Tipene St Stephens opened at the start of this year. (File photo) Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro
A Māori-Pasifika boys' boarding school says they've seen a dramatic improvement in student's literacy since they opened as a charter school at the beginning of this year.
Tipene St Stephens in Auckland was one of eight charter schools to open this year.
Tipene opened on the site of the former St Stephen's School, which had been closed for more than two decades in Auckland's Bombay.
The school's co-tumuaki or principal Nathan Durie told Morning Report at the beginning of the year they had children ranging in abilities.
"I think from a long time ago we've resigned ourselves to the fact that we shouldn't continue to try and address what are perceived problems of our kids but rather recognise their ability, and that's what we're enabling - and their literacy abilities are as good as anybody and we want to bring that to fruition."
An example of how students had improved, he said, was with spelling.
He said a student might have gone from attempting less than half of a spelling test, with only about a quarter of words correct at the start of the year to six months later attempting all the words and getting more than 60 percent correct.
He said demand for what they were doing was through the roof.
"Māori people have always indicated a desire for their kids to have access to education that will enable them, and so we've put our hand up to say we want to be one of those options."
The coalition government set aside $153 million for 15 new charter schools and the conversion of 35 state schools for 2025 and 2026.
Charter schools work under contracts with the government.
Unlike state and state integrated schools, the Education Ministry does not pay their teachers or own their property and they receive their funding in bulk meaning they have greater flexibility over how they use it, as well as over their curriculum and staffing.
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