Chairperson Ruth Anderson, in her report presented to our Inaugural AGM, outlines the journey to becoming Kōtui Ako, acknowledges partnerships with the Ministry of Education and others that enable us to provide opportunities for our learners and states the key strategic goals that we have committed to. Our full set of reports including ePrincipal reports (Primary & Secondary) is included as an attachment.

I am delighted to be able to present this report on behalf of the Kōtui Ako| Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa (Kōtui Ako) Inaugural Governance Group (IGG) to Kōtui Ako’s first AGM.

This last year has seen a significant milestone achieved for Virtual Learning Network Primary (VLNP) and the Online Learning Community (OLC) with the support of school boards, principals, teachers, ākonga and whanau, and the commitment of my IGG colleagues, VLNP Leadership, and e-Principals Rachel Whalley and Amanda King, and their staff. At a VLNP Special General Meeting held on 20 October 2022 and through electronic vote, VLN Primary members agreed to:

• a change in name to Kōtui Ako| Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa;

• adopt a new Constitution which formalises a decision for VLNP and OLC to combine under the VLNP School Trust with the name to be Kōtui Ako| Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa;

• dissolve the VLNP Governance Group, and

• appoint the current Inaugural Governance Group.

Kōtui Ako continues as a registered Charitable Trust with the change of name included on the Charities Register as of 20 October 2022.

OLC was also a Charitable Trust and has delivered online learning to secondary schools since 2003. The agreement of OLC principals and member schools and the leadership of e-Principal, Amanda King, has played a significant role in enabling the merger between VLNP and OLC.

Today, Kōtui Ako delivers online learning to Years 0-13 ākonga through Kōtui Ako Primary and Kōtui Ako Secondary, respectively led by the two e-Principals. Our capacity to deliver the current quality of services to learners in collaboration with schools and teachers is due in no small part to the financial support of the Ministry of Education. This has included support for growing capability in Mātauranga Māori, delivering enhanced learning for gifted learners, Years 9-10 Mathematics intensives, and continuing the Networks of Expertise (NEX) Kōtuitui online teachers’ network. Our partnership with Ko Taku Reo| Deaf Education also enabled delivery of New Zealand Sign Language classes in 2022 and continuation of Korean language classes has been supported by the Korean Education Centre.

Future activities will be guided by our recently approved Kōtui Ako 2023 Strategic Plan. We have committed to the following Strategic Objectives:

• To ensure equitable educational outcomes

• To create high quality learning pathways

• To build teaching and learning capacity for online learning

• To honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi to support Māori learners

• To enable a collaborative community of schools throughout Aotearoa

• To advocate for sustainable online learning.

Looking ahead, there are opportunities for Kōtui Ako to better target the needs of Māori learners and learners of isolated and low decile schools; deliver online learning in curriculum areas relevant to both primary and secondary students; expand the impact of the NEX Kōtuitui online teachers’ network, particularly for new online teaching staff; work more closely with students to identify their needs; strengthen communication with, and between, participating and member schools; maximise economies of scale arising from the merger, and develop sustainable funding models to deliver equitable learner outcomes to kura, and primary, area, and secondary schools.

In delivering the outcomes set out here, as well as thanking participating schools, principals and teachers, I do want to extend my sincere thanks to my colleagues on the IGG: Rick Whalley (former Chairperson of the Virtual Learning Network Primary Governance Group), Sue Winters (OLC Executive), Rachael Tuwhangai (Independent member) for their ongoing commitment, dedication, and support. I also wish to extend very special thanks to Rachel Whalley (e-Principal, Primary), Amanda King (e-Principal, Secondary) and Sara Field (Deputy e-Principal, Secondary) for their tireless efforts and high-quality guidance and advice to IGG.

The IGG has been delighted to be a part of achieving all that has been undertaken during the last two years and is proud of the outcomes represented in this Annual Report. We are also excited about the opportunities ahead to deliver more equitable online education to primary and secondary learners and wish the incoming Kōtui Ako Governance Group every success in fulfilling these in conjunction with schools, learners and their whanau, and communities.

Dr Ruth Anderson

Chair Inaugural Governance Group

15 May 2023