School told to look to its methods, not query report

Feilding High School has been told it should be looking at how it can reduce suspensions and exclusions, rather than questioning the Education Review Office's report on the issue.

ERO Wanganui area manager Diane Anderson said the report was based on strong evidence and the office was standing by it.

"The statistics speak for themselves."

The comment comes after a report critical of the school's high rate of student exclusion. Exclusion applies to children under 16 years for whom a new school must be found.

Feilding High School principal Roger Menzies has questioned ERO's independence and objectivity, saying it had preconceived opinions on exclusion issues.

ERO wants the Secretary for Education to intervene.

Mr Menzies said he and the board asked ERO to substantiate its statements, but the school had received no reply.

Mrs Anderson said the school could request the file with all the reviewers' notes in it, but had not done so.

She said the school knew the process because it had already used it to request a list of the complaints ERO had received. That had been given to the school.

"The board should be looking at how it can improve the situation for students."

- NZPA