The Fish-Hooks with the recent Charter School announcements – in point form.
The Charter School model is about improving opportunities/outcomes for “underserved” communities. The schools currently being approved in the NZ system would not be internationally recognised as Charter Schools.
The Charter School agency has spent 30% of the funding on themselves. The current CEO is being bumped so good things may happen.
The Alturm School is being significantly challenged re the apparent NZ Initiative conflicts of interest in the approval process. I am hearing that their are significant legal challenges about to be lodged.
David Seymour has announced to schools that are attempting to have a differnent provision angle – but is appears that Seymour, and the providers, do not understand the law re Charter Schools.
Seymour has, with significant ignorance, promoted a Wellington Phoenix Charter School as NZ’s first sports academy with attached academics. He is wildly wrong as there are at least 100 entities that fit that description and Westlake Boys, St Kentigerns, Kings College, etc – excell in that area.It seems that neither the New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa or the Sisters United Academy can put any requirements on who comes to the school.
The Wellington Phoenix school and the Sisters United Academcy must accept applications from all students/families and cannot add and criteria.
South Auchland Middle School was always over subscribed and we went to the police for balloting. It was tough as we had a waiting list of over 100 students and many people attempting to get preferential treatment.
The new schools must do the same. The Phoenix school could/should end up with a whole bunch of kids who have never kicked a ball. The Sisters United Academy could/should end up with boys and girls from a range of demographics.
Charter Schools do not have the privileges of Designated Character Schools. I sincerely hope that St Stephens/Tipene is not prioritising Maori students or rugby players … as it is clearly against the law.
Alwyn Poole
alwyn.poole@gmail.com
