School shakes shadow of its troubled past

Kaikohe Christian School former principal Raymond George Melrose pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing two boys outside of Northland forty years ago. PHOTO/FILE

A Northland Christian school whose ex-principal had been charged with sexually abusing two boys who were not students has been given a vote of confidence by the Education Review Office.

The ERO report released last month found Kaikohe Christian School had made "significant" progress since 2012.

"ERO has worked closely with the school over the past two years," the report said. "School leaders and trustees and proprietors on the board have been very willing to address the areas for improvement."

Former principal Raymond George Melrose, 68, pleaded not guilty to 13 charges of sexually abusing two boys outside of Northland 40 years ago.

He was the principal from 1997 until he resigned in late 2012. There were no complaints about Melrose during his time at the school.

A teacher at the same school was also stood down after being charged in early 2014 with assaulting a 13-year-old pupil.

The ERO report noted that the board investigated complaints about student safety and wellbeing.

"Trustees reviewed school policies and procedures for managing student behaviour," the report said. "They gained knowledge about child protection, and improved staff appointment and police vetting."

Overall, ERO found the school was well placed to sustain ongoing progress and improvement.

Acting principal Graeme Burgess took the helm in 2013 before the appointment of David Rogers at the start of last year.

The school and management was encouraged by the report, Mr Rogers said.

"I was very pleased with the progress that the school had made," he said. "It's good to have the work that is being done acknowledged."

A lot of the issues mentioned in the report were addressed before he arrived, Mr Rogers said.

"We've got really robust systems and procedures to ensure students are safe at all times."

While the report was a step in the right direction, the school was committed to improving further, he said.

"Everything we do is on a path to being a better place."