Second Application Round for Partnership Schools Welcomed

21 November 2013

Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua Authorisation Board

Media release

Authorisation Board Welcomes Announcement of Second Application Round for Partnership Schools

Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua Authorisation Board Chair Catherine Isaac today welcomed the Government’s decision to proceed with a second round of Partnership School applications.

“The decision means that, from Term 1 2015, more children from Māori, Pasifika and low income backgrounds whose needs are not currently being met will have a better chance of achieving their potential in education.

“The Government’s decision reflects the high demand from parents, iwi, and local communities for schools that offer better alternatives for their children than are available in the current education system,” said Ms Isaac.

Partnership Kura are a new way of delivering state-funded education for disadvantaged students who are not succeeding in the current system. The schools will have greater freedom to innovate to engage these students in learning, alongside much stronger public accountability than regular state schools for achieving specified results.

“While the first round of 35 Partnership Kura applications included many very high quality proposals, only five of these could be approved. The Authorisation Board expects that, with the benefit of greater clarity about requirements and more time to develop their proposals, a number of these applicants will resubmit their proposals. We are also confident that many new applicants will come forward,” said Ms Isaac.

Ms Isaac said the Authorisation Board supports the Government’s decision to increase support for sponsors during selection and establishment, and said that the Board intends to run briefing sessions for potential sponsors in early December.

“The Authorisation Board believes that earlier support, more information about requirements, and a streamlined application form will increase the quality of applications.

“The move to establish more Partnership Kura will also help give confidence to existing and potential sponsors, as well as students and parents, that the model will continue, and provide a larger base on which to evaluate its success,” said Ms Isaac.

Background notes

Partnership Kura

• Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua are one of a number of initiatives aimed at lifting educational achievement among disadvantaged students. The schools will provide parents, students and communities with another option to choose from, when considering the most appropriate type of education for a particular student’s needs.

• Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua will be held accountable to the Government for raising achievement through a contract to deliver specific outcomes. In return they will have more flexibility to make decisions about how they operate and use funding, such as the number of teachers they employ, how teachers are paid, the length of the school day and how the school purchases resources.

• Successful applicants will sign a contract with the Crown that clearly sets out the responsibilities and obligations of both parties.

The Authorisation Board

Appointed on 1 March 2013, the Authorisation Board’s role is to evaluate applications to establish Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua and provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Education on which applications should be approved. The Board will also be responsible for overseeing the monitoring of each school’s progress against agreed outcomes. The Board comprises:

Catherine Isaac – Chair

Catherine Isaac brings experience from the Government’s Welfare Working Group and numerous senior roles in public, corporate and not for profit organisations.

John Shewan – Deputy Chair

John Shewan is the chair of Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund Management Company and a number of other boards, and the former chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Accounting at Victoria University.

Terry Bates

Terry Bates is the Chief Executive Officer of Cognition Education. He has a background in public sector education and has held related senior public service roles.

John Morris

John Morris’s experience in education includes 22 years as principal of Auckland Grammar School and Takapuna Grammar School. He is currently a member of a number of boards and advisory groups, including the board of Education New Zealand.

Tahu Potiki

Tahu Potiki’s experience includes five years as the Chief Executive Officer for Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and four years in a senior executive position at Christchurch Polytechnic with responsibility for the Polytechnic’s responsiveness to Māori. He is currently the Independent Chair/Governance Advisor for the Otago Whanau Ora Māori Provider Collective.

Dr Margaret Southwick

Dr Margaret Southwick is a member of the Partnership SchoolsKura Hourua Working Group. Her experience includes tenure as Dean of Whitireia Community Polytechnic’s Faculty of Health, and Director of the Pacific Health Research Centre.

Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi

Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi has had a long involvement in Māori education, including 13 years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Te Kohanga Reo Trust Board. Dame Iritana has served on a number of Government advisory groups and working parties.

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