Military charter school not yet ruled out by Govt

The future of six yet-to-open partnership schools remains in limbo.

No decisions have been made on individual charter schools, but their contracts remain valid, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday.

The new minister denied the Christchurch Vanguard Military School had already been scrapped, but said soon after taking on his ministerial role that Labour, NZ First and the Greens had campaigned to scrap the charter school model and they intended to honour that commitment.

Vanguard Military School applied in May to open a school in Christchurch and a contract was signed in September.

It was due to open in January 2019.

Chief executive Nick Hyde previously said he was disappointed to find out through the media that the school planned for Christchurch would be scrapped.

Despite a competitive tender process and a signed contract, the future of the school was unclear.

He said Vanguard was not against changing some of its ways to fit in with the Government, but it was unclear how the Government wished to progress.

Manukau Urban Ma¯ori Authority, City Senior School, Te Rangihakahaka, Blue Light, and Turanga Tangata Rite also have contracts for new schools that were signed with the National Government.

Hipkins said he would look at each school on a ‘‘case-by-case basis’’, but did not want to preempt discussions.

‘‘I have asked the ministry to prioritise discussions with the six schools that have yet to open their doors, including Vanguard in Christchurch,’’ Hipkins said.

‘‘We do not want to rush this process but we would like to create certainty for those students and their families as quickly as we are able to.’’