Māngere College Faces Intervention: Statutory Manager Appointed for Poor Attendance & NCEA Results

A month later, the Ministry of Education appointed a limited statutory manager (LSM) to oversee the school’s board. “The LSM will support the … board’s focus on student learning, wellbeing, achievement and progress,” ministry leader Isabel Evans said. Māngere College and its board were approached for comment but did not respond. The board remains in place under the intervention, but will now be joined by the statutory manager taking on specific governance powers. Under most interventions, day-to-day operations typically remain with the principal, the ministry’s website says. The ERO report said curriculum planning was only “beginning” at the school, while the use of achievement data to guide improvement was “limited”. “Teachers are beginning to use some evidence-based and teaching strategies adapted to learner needs,” it said. Adding to the challenges was a recent leadership turnover. Three senior leaders were appointed in 12 months, the report said. That included a new principal arriving in Term 2 of 2024, followed by a new deputy principal in Term 4, and another new deputy at the start of 2025. The October ERO report gave the school a three-month deadline to show progress on teaching quality and a six-month deadline for other improvements, warning that failure to meet these could result in further intervention. The ministry said interventions were reviewed at least annually and remained in place until recommendations and objectives were met. Despite its academic struggles, the school had strong cultural programmes, the report found. Students’ cultural background was “valued and celebrated”, and there was a “strong focus” on home languages, including te reo Māori. The statutory manager appointment is one of nine intervention types under the Education and Training Act 2020, ranging from information requests to replacing a board with a commissioner. Schools usually paid for interventions, according to ministry policy. Māngere College is a co-educational state secondary school serving 732 students from Years 9 to 13. According to the Herald’s latest report of NCEA results for all schools across the country, Māngere College students achieved a 48% NCEA level 3 pass rate and 7% entry into university. MĀNGERE COLLEGE INTERVENTION ACTIONS TAKEN THE NUMBERS ERO DEADLINES