experts including the world famous, Professor Andy Hargreaves, who is advising the Tomorrow Schools review and the New Zealand Government on the proposed changes to New Zealand Schools. It was a highly engaging conversation, and we know that our concerns were being taken back to the working party by Professor Hargreaves.

Many thanks to the Board of Trustees and the Otago Community Trust for their support and to Beth Downie for running the school so well in my absence.

We sometimes forget what a world-class education system we have in New Zealand, and we were the envy of many that we spoke to. It is not to say that we don't have our issues and things can certainly be better, but these are often systemic issues within our society rather than education in isolation issues.

One of the things that is agreed science is that the quality of the teacher plays a significant part in children's learning. This is thought to be around 30% of the impact. Peers make up 10%, school leadership and governance 10% while the remaining 50% is the environment the child is brought up in.

With the upcoming strike on Wednesday the 29th of May, we hope that we continue to have the support of our parent community in our quest to ensure that we have the best people who can have the most significant impact in that 30% area. It is not a step taken lightly by the NZEI members. The recent Sunday news programme highlight many of the issues schools across the country are facing and is well worth a watch to understand the pressures that many teachers are feeling. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday/clips/the-chalkface

In sad news, we will be fare-welling Ryan Inglis at the end of the term. Ryan has been with us as a third-year student and then as a trained teacher for 2 and a 1/2 years and is a sad loss to the teaching profession. We wish him all the best in his new role at the Southern District Health Board as a communication advisor.

We welcome back Sarah Gilbert from maternity leave. Sarah will be teaching for three days per week in Room 3 with Mr Bish and then released in her role as Assistant Principal. Sarah will take on oversight of the Middle and Junior Syndicate with the continued support of Felicia Ward.

Finally, a huge thank you to the current Board of Trustees who will be having their last meeting on Tuesday. It has been a very successful three-year term as they have moved the school to a five-year ERO review cycle, negotiated significant funding and a rebuild of the school and ensured the school is in a strong financial position while at all times making decisions which benefit students and staff first. I look forward to working with the new Board after the June elections.

Kind regards

Simon Clarke