Principal 'thrilled' to lead project

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh.

A Rotorua principal is "thrilled" after being appointed the project leader of the country's first faith-based community of learning.

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh was asked to lead the collective, which is made up of nine Catholic schools across Rotorua, Tauranga, Tokoroa, Opotiki and Putaruru.

Communities of schools are being formed across the country as part of the Government's Investing in Educational Success plan. The communities aim to strengthen collaboration between principals, teachers and schools in order to raise student achievement.

Establishing a faith-based community in the Bay of Plenty has been in the works for at least a year.

Mr Walsh said he had signed on to lead the community for two years before hoping to "pass the baton on" to the next principal.

"We are now looking to establish processes and implement our action plan to ensure we get the best outcomes for our students."

He said the principals were already working together before they officially formed a community of learning.

"The principals know each other well and share similar philosophies. There is a high level of trust and respect between the schools and there are plenty of gains to be made from sharing each school's strengths and weaknesses."

Mr Walsh said the group would be focusing on improving reading and writing, mathematics and the delivery of science in schools. The group would also work on identifying special needs students to provide them with the necessary tools to achieve.

"We want to work on strengthening the knowledge and skill levels of all our science teachers and identify students who sit below the national average and ensure they are adequately aided to meet the standard they should be at.

"This community will be hugely beneficial for the 3500 students and 200 teachers across the nine schools involved."

The faith-based community of learning will be officially acknowledged at a launch in February.

Schools in collective

* John Paul College

* St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Rotorua

* St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Rotorua

* Aquinas College, Tauranga

* St Mary's Primary School, Tauranga

* Bishop Edward Gaines Primary School, Tokoroa

* St Joseph's Primary School, Opotiki

* St Mary's Primary School, Putaruru

* St Thomas More Primary School, Mt Maunganui