Future of Education in Hāwera
2021
01/11/2021
Government announces a Year 7-15 school for Hāwera
Today the Education Minister, Chris Hipkins announced his decision that a new Year 7-15 school will replace the Hāwera High and Hāwera Intermediate schools – an option widely supported in the community following extensive consultation.
The Intermediate and High School will officially close in January 2023, with the new school opening for that first term of 2023.
The new school will open for 2023 on the existing Hāwera High School site. If required, the old Hāwera Intermediate site will be available for use by the new school for a period of time.
A staged building approach will be needed to meet the community’s needs. Once the building programme is complete the school will be based entirely on the Camberwell Road site, the current location of the High School.
Planning will start soon on the establishment of the new school. High-level actions and timeframes will be shared with the community during the second week of November 2021.
The first step in establishing the new school is seeking community members for an Establishment Board. The advertisement for these Minister appointed positions will be advertised commencing 8 November 2021.
The community will be kept informed of progress throughout the establishment of the new school.
We realise that you will have lot of questions (ie uniform and the location your child will be at in 2023), we will keep you informed throughout this process.
08/06/2021
Last week Hāwera Intermediate and Hāwera High School hosted guests from around the country who are operating under different schooling models than what we have in our community in South Taranaki. They deliberately wanted to show our community other models so that we all have a better understanding of how different school models could operate. A huge thank you to those that came along to these meetings and we hope you enjoyed listening to some amazing educators from around the country. As they all stressed in their presentations this is what they do in their context and it works in their context but every school context in the country is unique. As a community we are now in a very privileged position that we get to have these conversations to determine what model of schooling is going to best meet the needs of our young people.
If you were unable to attend meetings a short summary follows:
The consultation process:
Community consultation was held in 2020 (meetings, surveys, submissions to MOE, etc).
MOE processed this information and presented it back to the Hāwera community late in 2020.
All community members then had to mid February to send any further submissions to MOE.
Minister Hipkins then received the information and came out with the three options for formal consultation.
We are now in the formal consultation phase, this ends on July 9th. The Boards of Trustees of affected schools have until this date to submit anything further to the MOE for Minister Hipkins.
The Hāwera Intermediate School Board of Trustees will be sending in a submission to the MOE and would like to know what members of our school community are thinking about the three options. Surveys have been forwarded to personal email addresses.
We are hopeful for a decision from Minister Hipkins in early September.
Minister Hipkins will pick from one of the following three options:
Proposal A
Recapitation of 6 contributing primary schools in the area to become full primary schools (Year 1-8), and the closure of Hāwera Intermediate School. The schools that would become Year 1-8 are: Hāwera Primary School, Turuturu School, Mokoia School, Normanby School, Ramanui School and Tawhiti School.
Proposal B1
Primary schools remain as they are (Year 1-6).
Merge Hāwera Intermediate School and Hāwera High School to form a Year 7–13 school from the start of 2023 on the Hāwera High School site.
Proposal B2
Primary schools remain as they are (Year 1-6).
Close Hāwera Intermediate and Hāwera High School and open a new Year 7-13 school on the Hāwera High School site from the start of 2023.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE HAWERA INTERMEDIATE SITE AND BUILDINGS IF THE SCHOOL CLOSES?
The site and buildings will be available for use while more permanent property solutions are developed and achieved. This means if Proposal 1 was approved then some buildings could be relocated on other primary school sites. If Proposal 2 (A or B) were approved then the site and buildings could be used until other property decisions are made by the Board of the new or merged Year 7-13 school. Longer term the Ministry will determine what happens with the Hāwera Intermediate site.
2. I AM A PARENT OF A YEAR 6 STUDENT. WHERE WILL MY CHILD BE NEXT YEAR?
If Proposal 1 was approved then ideally your child would stay at their current primary school for Year 7 in 2022. This also requires that the Ministry and Boards can complete the required changes for 2022. If schools indicate in their submissions that the implementation date needs to be pushed out to 2023, your child may be in the last year group to attend Hāwera Intermediate School.
If Proposal 2 were approved then your child would be eligible to enrol at the new Y7-13 school. Depending on the decisions of the Year 7-13 Board, they may be at the Hāwera High School site or they may be temporarily at the current Hāwera Intermediate site until more permanent property decisions are made by the establishment board of the new or merged school.
3. WILL I HAVE TO BUY A NEW UNIFORM? IF SO WHICH ONE?
If Proposal 1 was approved then your child would stay at their current primary school and would stay in their current uniform (if the school has one).
Or if your child was at Hāwera Intermediate next year as part of the transition process (because your current school will not have space for year 7 straight away) then Hāwera Intermediate has confirmed that there will not be the requirement to buy their school uniform for 2022.
If Proposal 2 (A or B) were approved then depending on the decisions of the Year 7-13 Board, parents would be informed of the uniform requirements. Most boards in this situation have a phasing in of new uniforms.
4. WHAT TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL WILL BE AVAILABLE?
The closure of the Intermediate School may result in a change to the transport eligibility zones (TEZ) for neighbouring schools and/or the new or merged school. If there are changes we will work with the schools and communities concerned and parents will be notified in a timely way. There may also be some transitional arrangements.
