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Activity centres
Activity centres provide educational and pastoral support to secondary students Years 9-13. The support includes a specialised Learning Programme that will lead to:
- increased attendance, engagement, and achievement at school
- social outcomes
- successful transition into further education, employment or training.
Target student group
Activity centres are operated by managing schools to provide a specialised Learning Programme for secondary school students in Years 9–13 who are at risk of disengaging from schooling and/or at risk of low educational, social or vocational outcomes.
Further entry criteria are developed by the managing school in consultation with the cluster of schools in its area. Entry criteria must ensure:
- students are enrolled in a state school and are entered into ENROL
- students are referred because their behaviour impedes their own learning outcomes or that of others
- a specialised programme is the most effective way of meeting the student’s needs.
Programme
Activity centres have registered teachers who support students to increase their achievement and engagement in education. Those working at the activity centres develop an Individual Learning Programme (ILP), which is responsive to the needs of each student.
At a minimum an ILP must include:
- numeracy and literacy goals at a level appropriate for the student
- wellbeing goals (health, social, behaviour)
- career competencies and/or vocational goals that support effective transition
- measures to ensure a regular review and update.
Often ākonga will attend an Activity Centre for a maximum of two terms; however, extended support can be in place at the discretion of the Activity Centre Director.
The managing school will also ensure regular review systems are in place to support a high-quality educational service provision, including support for activity centre staff to access professional development as well as the development of continual improvement practices.
Funding and operation
Managing schools have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education and receive resourcing to manage the activity centre.
Board of Trustees (the Board) of the managing schools holds governance responsibility for the activity centre and is responsible for providing educational services. The Board has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry that outlines the roles and responsibilities of all parties in operating an activity centre.
Cluster of schools (state and state-integrated schools) in the geographic vicinity with secondary-aged students.
Enrolling schools are part of the cluster of schools that have a student on their roll attending the activity centre.
Monitoring and reporting
There is a requirement under the Activity Centre Memorandum of Understanding to report on outcomes and student achievement to ensure accountability for public funds. This is completed by the managing school.
The midyear progress report is due on the 10th working day following the start of term 3.
The annual report and financial statement are due no later than April of the following year.
Download a Word version of the Activity Centre midyear and annual report templates:
Activity Centre midyear report template
(Word 2007 30 KB)
Activity Centre annual report template
(Word 2007 29 KB)
Education Review Office (ERO) reports 2017 and 2018
In 2017, ERO reviewed every activity centre to determine how effective each one was in promoting positive outcomes for students. ERO looked at the:
- management and governance practices, including planning, internal evaluation, and professional capacity building
- use of information to plan and implement individual programmes for, and with, students and to monitor their progress
- support for students to achieve improved social and educational outcomes
- educational and social outcomes, including the extent to which students’ learning has been accelerated
- students’ experience of interagency support for them and their families
- transitions in and out of the activity centre.
ERO then released a report for each of the 14 activity centres. Ten of the reports included specific recommendations for the activity centres.
On 24 October 2018, ERO released the evaluation report - Provision for Students in Activity Centres. This is a summary report of the 14 activity centres' individual reports from 2017. ERO provided recommendations for the Ministry of Education, Board of Trustees of all managing schools, enrolling schools, leaders and teachers of activity centres and Te Kura.
The evaluation report is available on the ERO website - Provision for Students in Activity Centres .
The links to the individual reports are on Appendix 1, page 24, of the report.
Note that one activity centre, Te Kura o Waipuna Ōtāhuhu, has closed since the release of this report.
Further information
Learning Support
For information on Learning Support services and regional offices, visit
Learning Support
on the Ministry of Education's website.
To contact your Ministry regional office, go to Learning Support Services on the Ministry's website.
Further queries
For further queries, email the Ministry at
[email protected]
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura)
More information -
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu – The Correspondence School
.
Activity centres and managing schools
| Ministry region | Activity centre | Managing school |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Auckland Secondary Schools' Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 376 4769 | Western Springs College
Email:
[email protected]
|
| Papakura Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Papakura High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
|
| Bay of Plenty, Waiariki | Āwhina School/ Activity Centre also known as Rotorua Activity Centre (Āwhina)
Email:
[email protected]
| Rotorua Boys' High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
| Hawke's Bay, Tairāwhiti | Tūranganui-A-Kiwa Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
| Gisborne Girls' High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
| Napier Community High School also known as Napier Community Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Napier Boys’ High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
|
| Akina School/Activity Centre also known as Akina Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Hastings Boys’ High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
|
| Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū | Taranaki Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Spotswood College
Email:
[email protected]
|
| Manawatū Community High School – Manawatū Kura a Iwi
Email:
[email protected]
| Palmerston North Boys' High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
|
| Wellington | Porirua Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Porirua College
Email:
[email protected]
|
| Hutt Valley Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Naenae College
Email:
[email protected]
|
|
| Te Ara
Email:
[email protected]
| Wellington High School
Email:
[email protected]
|
|
| Otago, Southland | London House Learning Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| Bayfield High School, Dunedin
Email:
[email protected]
|
| Invercargill Activity Centre
Email:
[email protected]
| James Hargest College, Invercargill
Email:
[email protected]
|