Principals' president stirs up a war of words

Pat Newman of Hora Hora primary school. Photo / Tania Newman

The ACT party isn't sure whether outspoken Tai Tokerau Principals' president Pat Newman deserves detention or an A plus.

Mr Newman, principal of Hora Hora Primary, says "partnership" or charter schools have an unfair advantage over state schools. On Radio New Zealand on Monday, Mr Newman gave a fail mark in particular to Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru, about 65 km north east of Whangarei.

State schools should have the same funding model and freedoms as Partnership Schools, he said. The Whangaruru school had swallowed $2.4 million, including the purchase price of the farm it sits on, since February - its $1.5 million running cost the equivalent of $27,000 a pupil, compared to about $6000 a head for the children at his decile one state school in Whangarei, Mr Newman said.

Yet "dysfunction" saw Education Ministry-appointed governance facilitator Chris Saunders take a hands-on role at the school soon after it opened in February, he said.

ACT leader Jamie Whyte supports Mr Newman's request for the same treatment as charter schools, but his support comes with a barb.

"I think Hora Hora would do even better as a Partnership School than it does as a state school," Dr Whyte said.

"I have written to the chair of his board of trustees inviting the board to back principal Newman's desire to convert to a Partnership School. I have invited the board to write to the Ministry expressing their interest."

But Dr Whyte failed to impress the teacher. Mr Newman said his own comments were about equal access to fair education funding.

"Tell [Dr Whyte] I would be over the moon if we ever received $27,000 for every child at our state schools and those schools were also able to own the land and buildings."