A Disgraceful Act by the Minister and MOE *UPDATED

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For Karen and our Trust and staff, our passion has always been for working with kids who have barriers to otherwise succeeding in school.
In 2002 we took a model to the Ministry of Education for a Middle School that had all of the traits that we ended up building into Mt Hobson Middle School, South Auckland Middle School and Middle Schools West Auckland. A split day (academic morning, arts and activity-based afternoon), small classes (max 15), high-quality academics (core plus cross-curricula projects), a high level of family engagement and well-being care.

In 2002 the Ministry (Mallard) turned us down flat. So, as a family, we took all the risk and started as a private school. For 18 years we have worked with kids who have behavioural needs, anxiety, autism etc, and the results have been outstanding.

With the same model and on that basis we were approved for South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland as Charter (now Designated Character) schools. They are also outstanding. They have the same model as MHMS but with uniform, stationery and IT provided. We have outstanding academic results for our leavers – at least 20% above the national average for Maori, Pasifika and decile 1 kids. Attendance at 90% and transience at 3%.

Over the last two years, we have applied to the Minister for Mt Hobson Middle School to become a Designated Character School – near a transport hub – for up to 480 “diverse learners”.
The Ministry has – both years – significantly misrepresented our proposal to the Minister – in this case about the State school level of provisions for diverse learners and the proposed location and cost. .

In response, this year, Hipkins said that there is no need for a school like this, as he states, all State schools are fully equipped and funded to deal with these students. The responsibility for the rejection lies with him and his kind and transparent government.

One of our parents last week disputed that these children are catered for as she has an 8-year-old with autism and ADHD who the Ministry has rejected any funding for. To help him (the teacher and the class) she volunteers the funding. She wrote to Hipkins last Monday afternoon with the amount she had funded for the term.

That night a Ministry official contacted the school and told them to immediately inform the families to stop donating. The next day a  SENCO made the contact and broke the news.

I have contacted all schools in NZ about this as the need is high and many parents help out from their own pocket. The implications of this Ministry action are massive.

It is coming out … well done Josephine.

Postscript:

Dear Chris

In your Newstalk interview today you told a story very different to the one the the Ministry official told the Principal at Jo Martin’s school and also very different from that the school then subsequently told Jo and Paul Martin.

I am also interested that you acknowledged the need for more work and professionals for children with needs. That is exactly what our DCS application offers you. Yet; in the rejection letter the reason you give is that “there are available supports for all learners in existing State schools” (I have attached the letter in case you haven’t read it.)

Either you were not telling the truth in the rejection letter – or you were not telling the truth to the NZ public today.

Can we meet please? I know I have asked many, many times over the last 4 years. This school is needed and we will do a superb job.

You were misled by your officials on potential locations and cost (etc).

You may also want to know that South Auckland Middle School – with great consideration – applied for ORRS or IWS for 19 students this year. They got 1 (as in ONE) though.

Yours
Alwyn Poole

Villa Education Trust

Innovative Education Consultant

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