Balance of power shifts at troubled school

The latest review into the statutory intervention at St Peter’s College in Gore reveals the board of trustees has made positive progress.

However, it does not mention whether the strained relationship between principal Tara Quinney and the board members has improved.

The Catholic co-ed school was in April 2023 placed into the limited statutory management of lawyer Nicola Hornsey after the board and Quinney sought Education Ministry support to govern the school.

Soon after, Quinney said she had no confidence in the ability of the school’s board chairperson Ruth Mitchell to lead, and she wanted her to resign.

On Thursday, Hornsey said Mitchell had been replaced by John Hogue as the board’s chairperson at its February meeting.

“John was nominated by Ruth Mitchell who, in turn, was elected to the [deputy chair] role,” Hornsey said.

Hogue, a former principal at St Peter’s College, had joined the board as a proprietor’s rep, appointed by the Catholic diocese of Dunedin, at the start of 2024.

Hornsey did not say if the change in board chair had improved the relationship between Quinney and the board.

Hogue declined to comment, referring questions to Hornsey.

Quinney also declined to comment – she was gagged from speaking to the media by Hornsey.

Hornsey said the Ministry of Education had evaluated the progress of the statutory intervention in the past month.

Progress had been made, with the responsibility for supporting special character being returned to the school board.

Special character was the Catholic faith-based education students received at St Peter’s College.

Of the nine statements of effective governance in the intervention plan, two had been met.

The board had ensured ongoing improvement in the effectiveness of governance and stewardship, through induction and training, planning and the distribution of tasks.

It had also promoted the care of students by nurturing the development of language, culture, and identity.

The remaining seven statements of effective governance would now be the focus of the intervention, with a further review to be carried out by the ministry within 12 months.

The aim of the intervention is to return the school to full self-governance.