Military school first to switch
Auckland’s Vanguard Military School will become the first charter school to make the switch to Labour’s new ‘‘designated character schools’’.
The school was the first of 11 charter schools to put in an application to become part of the state education system under the changes Labour made to the charter school system. Vanguard will switch in 2019. Minister of Education Chris Hipkins announced the change yesterday.
‘‘The school will use the ethos and training methodology of the military across the curriculum and in the day-today running of the school, to achieve attitudinal and academic excellence. This will form part of its designated character. It will also continue to have a special focus on ‘second chance’ students,’’ he said.
The application was assessed by the Ministry of Education in consultation with boards of schools in the Auckland area whose rolls might be affected. ‘‘After considering the assessment and the consultation responses, I have decided to approve the school,’’ Hipkins said. ‘‘The application met the requirements of the Act and demonstrated that students who choose to enrol will get an education of a kind that differs significantly from the education they would get at an ordinary state school.’’ CEO of Vanguard Military School Nick Hyde said he was ‘‘very happy’’ with the announcement.
‘‘We’re keen to continue work- ing with the Ministry of Education and I’m very pleased the school will continue to exist,’’ Hyde said.
Vanguard Military School will open as a ‘‘designated character school’’ in Term 1 2019 for Year 11-13 students initially, before growing to Year 9-13 once the Education Review Office has confirmed it is ready to provide schooling for students in Years 9-10.
A new Board of Trustees has been appointed to ensure that the school is ready to make the switch in 2019.
Hipkins also announced the formal process to end charter school contracts was under way.
‘‘The formal notice I am giving today confirms that I intend their contracts to finish at the end of the 2018 school year. This is a legal process that is required under the contracts. It is separate from decisions on their applications to become part of the state school system.
‘‘Each charter school has 10 business days when they may ask me to review this.
‘‘If I then decide to proceed with ending the contract, the school won’t continue to operate as a charter school beyond this year unless this is mutually agreed.’’