BOARD
Board Members
Below are the current members of the Board and the Executive Officer who serves as the Board secretary. If you wish to contact the board, then please email Mike at boardchair@thorrington.ac.nz
Parent Elected Representatives
Michael Callaghan – Presiding Member/Chair
Simon O'Brien – Deptuy Chair
Pamela Smith
Nathan Turner
Bobbi Hockey
Co-opted
Rowan Parsons - Whānau Representative
Other
Juliana Rae – Principal
Sarah Moore – Staff Representative
Leonie Blackmore – Board Secretary
If you wish to contact the Board then please email boardchair@thorrington.ac.nz.
Key Board Documents
What is a School Board?
Every state and state-integrated school/kura in New Zealand is governed by a school board (formerly known as a board of trustees). The school board is a crown entity – that is, an organisation that is part of the New Zealand public sector.
What do boards do?
The board has overall responsibility and accountability for the school/kura. The school board’s legal responsibilities are determined by the Education and Training Act 2020.
The Act sets out the board’s four primary objectives. These are ensuring student achievement for all its students, including those of differing needs, ensuring the school is a safe place for all and giving effect to the Treaty of Waitangi.
As part of its focus on these four objectives, the board’s responsibilities include the following:
Setting the strategic direction for the school
Protecting the school’s values
Monitoring and evaluating student learning outcomes
Approving policies
Financial stewardship
Building community engagement and support
It’s important to note that the board does NOT get involved in the day-to-day running of the school.
The board’s strategic plan
The board is responsible for determining the strategic vision for the school/kura. When developing its charter/strategic plan, the board considers the school’s vision, aims and objectives. The plan will detail the board’s targets and guides its future decision-making. The strategic plan is a binding agreement between the school board and the Minister of Education. School communities are encouraged to participate in its development and review.
What does the work of the board look like?
The key areas of focus for school boards are:
Leadership
Governance model, clear purpose, roles and responsibilities, effective meetings, relationships.
Accountability
Student progress and achievement, review, financial monitoring, resource management.
Employer role
Good employer, performance management system, effective relationships, health and safety, recruitment.
Representation
Community consultation and engagement, board consultation, trust and relationships.
For a more in-depth understanding of the role of a school board, please follow this link.
Meetings
The Thorrington board usually meets on the 4th and 9th Tuesday of each term from 6:00-8.30 pm. The dates can be found in the school events calendar on the website or the school app (Hero). Board meetings are open to the public, but they are not public meetings. The board can give permission to non-board members to speak if it decides this is appropriate. The minutes of the meetings are posted on the school website or can be obtained from the office.
