Today in our series about the neediest children, Elizabeth Binning reports on expulsion and exclusion in schools
Aorere College is an example of a school working hard to reduce its suspension and expulsion rates, and succeeding.
The latest Ministry of Education figures available show its expulsion rate is just under half the national average for decile two schools - which expel more students than any other decile school.
Principal Patrick Drumm said 12 students were excluded in 2008. Last year it was four and this year it stands at two - lower than for the same time last year.
One of those students has moved into alternative education and the other has gone to another school.
Mr Drumm said the declining statistics were encouraging but "only a result of all that goes on beforehand".
Historically the school has had problems with high suspension rates - so much so that it joined the Student Engagement Initiative, a ministry programme which helps schools with student engagement.
"There was a drive to get these statistics down and it's been very, very successful," he said.
Mr Drumm said part of the success had been a huge investment in pastoral care of students and support networks in place from teachers to deans and other students.
The school also worked hard to pick up on students who are having problems or are at risk of problems early on.
"Our school-wide focus, a philosophy shared across the school, is a motivation that we want to keep students in the school.
"You don't win them all but you can win most of them if you just invest and start from the starting point of 'we are not going to give up, we are going to keep them in school'."
At Wesley College the statistics tell a different story, although one the principal said was deceptive. The expulsion rate is nearly four times higher than the national average for a decile 2 school.
However, principal Ian Faulkner said statistics varied from year to year, and he suspected those for his school were compiled in a year in which several students were excluded over to one incident.
He said the school handed problems case-by-case and, with the exception of the most serious cases, staff tried to work with family to ensure the student could remain in school.
Mr Faulkner said he wasn't too concerned by statistics and there had not been any deliberate moves to try to change them.
"Statistics should not drive what happens. What drives what happens is what happens as it happens."
Mr Faulkner said there had been no suspensions, exclusions or expulsions this year.
SEEKING ANSWERS
Saturday: Alternative education.
Teens in Third World schooling
When the mainstream model doesn't fit
A far better alternative to dropping out
Monday: Truancy and dropouts.
School dropout levels fall over past 10 years
Tuesday: Issues of transience.
Message sinking in: switching schools bad for kids
Absenteeism often cry for help
Transient students struggle to catch up
Wednesday: Who kicks kids out?
Second chance works well for student
Expulsion seen as tool of last resort
Aorere strives to improve record
Thursday: What can be done?
Help for those who fall through cracks
Trust moves in well before students get out of control
Schools can't do it all on their own
