ERO gives top suburb primary school a caning

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

A primary school in one of Auckland's most exclusive suburbs has been ticked off by a Government review over its management.

The Education Review Office has raised a number of concerns about the way Remuera Primary School is being run by its board of trustees and senior managers.

Issued this week, the review highlights a number of problems at the wealthy school - including poor staff leadership, staff morale and board governance - which had the potential to jeopardise the high quality of education delivered to the school's 630 pupils.

The office said some problems arose because of poor leadership from the school's principal, who has been on sick leave since last year.

The board had consequently become more involved in the day-to-day running of the school, including issues such as staff performance.

Important board duties such as developing strategic direction, annual planning and self-review had suffered.

There was also a high turnover of trustees, who were under strain dealing with both board and school performance matters.

A parent, who contacted the Herald, said the board behaved like a "secret society" and did not give crucial information to parents.

But co-chair Deborah Fanelli said the privacy act had prevented the board from communicating various issues to parents.

Principal Peter Nicholas, who has been on sick leave since November, is due to return to the school at the beginning of term two in April.

Ms Fanelli, who is not standing in the trustee elections this year after three years on the board, said school management was on the mend.

The board was able to concentrate more on governance issues this year as an acting principal had been appointed.

Four of six elected board trustees were seeking re-election this month.

Ms Fanelli denied that six teacher resignations last year were related to problems at the school.

The school has about 30 teachers.

On the flip side, the office had no problems with the quality of education delivered to pupils at Remuera Primary, which is a decile 10 school, meaning it draws students from wealthy neighbourhoods.

The report cited impressive developments in information and communication technology and the safe and supportive environment students learned in.

The school was well-resourced and funded and enjoyed good support from parents.

The office plans to return to review Remuera Primary again in six months.