Gloriavale School could be closed after second failed audit
The Ministry of Education says it is “seriously concerned” about Gloriavale School after it failed its second audit and will consider closing the school.
The ministry says if the school does not take “immediate and meaningful” steps to address the issues it could face suspension or cancellation of its registration as a private school.
It comes after the Education Review Office (ERO) found the school at Gloriavale is still not a physically and emotionally safe space for students, nor is it meeting all the criteria for registration as a private school.
Its latest review said the school met five of the eight criteria for registration as a private school. It followed a damning ERO review in 2023 that found the school met only three of the criteria and the level of education provided was “inadequate and uncertain”.
The Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust wrote to the ministry in December 2023 calling for the school to be deregistered.
“The time for delay is over. Leavers need to know their siblings are being given educational opportunities outside of the entrapment of their current society. Entry into local schools will be the mechanism for this opening up of their world and will reduce vulnerability moving forward,” it said.
The ministry confirmed the school had been providing fortnightly progress updates and meeting with officials monthly after it issued a formal notice to the school in November 2023, ordering it to comply with the rules.
The school submitted a detailed plan in January 2024, which was created with the help of an external education consultant and included that the school employ staff and advisers from “outside” the community.
The Ministry of Education says it is “seriously concerned” about Gloriavale School after it failed its second audit and will consider closing the school.
The ministry says if the school does not take “immediate and meaningful” steps to address the issues it could face suspension or cancellation of its registration as a private school.
It comes after the Education Review Office (ERO) found the school at Gloriavale is still not a physically and emotionally safe space for students, nor is it meeting all the criteria for registration as a private school.
Its latest review said the school met five of the eight criteria for registration as a private school. It followed a damning ERO review in 2023 that found the school met only three of the criteria and the level of education provided was “inadequate and uncertain”.
The Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust wrote to the ministry in December 2023 calling for the school to be deregistered.
“The time for delay is over. Leavers need to know their siblings are being given educational opportunities outside of the entrapment of their current society. Entry into local schools will be the mechanism for this opening up of their world and will reduce vulnerability moving forward,” it said.
The ministry confirmed the school had been providing fortnightly progress updates and meeting with officials monthly after it issued a formal notice to the school in November 2023, ordering it to comply with the rules.
The school submitted a detailed plan in January 2024, which was created with the help of an external education consultant and included that the school employ staff and advisers from “outside” the community.
The ministry’s acting hautū (leader) Te Tai Runga (South), Andrea Williams, said the ministry’s response to the report would be communicated to the school on Wednesday.
“The ministry is seriously concerned by the ERO’s conclusion that the school continues to fall short of providing a physically and emotionally safe environment for students and has failed its compliance audit for the second consecutive year.
“We will expect the school to take immediate and meaningful steps to address the issues identified. If the school does not demonstrate sustained and measurable improvement within the timeframe we require, the ministry will consider all available options under the Act, including suspension or cancellation of registration.”
Cancellation was only considered after other avenues had been exhausted and where there was clear and ongoing non-compliance, she said.
When asked what the time frame was, a spokesperson said that would be discussed with the school next week.
The community has been approached for comment.
The ERO report found enrolled students with high and complex needs were unable to attend because of a lack of suitable staffing and insufficient equipment in the school to adequately support their physical needs.
It also said the Teaching Council was currently investigating an allegation of staff misconduct and the school told ERO the staff member was being formally monitored.
The report said suitable policy and procedures were in place, including a Child Protection Policy where concerns are reported to relevant agencies, but some aspects of the policies and procedures required improvement.
“ERO is not yet assured that all learners physical and emotional health and safety is closely, regularly, and sufficiently considered and monitored across all schooling provision,” the report said.
It said more rigorous safety assessment plans were required for Education Outside the Classroom and a school-based police vet register was not yet in place.
ERO made several recommendations in 2023 for the community leaders including urgently developing a long-term strategic plan for educational provision across the community and that they consider external leadership or support.
The latest report says the strategic plan has been developed by the community and external consultants but was still not in place.