From our Board…

As members of our Waverley Park school community you will be well aware of our Board’s opposition to National Standards.

We believe our decision to oppose National standards is an informed one. Sound research undertaken in many countries has found that it leads to a narrowing of the curriculum, an increase in the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ and a detrimental effect on the educational potential of many children.

Last week our Board received a letter from the Ministry of Education stating that as we had not included National Standards in our charter (a document written in conjunction with you, our community), we were acting unlawfully. 

Therefore we had to make a decision whether we would continue to oppose National Standards by not including them in our charter; which we believe to be morally and ethically correct;

or include them.

If we chose not to include them, the Ministry would take action against our school and our community. This type of intervention could mean that the board and principal could be replaced and a commissioner put into our school. Even though the ministry enforces this intervention, the school would be required to pay for it.

This intervention is usually reserved for under-performing schools or those where serious misconduct has occurred. Waverley is in neither of these categories - we are classed as a ‘high performing school.’

Therefore our board has had to make a very difficult decision.

Were we to continue to stand up for what we believe in and therefore comprise our school; or include National standards in our charter, potentially compromising the educational future of many New Zealand children?

Under great duress, we have very reluctantly included National standards within our charter.

We have decided that we will not compromise the unique, innovative, creative, and special place that is, Waverley Park School.

We will continue to voice our opposition to National Standards and to focus on what we believe to be sound teaching and learning; which has at its heart what is best for our children.

We would encourage you, our community to voice your concern with regards to how our school community has been treated. You may wish to discuss the situation with others, write a letter to the paper or to the Beehive (no postage is required).

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards

Lisa Tou

BOT Chair