Manager appointed to college
A statutory manager has been appointed to O¯ torohanga College after a request from its board.
The move follows an Education Review Office visit to the school in July.
An ERO report, which has yet to be released, made several recommendations, including for the Education Ministry to provide increased support to the school’s leadership and board of trustees.
Paul Matthews has been appointed limited statutory manager and has taken full responsibility for all matters relating to employment after the board of trustees asked for assistance.
Matthews, who served as principal of St John’s College in Hamilton for 10 years, said his focus will be on addressing any employment concerns at the college.
He will also advise the board on matters relating to communication, board policies, and effective governance.
‘‘The ERO report recommended an increased level of support for the board and principal and the board responded very positively to that and said yes that is what we wanted,’’ Matthews said.
‘‘A normal thing would be for me to be there until the end of next year.
That all depends on how everything is going and whether they feel empowered enough with governance and management that I do myself out of a¯job which is the ideal.’’
Otorohanga College won widespread praise for its petition in 2015 which successfully advocated for a day to be set aside to commemorate the New Zealand Wars.
In 2017, the first national day commemorating the conflict was held on October 28.
The 2018 ERO report noted areas of improvements at O¯ torohanga College, including: the strengthening of strategic planning, increased support for students needing additional help, ongoing professional development for teachers, and significant improvements in Level 2 NCEA results, especially for boys.
The school was also praised for its community collaboration regarding the rebuilding of its college hostel.
The ERO report recommended the school strengthen its internal evaluation systems to allow for consistent practices across the college as well as continued focus on students at risk of not achieving.
The report also recommended the school consult more with Ma¯ ori on plans to raise student achievement, and follow up on recommendations in previous appraisals of its principal Lindsay Dunn.
Matthews said he anticipated spending four days a fortnight at the school.
Initially he will work directly with the board and Dunn.
The next step will be to work with the school’s senior team.
‘‘Ultimately, if what I do doesn’t benefit the students of the college and the community, then it’s not worth doing.
‘‘The school has a got a really good, hard-working board with good links, historic and longstanding links, into the community.’’
‘‘If what I do doesn’t benefit the students of the college and the community, then it’s not worth doing.’’
Paul Matthews