TIPENE, the old St Stephen’s Māori Boys School is the last charter school announced to be opening in term 1, 2025.
The school says underachievement disproportionately falls on Māori boys but, despite this, education strategies rarely target their needs.
St Stephen’s Māori Boys School in Bombay was closed 24 years ago but late last year re-opening plans were announced.
TIPENE is a collaboration between the St Stephen’s Old Boys Association and the St Stephens Queen Victoria’s Trust.
The school will be one of the 50 new charter schools in Aotearoa that will receive $153 million of taxpayers’ funding.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says it’s another significant step in the government’s efforts to lift educational achievement in New Zealand.
“Charter schools will make New Zealand’s education system more flexible and responsive to family and student needs,” Seymour says.
“Every child deserves an education that gives them the opportunity to learn and grow in ways that are more specific to their needs. TIPENE is a fantastic example of a school that will give families and educators more meaningful educational choice and support.”
TIPENE will be a full-time boarding school in South Auckland for Māori and Pacific boys in years 9-13.
Seymour says the school will use well-established cultural frames and pedagogies, promoting success and designed specifically to inspire Māori boys.
“One aspect of this will be the school’s focus on creating a home away from home,” Seymour says.
The Charter School Agency and independent Authorisation Board saw 78 applications in the first round.
“This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools,” Seymour says.
“Positive education outcomes can lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves,” he says.
“Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways but they will be held to a much higher standard than state schools and subject to a high level of monitoring and accountability.”
