As David Seymour eyes the return of charter schools, he suggests New Zealand could be like England, where independently-run schools dominate the secondary education system.
The Associate Education Minister told Q+A there is enough funding for “up to 15” charter schools to be operational by Term 1 next year.
Seymour said these were all likely to be new — rather than state schools that have converted into charter schools — and their exact starting date would vary depending on what’s practical and getting sign-off from an Authorisation Board.
When asked how many charter schools there may eventually be, Seymour pointed to the UK’s academy schools.
“In the UK they started in 2012. Today, 12 years later, 80% of secondary schools [in England] are free schools and academies — their version of charter schools,” he said.
“It’s quite possible that you know, we could be back here in a decade … and you’ll be interviewing someone, I’m sure, and looking exactly the same.”
When asked if a similar figure would be realistic in New Zealand, Seymour said: “Anything the Brits can do we can do.”
Academy schools in England are state-funded, but independent from local councils. Academies teach the same core subjects as other schools but can adapt their curriculum. They are run by non-profit trusts, with some trusts managing multiple schools.
So far, the Government has allocated $153 million over the next four years for the model — enough to create 15 new charter schools and convert a further 35 state schools. Treasury officials initially advised the Government to deter funding until next year’s Budget, citing “highly uncertain” costs.
Legislation re-instating charter schools passed in Parliament last week. Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori opposed it, saying it didn’t work during the last National government.
Poor financial reporting was a problem last time around but Seymour is now rejecting financial advice. (Source: 1News)
When assessing the policy, Education Ministry officials also noted: “There is a potential risk that a charter school model will not add the expected benefits in the New Zealand education context compared to other jurisdictions, given our existing devolution.”
The legislation invites people to make applications to set up a new charter school. This includes existing state schools that want to convert.
These applications would then be considered by an “Authorisation Board”.
Acting ACT president among board members
Among those appointed as members of the board is acting ACT Party president Catherine Isaac.
Seymour said while it could create a perception issue, “people can see she is a person who has genuine value for the role. She has been put through the same process, gone through Cabinet, been paid by the same fees framework Cabinet sets for people in that position.”
He said board members would be paid $600 every full day they worked.
Over 35 groups expressed interested in taking part, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. (Source: 1News)
Seymour said appointing Isaac did pose a “dilemma” for him because he knew he would be asked about it.
He said Isaac was appointed because she was involved in the first charter school process under the last National government.
“She probably knows more about this policy and the application process and the assessment of charter schools in New Zealand than anyone else alive … I decided in the end it was the right policy choice to put her on there.”
He said he would have opposed her appointment if the reason for it was her connection to ACT, though didn’t see the need for her to step down from her party role.
Which state schools could be turned into charter schools?
Also included in the charter school legislation is the power for the relevant minister to direct a state school to apply for conversion.
The Government is pushing ahead with plans to have charter schools back next year, after they were ditched under Labour. (Source: 1News)
Seymour said this power could be triggered if a school was consistently underperforming. Currently, the Education Ministry can appoint commissioners and limited statutory managers to help struggling schools.
“For schools that are really in a lot of difficulty where the ministry is already having to intervene, another option might be to say, ‘Well actually, there is a group of people over here who are willing to enter into a contract that thinks they can use the flexibility of the charter school model — more flexible employment, more flexible around curriculum, more flexible around how they use the funds they get — they might be able to do something a bit special here.’
“I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but the law has created the legal possibility.”
He said any state school conversion would only happen “if the community really wants it to happen”.
Under the law in England, schools can be converted into academies if they receive consistently poor ratings from the education regulator Ofsted.
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of NZ On Air
