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1. What year levels will Te Pae School be and when will it open?
Te Pae School will cater for Years 1–8 and will open at the start of the 2027 school year. This provides a full primary and intermediate pathway within one school community.
2.What size will Te Pae School be?
We are not yet certain of the enrolment numbers at opening, as this will depend on housing development timelines, but the school will have capacity for around 800–1,000 students once phase two of construction is completed.
3. When will enrolments open?
Enrolment information will be shared once the school zone is confirmed and operational timelines are finalised.
4. Can parents and whānau be involved in shaping the school?
Absolutely. Community engagement is central to establishing the school’s identity and culture. There will be opportunities this year for the community to share ideas and provide feedback.
5. When will the zone be confirmed?
The proposed zone is currently in consultation. Once it is finalised and approved, it will be publicly communicated. We are hoping this will be early in Term 2, 2026.
6. Will there be Māori Medium classes?
Yes, we are very excited about this. Te Pae School will include a Māori Medium class, supporting te reo Māori learning and cultural identity. Details of the delivery model and immersion level are currently being finalised. More information will be shared as planning progresses.
7. Will there be out-of-zone spaces offered?
This will be a Board decision, as it is for all schools. If out-of-zone places are offered, they will be released in line with the Ministry of Education’s timeline which is usually in October.
8. Do you have to be in zone to be in the Māori immersion classes?
No. However, this will be confirmed at a later date once the Ministry has approved an amendment to the enrolment scheme stating this as a special programme, and once the School Board has consulted with the community about this. Once the immersion classes have been approved, they will be considered a special programme.
Students who are accepted into a special programme run by the school are considered Priority 1 applicants under the enrolment scheme. For students enrolled in a special programme, the school zone does not apply, and students may enrol from outside the zone.
9. Has the Principal been appointed?
Yes. The Principal has been appointed and is now leading the school’s establishment phase, including staffing, culture, and readiness planning. Two Deputy Principals have also been appointed and will begin their work in Term 3, 2026.
10. What will the school uniform look like?
The school colours and uniform design are currently in the planning phase.
11. What will the school curriculum look like?
We are in the early stages of developing the school’s curriculum. Once our Deputy Principals begin, this will become a significant focus of their work. From the beginning, Te Pae School will be part of the Mana Kura programme with Te Kawerau ā Maki. This will give us a deep understanding of local history, stories, and connections to people and place,which will form an important foundation for our curriculum design.
12. When will teaching positions be advertised for Te Pae?
We are aiming to advertise teaching positions in Term 2. Some teachers will start in Term 4 of 2026, with others beginning at the start of the 2027 school year. Enrolment numbers will determine how many teachers will be needed.
13. Is the school being built for single cell classes or open plan classes?
Te Pae School will have single-cell classrooms with breakout spaces, technology rooms, and a gymnasium. There will also be two satellite classrooms run by Arohanui Special School.
