See all schools in Mangaroa, Upper Hutt
Mangaroa School
Combined · State · Upper Hutt
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A fantastic school.
One of the best schools in Upper Hutt!
A wonderful primary school experience at Mangaroa
Our child has had the pleasure of attending Mangaroa School since 2019 and will be completing their primary journey there this year. Throughout this time, we've not only loved being part of the vibrant school and community but have also witnessed numerous exciting and positive changes for the school, such as:
• Implementation of the structured literacy and maths programme.
• Building upgrades to senior classrooms and essential roofing repairs across the school.
• An upgraded playground, offering exciting new opportunities for active play.
• Significant upgrades to the pool facilities, including changing to a salt water system to reduce the use of harmful chemicals and adjusting the pool space to be more user-friendly.
• The development of the new carparking space, which improves accessibility and enhances children's safety at drop-off and pick-up times.
The staff here are truly exceptional—engaged, approachable, and always keen to get involved and have fun in school activities. The quality of the teaching is excellent, a fact that we have observed firsthand and which is further supported and endorsed by the recent positive ERO review for the school. The wonderfully positive nature and environment within the school are a testament to the supportive culture and strong leadership of the school principal.
We especially appreciate the lovely rural vibe the school maintains. Our children benefit from fantastic, well-organized real-life learning opportunities, including zoo sleepovers and school camps. Special occasions are celebrated in ways that are hard to top—it will be a struggle to find an intermediate school where Santa arrives by helicopter, as he did last year!
We also deeply value how the school embraces Māori culture, which is thoughtfully integrated into the curriculum and includes a 2 night stay on the marae.
Our child has absolutely loved his time at Mangaroa School. It will truly be a very sad day at the end of this term when he moves on to intermediate. Thank you for providing such a brilliant foundation.
• Implementation of the structured literacy and maths programme.
• Building upgrades to senior classrooms and essential roofing repairs across the school.
• An upgraded playground, offering exciting new opportunities for active play.
• Significant upgrades to the pool facilities, including changing to a salt water system to reduce the use of harmful chemicals and adjusting the pool space to be more user-friendly.
• The development of the new carparking space, which improves accessibility and enhances children's safety at drop-off and pick-up times.
The staff here are truly exceptional—engaged, approachable, and always keen to get involved and have fun in school activities. The quality of the teaching is excellent, a fact that we have observed firsthand and which is further supported and endorsed by the recent positive ERO review for the school. The wonderfully positive nature and environment within the school are a testament to the supportive culture and strong leadership of the school principal.
We especially appreciate the lovely rural vibe the school maintains. Our children benefit from fantastic, well-organized real-life learning opportunities, including zoo sleepovers and school camps. Special occasions are celebrated in ways that are hard to top—it will be a struggle to find an intermediate school where Santa arrives by helicopter, as he did last year!
We also deeply value how the school embraces Māori culture, which is thoughtfully integrated into the curriculum and includes a 2 night stay on the marae.
Our child has absolutely loved his time at Mangaroa School. It will truly be a very sad day at the end of this term when he moves on to intermediate. Thank you for providing such a brilliant foundation.
Ministry needs to step in and make change.
The principal is the most absent principal, he is hardy ever there . He doesn’t show his face in and around the school. Doesn’t know who the kids are, only the kids of the ones on the board.
He has created such a poor culture and if you are an advocate from your child you are a problem.
He is a bully and incredibly unprofessional. He runs his staff down to parents and makes the most unprofessional inappropriate comments about parents and staff.
He has manipulated the board to ensure he runs it and they have no say or back bone to stand up for what’s right . The head of the board has no idea and needs to go just as much as he does.
John has run the school in to the ground all he cares about is the stupid car park . The children have been waiting years for the bike track he promised them and that has been fund raised for. ( where has that money gone)
He has the mentality of I’m the principal I can do what I want and has been heard saying this to parents and staff.
This same attitude is seen in his dealing of behaviour . He has a very punitive way when on the very rare chance he deals with issues.
The teachers have voiced the same concerns that parents have but he bullies them to be quiet or to leave.
Wouldn’t recommend sending your child to this school which is a shame it has so much potential to be amazing school just needs the right leader.
He has created such a poor culture and if you are an advocate from your child you are a problem.
He is a bully and incredibly unprofessional. He runs his staff down to parents and makes the most unprofessional inappropriate comments about parents and staff.
He has manipulated the board to ensure he runs it and they have no say or back bone to stand up for what’s right . The head of the board has no idea and needs to go just as much as he does.
John has run the school in to the ground all he cares about is the stupid car park . The children have been waiting years for the bike track he promised them and that has been fund raised for. ( where has that money gone)
He has the mentality of I’m the principal I can do what I want and has been heard saying this to parents and staff.
This same attitude is seen in his dealing of behaviour . He has a very punitive way when on the very rare chance he deals with issues.
The teachers have voiced the same concerns that parents have but he bullies them to be quiet or to leave.
Wouldn’t recommend sending your child to this school which is a shame it has so much potential to be amazing school just needs the right leader.
Flux Road, 5371, Upper Hutt
John Steere
04 526 7948
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