Troubled school struggling to recruit principal

The Charter school Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru is close to being closed. Former Curriculum Director Natasha Sadler was made redundant in April following a restructure. Photo / Nick Reed

A Northland charter school whose future is hanging in the balance is struggling to recruit a principal.

Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru, located on a farm 65km north-west of Whangarei, is under review with the outcome expected any day now.

The kura, recently renamed Te Pumanawa o te Wairua, has been plagued with issues since it opened at the start of last year.

Nga Parirau Matauranga Charitable Trust chair Hori Parata said former curriculum manager Natasha Sadler and manager Makere Laurence-Bade were made redundant in April following a restructure.

The Ministry of Education had previously called for a change of management, but declined to name who it was referring to.

The trust created the new position of principal, though after three weeks only received one application.

"We believe potential applicants could be hesitant to apply for the position given the potential of school closure is a possibility," Mr Parata said.

The position has been readvertised. In the meantime, the trust had appointed trustee Wayne Johnstone as an interim chief executive to provide overall management of the kura.

The two main issues which led to the review were truancy and a declining roll. Better systems were now in place to manage truancy and the roll had stabilised at 37 students, though the school was still funded for 40, Mr Parata said.

"We are currently recruiting through our personal networks in order to reach the 40 student mark prior to the end of term two," he said. "We have also improved communication with parents regarding academic progress as a means to retain the students we have."

NCEA results proved to be an issue last year with just 24 per cent of students achieving level one.

In order to improve academic performance the trust established an Education Advisory Group of four experts in education - Chris Saunders, Tunny McFadyn, Samu Isopo and Dr Georgina Stewart.