Report marks school down

Students are fleeing Huntly College as it continues to struggle with high suspensions, low staff morale, unruly student behaviour and poor communication between the principal, staff and students, a Government report says.

The school's roll has dropped 25 per cent from 407 students in 2001 to 310.

The latest Education Review Office (ERO) report on Huntly College - a decile-one school - said the continuing fall in student numbers "presents difficulties for the board and management".

The supplementary review comes after a damning ERO report in 2001 which said Huntly College was in a "serious situation due to a deterioration in staff relations and a lack of school progress and direction".

Following that report, the Education Ministry appointed two advisers to the school to address financial and staff problems.

Another supplementary report, in July last year, found the board had "worked hard to address the actions signalled" but found staff relationships "remain fragile".

The latest report said there had been some improvement in staff relationships but staff well-being "continues to be at risk".

In a letter to the board of trustees, half the 28 staff had indicated they did not feel safe in the school environment.

Staff issues included verbal abuse from students, refusal by students to follow teacher instructions, and theft and damage to school and teacher property.

The latest report is also critical of the performance of principal Ric Drake, who it said needed a "much more proactive management style" to address board and staff concerns.

"As the professional leader of the school the principal must take responsibility for many of the issues outlined in this report."

The report recommended that the Secretary for Education intervene to improve performance management, the leadership of the principal and student learning and behaviour.

Mr Drake would not comment on the report.

Board chairwoman Bronwen Rogers said more ministry intervention was "only a recommendation".

"It is important to remember this was a snapshot of our school in March and we have made a lot of progress since then."

She said the board had faith in Mr Drake and was working with the ministry to "find a way forward".

- NZPA