SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

Board members are elected to act on behalf of the school’s community to ensure that the school continuously improves student progress and achievement. 

Our current Board of Trustees members are: Wendy Shepperd (Presiding Member), Kayla Patterson, Robyn Young (Principal), Debbie Blythen (Staff Rep), Casey Lange, Kelvin Welsh, Reina Graham and Kimberley McDonald. 

If you would like to contact the board, please email: bot@matakohe.school.nz

The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring the school complies with all legal directives made by the government and the Ministry of Education. This is done by ensuring we have robust policies and procedures in place. There is a clearly documented line between board work and management work. Boards of trustees govern (oversee management) and principals manage the school. It is not the role of the Board of Trustees to be involved in the day-to-day operation of the school, this is the responsibility of the principal and the school staff.

Board work is primarily about school governance. Governance involves setting strategic direction through our vision, core values, and strategic goals. The core work of the board includes setting targets and tracking student progress. This also includes regular review of curriculum areas. The board monitors the school's financial expenditure and sets a yearly budget. They establish long-term property plans and prioritise property projects with allocated funds.

From time to time the Board, Staff and School Community review policies and procedures. This allows all stakeholders to have a say in certain aspects of the school and curriculum management. You can access the School Docs website and review the policy here. Use the username of matakohe with the password kauri. 

• Concerns and Complaints Process

• Making a Formal Complaint

• Concerns and Complaints Flow Chart

• Child Protection Policy

The New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA)

NZSTA provides governance and employment advice and support to help boards do the very best for their students and communities. NZSTA is contracted by the ministry to support boards in the undertaking of their roles and responsibilities. NZSTA provides practical support, advice, resources and professional development opportunities to help boards govern and manage their schools. 

If you would like to view the minutes from board meetings or find out the schedule for upcoming meetings, please contact the office. 

This section will provide access to our School Charter, Strategic Plan, Annual Plan and our most up to date Annual Financial Report.

Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan can be found here. Under the Education and Training Act 2020, the government have made changes to how schools plan and report that will be implemented in 2024. The framework, which came into effect on 1 January 2023, is currently being introduced to school leaders and boards.

Te Whakangārahu Ngātahi | Planning Together is designed to help

• Focus schools and kura on continuously improving their planning and reporting practices to deliver equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners.

• Support learners, whānau and communities to be involved in the planning process for their school or kura.

• Give schools and kura flexibility to reflect their local contexts in their planning and reporting.

• Support whānau and communities to hold their schools or kura accountable for learner outcomes.

Te Whakangārahu Ngātahi│Planning Together requires the board to develop

• a 3-year strategic plan developed in consultation with their school community, that sets out how the board will meet their primary objectives (set out in the Education and Training Act 2020)

• an annual implementation plan that sets annual targets and actions for working towards their strategic goals

• an annual report that reports on the school’s progress and finances.

• (www.education.govt.nz).  

ERO report

Our most recent ERO Profile report was conducted in  2023. The full report can be found here.

Annual Financial Statement

It is a Ministry requirement to have the previous year's annual financial report from the auditor on the school website.  See ours here.