Northland principal hits back at critical ERO report

The principal of a small Northland school threatened with closure has struck back at a critical Education Review Office (ERO) report.

Karetu School, 10km east of Kawakawa, is one of 18 rural mid-North schools under a Ministry of Education network review. Closure or amalgamation are two of the options.

Principal Rob Webb said a recent ERO report contained errors about the 56-pupil, decile-four school.

Inspectors visited last September, in the same week that Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced the network review.

Mr Webb said the delay between the visit and the late-December release of the ERO report was due to "errors of fact" in the assessment that the school contested.

"Some of the errors were corrected but the report was published by the ERO while others were still being contested."

In the report, the ERO said the school was supported by a well-established community and had strong links with the local Ngati Manu hapu.

The ERO said the biggest challenge facing school leaders was to ensure there was a closer match between the quality of the learning environment and the quality of the learning programmes.

"There is much the principal, teachers and the board should do to further promote student achievement. It is clear, however, the effective implementation of this initiative will require stronger professional leadership than is currently being demonstrated in the school."

Mr Webb said the board was aware of the development needs before the ERO visit, and had sought management support through the Team Solutions educational advisory service.

He contested criticism about the quality of learning in the school.

"A conflict exists between the ERO's preferred methods of instruction and those used in many schools, including Karetu," said Mr Webb. The school was performing well compared with its peers.

The ERO will return within 12 months to judge progress.

- NZPA