Patrick Walsh
Rotorua schools have seen an increase in their NCEA results that were recently released by the Ministry of Education.
Western Heights High School saw an average lift of 19 per cent for their level 1, 2, 3 and university entrance results.
The decile 4 school had an average student pass rate of just over 85 per cent with the highest increase seen in their university entrance results - 74.5 per cent qualified.
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu recorded a 100 per cent pass rate for every level with a 50 per cent rise in level 3 results.
Deputy principal Tuparahaki McAllister said they were proud of their students' success. "It's through hard work and we are fortunate that we have smaller class numbers, there was six students in Year 13 last year, but we have dedicated staff and lots of communication with parents."
"A lot of our kids don't have computers at home so when they need to use them, our teachers stay behind after school for them.
"They will also stay after hours supervising research work the kids need to do - that's how our teachers go the extra mile.
"There is a lot of benefit with small class numbers, they're each receiving attention when they need, sometimes bigger classes students tend to miss out. We're really pleased with our university entrance, something we've managed to maintain for the last two to three years.
"Now the challenge is more of the same, working out what practices work out for us and what don't," she said.
John Paul College has seen a slight rise but maintained a high level of student pass rate.
"We're very happy with the results, we've compared well with the results at nine or 10 other schools in Auckland and Wellington with the same decile, so it's not only good for us but also good for Rotorua to show that John Paul College fits in with the top schools of Auckland," principal Patrick Walsh said.
Their Maori and Pacific Island students have also improved with a 100 per cent pass rate across every level.
"We have very hard working staff and an academic counselling programme which has been in place for two years now which provides one on one tuition with the student."
Mr Walsh said they will be focusing on raising their university entrance level of 77 per cent and hoped to increase their NCEA scholarships from 14 to more than 20 this year.
Edgecumbe College principal Louw Olivier said improved relationships between students and teachers has contributed to the leap in his school's scores. The Eastern Bay high school saw an average rise of nearly 19 per cent.
"We've seen the attitude of students change for the better and an improvement with relationships and rapport."