Pursuant to section 156A of the Education Act 1989,
I declare that Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti and Discovery One School will merge on 27 January 2014 with Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti being the continuing school.
The school will be a Year 1-13 designated character school under section 156 of the Education Act 1989.
The following aims, purposes and objectives constitute the designated character of the school:
The Aims
The aim of the school is:
- To provide a different style of education for children, founded upon the philosophy of discovery learning, as a designated character school under section 156 of the Education Act 1989.
- To create a new State school which has as its fundamental tenet that the child is central in directing his or her own learning so that the enthusiasm and love of learning is retained.
- To provide the opportunities for children to go beyond the usual learning boundaries into an infinite array of learning experiences.
- To use the entire community as the learning environment.
- To provide a holistic approach to learning, and to cater to all intelligence traits and learning styles.
- To create a learning community without failure where all children identify a talent, skill or intelligence through which they can achieve their aims.
Purpose
- The purpose is to provide an educational environment in which children can achieve their potential, develop self-esteem, and explore a huge array of learning options.
Objectives
- To meet the requirements of the National Education Guidelines in an innovative and stimulating manner best suited to the learning desires of the children and families who choose this style of learning.
- To enable students to pursue areas of interest and personal relevance rather than to follow paths predetermined by others. The requirements of the national curriculum will be met through the student’s chosen path, rather than through a prescribed route.
- To enable students and their families to see learning as a total process that is multi-faceted and life long.
A holistic approach will be taken which ensures parents are a vital part of the learning agreement.
The objective is to involve parents, families and communities in the learning process.
- To ask students first about what they need in order to learn.
- To ensure that this choice is affordable to those who choose it.
- To ensure that this style of education is accessible to those who choose it.
Dated at Wellington this 27th day of March 2013.
HON HEKIA PARATA, Minister of Education.