McAuley High School wins top award

Education Minister Hekia Parata praised the school for its student support. Photo / Dean Purcell

An all-girls Catholic school has won a top educational achievement award for its "cohesive values", teaching students how to care for each other.

McAuley High School in Otahuhu won the Prime Minister's Education Supreme Award at a ceremony in Auckland tonight.

The school was recognised for uniting with the community to change the way it works with students and their families, building respect for their language and culture, also winning the Excellence in Engaging award.

This new way of working created results for the girls' Catholic school that surpassed those of similar schools, judges said.

McAuley High will receive $50,000 for its two wins, as well a professional development opportunity and the opportunity to represent New Zealand education.

Education Minister Hekia Parata praised the school for its student support.

"The school has built a cohesive, respectful and supportive environment for all its students with brilliant results. It has high expectations and strong connections with its parents and the community and the supreme award is recognition of its vision and effort."Judges also praised the school for its cohesive values where every student and their family is cared for and where they learn to care for others. Deputy Principal Curriculum, Rachel Williams, said the school was humbled and appreciative."It is testimony to the hard work put in by all staff members over a sustained period of time," she said.

"It is also a wonderful acknowledgement of the commitment that the wider McAuley High School community has made to the education of our young Catholic women."

New Zealand's largest school, Rangitoto College, won an award for Excellence in Governing, with judges saying the governance of the Board of Trustees at this school showed them "to be masters of complexity in scale and in culture".

Rangitoto College won a prize of $20,000 at the awards ceremony.

This was the third Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards, and attracted more than 200 entries.

Deputy Secretary for Early Learning and Student Achievement at the Ministry of Education Lisa Rodgers praised the calibre of all the finalists.

"These awards are designed to celebrate the high quality of teaching and education practice in New Zealand.

"This year's winners are testimony to the hard work being done by staff and students from early learning to senior school every day right across the country."