Minister celebrates success of Tarawera High
7 April 2015
TARAWERA High School has received top-level endorsement of its NCEA achievement last year.
Education minister Hekia Parata has written to congratulate the school, whose provisional results show significant improvement at all levels over the previous year.
“These results speak volumes about the hard work being done by your school, its teachers, the board and the students and their families and whanau to achieve this success,” she wrote in a letter to board of trustees chairman Aaron Rangihika.
“It is very encouraging indeed to see Tarawera High School’s 2014 NCEA results, given the struggles of the former school network.”
She notes the improved achievement follows the closure of Kawerau College and Kawerau Intermediate – a difficult time for the community – and that the school is in the middle of a major rebuilding programme.
Principal Helen Tuhoro said the staff and board of trustees were “overwhelmed and delighted” to receive such accolades from the minister.
“This illustrates and acknowledges the commitment of our staff to the students of Tarawera over the past two years and vindicates the hard work and dedication as we journey toward better schooling in Kawerau.
“This is another step in a series of many positive actions that sees Tarawera High School leading the way into raising academic achievement for all, using an integrated curriculum while also preparing to move into a modern learning environment.”
In 2013 – the school’s first year – NCEA results were low, with pass rates of 36.3 percent at level one, 46.1 percent at level two and 51.2 percent at level 3. This was well below the 2012 pass rates of Kawerau College – 71.7 percent at level one, 70.6 percent at level two and 58.5 percent at level three.
However, NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship results for the school in 2014 saw the combined efforts of the staff and students and the new pathways and courses at the school pay off, with results at all levels showing a significant increase.
Provisional level one results are 72 percent achievement, with NCEA literacy rates at 79 percent and numeracy at 83 percent.
Level two results are 81 percent and level three 76 percent, with three level three students receiving excellence-endorsed certificates. One student, James Tuhiwai, achieved a scholarship in photography.
Ms Parata said Tarawera High School was moving in the right direction and the whole community could be proud of what had been achieved to date.
“We want all our students to get the best possible education. The results being achieved by Tarawera High School are a clear and valuable example of the positive impact that great teachers and great schools can have on the achievement of their students.
Source: Whakatane Beacon