Fairhall School

I can understand some of the concerns raised about leadership and the direction of the school, and I agree it’s important for parents to feel heard and informed about what is happening within the kura.

However, I do want to respond to the comments about winery families, as that hasn’t been my experience. I’m not part of a winery family myself, but I have consistently found them to be open, friendly, and very committed to supporting the school community. Many of these families play a significant role in fundraising, using their time, networks, and resources to help raise money for the school.

That fundraising directly supports opportunities for our tamariki, including helping to subsidise camps, outdoor education, and other experiences that benefit all students. Without those efforts, many of these opportunities would be harder for the school to provide.

Like many schools, the roll and community have changed over time, bringing a wider mix of families and expectations. While not everyone may agree on every issue, it’s important we don’t divide the community or overlook the positive contributions many families continue to make.

Ultimately, most of us want the same outcome — a supportive environment, strong education, and a school community that works together for the benefit of all our tamariki.

An excellent school that has undergone significant positive change over the past three years. The current leadership team has worked hard to rebuild systems and processes that were previously lacking, restoring stability and direction after a period of ineffective governance.

Unfortunately, progress has not been without resistance. A small but vocal group within the parent community has repeatedly created unnecessary conflict, often driven by personal agendas rather than the best interests of students. Despite this, leadership has remained focused on delivering high-quality education and ensuring the school continues to move forward.

The majority of families are supportive, and the standard of teaching and learning is outstanding. The school is in a far stronger position than it has been in years.

It was lovely school until a change in leadership about 3 years ago. Since then long standing teachers have left in droves, the education has strayed from academics and has become very woke.
If parents ask for information concerning what their children are going to be taught teachers begrudgingly give the information and from there on parents are treated frostily and with disrespect.
Initially this was a country school with most of the roll coming from the winery community. The parents from this community are a tight knit bunch who have not welcomed the new community that has joined the school with the school boundary changing. These parents are an eliteist bunch who consistently convey that they feel they are better than all other families at the school.
In turn, the staff also reflect this attitude.
Sadly the school has gone into moral decline with the caliber of students leaving no longer the caliber they once were. Basic moral principals have been replaced with strange teachings surrounding sexuality. The cultural focus is largely on Maori which is fine however it has deliberately led to the exclusion and dismissal of other cultures and belief systems.
The leadership are anti feedback, as shown in their recent decision to turn off Google reviews.
Leadership have increased their roll call without increasing resources. Subsequently at least 2 class worth of students are crammed into over crowded and inappropriate classrooms. One is in what was once an assembly room storeroom.
Playground equipment is in decline and not being replaced or improved.
Extra curricular activities are confined to those in the senior school. New entrants to at least year 3 are not able to have school trips etc, these are reserved for older years even though all other schools in the area have school trips for their junior students.
Over all, the school is in decline. We are actively applying for our students to attend other schools even though we are put of zone for these schools