Rangitoto fits elite tag, says principal

The principal of New Zealand's largest secondary school, Rangitoto College, says it would be a perfect choice to become one of the National Party's elite "trust schools".

The concept of trust schools was raised on Wednesday during party leader Don Brash's education speech.

Such schools would have the power to take over weaker schools and would have financial independence.

Rangitoto principal Allan Peachey, who is National's Tamaki candidate for this year's election, said he wrote about the concept of trust schools - although he did not coin the phrase - in his book What's Up With Our Schools?

Mr Peachey said the concept was to take the best schools, give them greater independence and protect them from political and bureaucratic interference.

"They would basically have the same degree of independence as independent schools have."

The idea was to then try to get all schools up to their standard.

The schools would be fully bulk- funded, would have more discretion over staffing levels and how much staff were paid, and would not be tied to "restrictive" collective employment contracts.

Mr Peachey would not say if he thought Rangitoto College should take over surrounding schools.

Questions were raised in Parliament yesterday over the concept.

United Future education spokesman Bernie Ogilvy questioned whether giving outwardly successful schools control of funding could create "personal fiefdoms under a charismatic principal".

Education Minister Trevor Mallard compared the idea to the controversial tertiary institute Te Wananga o Aotearoa.