Hot off the Press: Term 3 School Attendance Data
(And an update on our Charter School situation)
The Term 3 2024 data has just been released.
NB: Full Attendance is 9 days in 10.
- Overall full attendance was 51.3%
- For Secondary students it was 45.5%
- For Maori it was 37.5%
- For Pasifika it was 39.5%
- For High Equity Index (formerly low decile) it was 35%.
David Seymour is the Associate Minister of Education and has barely moved the dial on what is a genuine crisis. Given the reponse of Maori to his Treaty Bill and the authoritarian manner with which he is addressing attendance in general, and specifically around the Hikoi, he is now clearly the wrong person for the role and should relinquish it. People may argue that there is a point to some of what he is saying. Never-the-less if NZ is trying to improve Maori attendance he is exactly the wrong person at present.
Update on Education 710+ Charter School Applications
At present all four applications have been turned down. All four got through the filtering stage but the Authorisation Board chose not to interview us or ask a single question. To avoid confusion – for approval it was not “four or nothing” – each was to stand on merit – but there are major researched advantages on a single provider for multiple schools. We applied for:
- A Year 1 – 8 Primary School in Central Auckland that has 57,000 households and not a single school.
- A Year 11 – 13 School in Central Auckland focussed only on UE and looking to bring in South Auckland students.
- A Year 7 – 10 School in Epsom/Ellerslie for 240 students who do not fit in the normal State system.
- A Year 7 – 10 School in Warkworth where people are very keen to have more choice for their children.
Given my record, havng started 6 successful schools, and the remarkable Board we have – plus the support of people such as John Hattie, Dame Wendy Pye, Mike King, Simon Bridges, etc – we have been very disappointed (to say the least) in both the process and the outcomes.
As least five other applicants are equally as bemused and we are seeking – at least – a fully independent review.
While having a crack at Dame Jenny Shipley, Chris Finlayson and myself (for having divorced my wife) on Mike Hosking’s show earlier this week David Seymour told a porkie that there is only funding for 15 schools. There is funding for 50 schools and we have it in writing from the Charter School Agency that the ratio of new schools to State conversions is not fixed at the 15/35 announced. It also looks as if very few State schools are interested in converting and none of the preious Charters have returned – preferring to remain as Designated Character Schools.
Seymour clearly implied to Hosking that 15 schools have been chosen to start in Term 1 2025. It will be most interesting to see who they are when the list is finally announced.
My charitable company (Education 710+) has a very good option to begin the Central Auckland Primary School as a Year 7 – 10 Private School. We would need some initial investment. I would welcome any interest.
Alwyn Poole
alwyn.poole@gmail.com