5. CLOSURE/MERGER PROCESS
Following the current formal consultation on the proposals, the feedback will be collated, and a report will be developed for the Minister. It is likely that the Minister will then be in a position to make a final decision.
Once a final decision is confirmed the changes will be gazetted and the Ministry and boards will work towards implementation.
If the final decision includes the closure of a school (or both the intermediate and high schools), then a change manager (or managers) will be appointed by the Minister of Education to support the board(s) through this process. Staff will continue to be supported through EAP. In a closure, all positions (including the board) finish on the date of closure.
If the final decision includes the merger of the intermediate and the high school, then the Ministry will work to appoint the board of the continuing school. This could be one of the current boards with representatives from both schools, or it may be an appointed board. The board of the continuing school is the board that determines the policies, practices, staffing etc. for the merged school. This is a complex process and we would estimate it would take most of 2022 to complete ready for opening in 2023.
If the final decision includes the establishment of a new school then an Establishment Board will be appointed. The Establishment Board is the board that determines how the school will operate by year levels and curriculum, policies, practices, staffing etc for the new school. This is a complex process and we would estimate it would take most of 2022 to complete ready for opening in 2023. To support the Establishment Board we would provide a Governance Facilitator to guide the Board in its decision-making.
While the process above is occurring, the high school and intermediate will continue to remain open and provide education to your children.
6. WHAT FUNDING WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS?
When a school closes or merges it generates Education Development Initiative (EDI) funding. In the case of the Hāwera proposals there would be $1,000,000 in EDI funding generated (which is approximately 2,500 per Year 7 and 8 student). This is based on the 1 March roll of the Intermediate School as per the EDI policy.
EDI funding is to be used by a school board to support students to transition to their next school and for projects to raise student achievement.
Joint Schooling Initiative Funding (JSIF) is also generated where there are two or more schools remaining in the network following the change. In the case of the Hāwera proposals there would be $290,000. JSIF funding is to be used for collaborative projects between two or more schools to support students.
7. ANY INFORMATION ABOUT 7-13 MODELS
Some Year 7-13 schools operate as traditional secondary schools. In more recent years there has been an interest in middle schooling (Year 7-10) and senior schooling (Year 11-13) and some Year 7-13 schools operate as junior high and senior high schools, with separate programmes, property. They are still one school with one board and one principal.
If proposal 2 (A or B) was approved, and the board chose to operate as a junior and senior high, there may be some classes that cut across the junior high – senior high model, such as a immersion te reo unit in the school. These units usually operate as a whānau group within the school.
8. KEEPING TEACHERS CURRENTLY AT THE INTERMEDIATE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
Should the Minister’s final decision include the closure of the intermediate and/or the high school, we will work with the teacher unions to consider how best to support staff, and teaching and learning for students during the transition.
Parents can email enquiries.whanganui@education.govt with any questions or click on the following link for more information.
OPEN LETTER-FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN HAWERA
18/5/21
Dear Parents/ Caregivers of Hāwera Primary School
Last week it was confirmed Hāwera Intermediate School will close at the end of the 2022 school year.
The Minister of Education has considered the feedback from the schools and community about the future of education in Hāwera. He has agreed to take the next step in the process which is to undertake consultation with the boards of schools whose rolls might be affected, about two specific proposals.
Our Board of Trustees has been asked to make a submission before Friday 9th July. Therefore, we would like to engage with our school community so that we are fully informed going forward and respond in an informed way.
The two proposals that are being progressed to formal consultation reflect community feedback. They are:
Proposal A: Recapitation of 6 contributing primary schools in the area to become full primary schools (Year 1-8)
The contributing schools that would become Year 1-8 are: Hāwera Primary School,Turuturu School, Mokoia School, Normanby School, Ramanui School and Tawhiti School.
Should this option be approved:
•The primary schools would retain Year 7 students from 2022 and Year 7 and 8 students from 2023.
•Simultaneously, Hāwera Intermediate would have Year 8 students only for 2022 and close at the end of that year.
•Hāwera High School would remain as is.
Proposal B: Primary schools remain as they are (Year 1-6). Establish a Year 7–13 secondary school under one of the following scenarios:
Proposal B1
Merge Hāwera Intermediate School and Hāwera High School to form a Year 7–13 school from the start of 2023 on the Hāwera High School site.
OR
Proposal B2
Close Hāwera Intermediate and Hāwera High School and open a new Year 7-13 school on the Hāwera High School site from the start of 2023.
If it wished, the board could structure this as a middle schooling (Year 7-10) and senior schooling (Year 11-13) within one school on a common site.
This is an extremely important decision which will impact on the education of our children for decades to come. Please take the time to complete the attached survey and return it to the school office no later than Friday 28th May. Thank you in advance for your valuable input.
Please contact via email our principal, Shevaun O’Brien principal@haweraprimary.school.nz or board chair, Russell Hockley russell.hockley@haweraprimary.school.nz if you have any further questions.
