Teen parent school receives glowing report following closure fears

Terri Cunningham and Sian Bruce with Te Matahauariki at He Matariki Teen Parent School.

He Matariki Teen Parent School is producing highly engaged learners as well as confident mothers, the Education Review Office has found.

ERO carried out a review of the Teen Parent Unit in October and published its report last month.

Unit manager Terri Cunningham said she was rapt with the review and its glowing report of the school.

"It's really affirming."

ERO found the students were highly engaged in learning and were increasingly confident in themselves as learners, leaders and mothers.

Increasing numbers of students were achieving qualifications in NCEA levels one, two and three and gaining university entrance.

Ms Cunningham said six students had gained NCEA level three with university entrance this year, eight had gained level two and seven had gained level one.

At the end of last year the school shifted from The Pulse at Raumanga to new facilities which the ERO described as comfortable, inviting and well resourced.

Ms Cunningham credits the new classroom facilities with giving the whole school a huge lift.

"To be in such a great, purpose-built facility makes the whole culture of teaching and learning so much better," she said.

The school ensures that students' health, financial and social needs are managed so that barriers to learning are eliminated and students can engage in their studies.

ERO found Ms Cunningham provided highly effective leadership and management for the school, and a culture of respect and trust was evident there.

The Teen Parent Unit was in trouble in 2009 when an ERO report found its facilities were insufficient for the school to operate successfully.