'We just want to get on with the job'

Northland's newest charter school Te Kapehu Whetu (Teina), led by director of learning Nathan Matthews, above, opened in central Whangarei last week. Photo / John Stone

The leader of two Whangarei charter schools hopes eventually they will not be such a politically sensitive issue.

Nathan Matthews told the Northern Advocate he wanted to focus on providing a quality education for Maori students.

Last week the newest of his two schools, a kura for primary school-aged students, opened in central Whangarei.

"I'm just working towards the day it's [charter schools] not such a politically sensitive topic and we can get on with it," Dr Matthews said.

The country's newest charter school, Te Kapehu Whetu (Teina), is located at Jubilee Park where the trust that sponsors both schools, He Puna Marama Charitable Trust, has an early childhood centre. The trust also runs the Te Kura Hourua O Whangarei Terenga Paraoa which opened last year on Lower Dent St.

After the new school got the go-ahead in September it became clear permanent classrooms would not be ready by the start of the school year because of building consent issues, Dr Matthews said. Instead, the kura opened with two prefab classrooms previously owned by St Francis Xavier Catholic School which were in good condition. There was plenty of pressure to have things ready by the start of the school year, Dr Matthews said.

"I think we did it to the best of our ability," he said. "It would have been good to have more time."

The school opened with 40 students, though is expected to meet the 65 student roll requirement when the four permanent classrooms open in term three.

Charter schools were introduced as a result of National's confidence and supply agreement with the Act Party. Opposition parties and teaching unions are strongly against them.

Charter schools are funded by the Government but are essentially private and set their own curriculum, school hours, holidays and pay rates.

Dr Matthews was the principal of Te Kura Hourua O Whangarei Terenga Paraoa as one of the first five charter schools in the country. While the secondary school opened with about 50 students last year that has since increased to 75 with many more on the waiting list. It also received a favourable report from the Education Review Office last September.

"Overall it was pretty positive," Dr Matthews said. "We're very proud of it."

With the opening of the new charter school this year Dr Matthews, who has a PhD in Maori education, became director of learning with a new principal at the secondary school and head teacher at the primary school.

Another charter school in Northland opened last year, Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru, which has since been put on a performance notice by the Minister of Education. The schools are not connected.