Ngā mihi
Hāwera Primary School Board
25 May 2021- Hāwera Intermediate School
1. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE HAWERA INTERMEDIATE SITE AND BUILDINGS IF THE SCHOOL CLOSES?
The site and buildings will be available for use while more permanent property solutions are developed and achieved. This means if Proposal 1 was approved then some buildings could be relocated on other primary school sites. If Proposal 2 (A or B) were approved then the site and buildings could be used until other property decisions are made by the Board of the new or merged Year 7-13 school. Longer term the Ministry will determine what happens with the Hāwera Intermediate site.
2. I AM A PARENT OF A YEAR 6 STUDENT. WHERE WILL MY CHILD BE NEXT YEAR?
If Proposal 1 was approved then ideally your child would stay at their current primary school for Year 7 in 2022. This also requires that the Ministry and Boards can complete the required changes for 2022. If schools indicate in their submissions that the implementation date needs to be pushed out to 2023, your child may be in the last year group to attend Hāwera Intermediate School.
If Proposal 2 were approved then your child would be eligible to enrol at the new Y7-13 school. Depending on the decisions of the Year 7-13 Board, they may be at the Hāwera High School site or they may be temporarily at the current Hāwera Intermediate site until more permanent property decisions are made by the establishment board of the new or merged school.
3. WILL I HAVE TO BUY A NEW UNIFORM? IF SO WHICH ONE?
If Proposal 1 was approved then your child would stay at their current primary school and would stay in their current uniform (if the school has one).
Or if your child was at Hāwera Intermediate next year as part of the transition process (because your current school will not have space for year 7 straight away) then Hāwera Intermediate has confirmed that there will not be the requirement to buy their school uniform for 2022.
If Proposal 2 (A or B) were approved then depending on the decisions of the Year 7-13 Board, parents would be informed of the uniform requirements. Most boards in this situation have a phasing in of new uniforms.
4. WHAT TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL WILL BE AVAILABLE?
The closure of the Intermediate School may result in a change to the transport eligibility zones (TEZ) for neighbouring schools and/or the new or merged school. If there are changes we will work with the schools and communities concerned and parents will be notified in a timely way. There may also be some transitional arrangements.
5. CLOSURE/MERGER PROCESS
Following the current formal consultation on the proposals, the feedback will be collated, and a report will be developed for the Minister. It is likely that the Minister will then be in a position to make a final decision.
Once a final decision is confirmed the changes will be gazetted and the Ministry and boards will work towards implementation.
If the final decision includes the closure of a school (or both the intermediate and high schools), then a change manager (or managers) will be appointed by the Minister of Education to support the board(s) through this process. Staff will continue to be supported through EAP. In a closure, all positions (including the board) finish on the date of closure.
If the final decision includes the merger of the intermediate and the high school, then the Ministry will work to appoint the board of the continuing school. This could be one of the current boards with representatives from both schools, or it may be an appointed board. The board of the continuing school is the board that determines the policies, practices, staffing etc for the merged school. This is a complex process and we would estimate it would take most of 2022 to complete ready for opening in 2023.
If the final decision includes the establishment of a new school then an Establishment Board will be appointed. The Establishment Board is the board that determines how the school will operate by year levels and curriculum, policies, practices, staffing etc for the new school. This is a complex process and we would estimate it would take most of 2022 to complete ready for opening in 2023. To support the Establishment Board we would provide a Governance Facilitator to guide the Board in its decision-making.
While the process above is occurring, the high school and intermediate will continue to remain open and provide education to your children.
6. WHAT FUNDING WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS?
When a school closes or merges it generates Education Development Initiative (EDI) funding. In the case of the Hāwera proposals there would be $1,000,000 in EDI funding generated (which is approximately 2,500 per Year 7 and 8 student). This is based on the 1 March roll of the Intermediate School as per the EDI policy.
EDI funding is to be used by a school board to support students to transition to their next school and for projects to raise student achievement.
Joint Schooling Initiative Funding (JSIF) is also generated where there are two or more schools remaining in the network following the change. In the case of the Hāwera proposals there would be $290,000. JSIF funding is to be used for collaborative projects between two or more schools to support students.
7. ANY INFORMATION ABOUT 7-13 MODELS
Some Year 7-13 schools operate as traditional secondary schools. In more recent years there has been an interest in middle schooling (Year 7-10) and senior schooling (Year 11-13) and some Year 7-13 schools operate as junior high and senior high schools, with separate programmes, property. They are still one school with one board and one principal.
If proposal 2 (A or B) was approved, and the board chose to operate as a junior and senior high, there may be some classes that cut across the junior high – senior high model, such as a immersion te reo unit in the school. These units usually operate as a whānau group within the school.
8. KEEPING TEACHERS CURRENTLY AT THE INTERMEDIATE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
Should the Minister’s final decision include the closure of the intermediate and/or the high school, we will work with the teacher unions to consider how best to support staff, and teaching and learning for students during the transition.
Parents can email enquiries.whanganui@education.govt with any questions or click on the following link for more information.
2020
Hawera Community Education Summary.docxFuture Options for Hawera Education Full Report.docx
