Earlier this week Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, announced a number of changes to the way schools will be operated in the future.

These changes are the result of the Tomorrows Schools Review, which was conducted through a series of consultation meetings that occurred around the country in 2018. The initial consultation report suggested some radical changes to the role and powers of Boards of Trustees, including the establishment of Education ‘Hubs’ that replace local Ministry of Education offices. Thankfully, the overwhelming feedback against these suggestions has led to a more moderate response and while there are some recommendations that remain contentious, the aims of the review are admirable. These are reflected in three key features of the final report which are the focus on improving educational equity, rebuilding trust across the education system and having a more deliberately connected and supported system.

The changes announced include the following:

• more frontline support for schools through a new education agency, as part of a redesigned Ministry of Education

• more support for principals and school boards including a new centre of leadership and local leadership advisor roles

• new independent disputes panels for parents and students

• management of school property simplified and/or transferred to the Ministry to free up boards’ time

• enrolment zones to be managed locally, not by each school.

At present there is little detail available about what these changes will look like or how they will affect us as a school. Further information for parents and caregivers can be found at the following link: https://conversation.education.govt.nz/conversations/tomorrows-schools-review/information-about-what-the-changes-mean-for-you/information-for-parents-and-whanau/

Meanwhile, other reviews that affect our schools, institutions and young people, continue. These include the NCEA review and the Review of Vocational Education, with the overall scope of change in education at present being quite daunting.

Back here at school NCEA exams continue and Year 9 and 10 examinations are now completed. Today we were delighted to meet our Year 9 students for the 2020 school year again as they spent the morning with us.

Year 10 camps are coming up quickly. It is an expectation that all Year 10 students attend camp and your daughter will have received information about her camp and the gear required. Please contact the school if you have any concerns about gear, the contribution to costs or your daughter’s ability to cope with this experience. The value of these camps cannot be underestimated and your positivity and encouragement of your daughter’s participation is an important ingredient to her enjoyment of the experience.

Last week I put out a plea to members of our school community to help with working bees at our new Classroom by the Sea. Only two people have replied to date. Please let me know if you can help out. We will tailor the dates around those offering to help.