The Correspondence School
Encyclopedia
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu or Te Kura (formerly The Correspondence School) is New Zealand
's largest school with around 25,000 students enrolled each year, from early childhood to secondary level. It is headquartered in Portland Crescent in Thorndon
, Wellington. In addition to its ordinary full-time students, Te Kura provides programmes to students at other state-owned schools
where a subject is unavailable, and to adults. Te Kura is Ministry of Education
funded.
students, expanding into secondary education
in 1928 with 50 students and into early childhood education
in 1976. When the school was first established in the 1920s, parliamentarians referred to the founding vision as " a school for the benefit of the most isolated children, for example of lighthouse keepers and remote shepherds living upon small islands or in mountainous districts". The same parliamentary debate on TCS also described it as "a school of last resort, ensuring that no matter where he lived every child should have as full an education as he was capable of achieving".
Mike Hollings commenced in the position of CEO from August 2006 after completing a contract as the CEO of New Zealand Education Review Office
(ERO). Further restructuring was undertaken at the end of 2007 when the school commenced the adoption of a more regionally focused model.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's largest school with around 25,000 students enrolled each year, from early childhood to secondary level. It is headquartered in Portland Crescent in Thorndon
Thorndon
Thorndon is an inner suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It combines residential accommodation and the home of government, and is located at the northern end of the Central Business District...
, Wellington. In addition to its ordinary full-time students, Te Kura provides programmes to students at other state-owned schools
State sector organisations in New Zealand
Public sector organisations in New Zealand include the State sector plus the organisations of local government.Within the State sector lies the State services, and within this, lies the core Public service....
where a subject is unavailable, and to adults. Te Kura is Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Education , is the primary state sector organisation of New Zealand responsible for New Zealand's education system...
funded.
Early history
The school began in 1922 with 100 primary levelPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
students, expanding into secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
in 1928 with 50 students and into early childhood education
Early childhood education
Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...
in 1976. When the school was first established in the 1920s, parliamentarians referred to the founding vision as " a school for the benefit of the most isolated children, for example of lighthouse keepers and remote shepherds living upon small islands or in mountainous districts". The same parliamentary debate on TCS also described it as "a school of last resort, ensuring that no matter where he lived every child should have as full an education as he was capable of achieving".
Recent developments
The school began a significant review of its services under the leadership of Debbie Francis (CEO January 2004 - July 2006) during which time the school was restructured. A $6 million annual deficit was corrected primarily through reducing the number of salaried staff - amongst other strategies. Further to this, the school developed a Differentiated Services Model for its full time students.Mike Hollings commenced in the position of CEO from August 2006 after completing a contract as the CEO of New Zealand Education Review Office
New Zealand Education Review Office
The Education Review Office or ERO is a relatively small state sector organisation of New Zealand tasked with reviewing and reporting publicly on the quality of education in all New Zealand schools...
(ERO). Further restructuring was undertaken at the end of 2007 when the school commenced the adoption of a more regionally focused model.