Gloriavale Christian School

Special Review Report 

Education Provision within the Gloriavale Community

Context

The Gloriavale community is a faith-based community. It is remotely located in an area of the west coast of the South Island, approximately 60 kilometres east of Greymouth. Parents educate their children within the bounds of the community.

In 2023, the Chief Review Officer undertook a Special Review under section 463 of the Education and Training Act (2020), looking specifically at the quality of educational provision and support for all school-aged children in the Gloriavale community. A special review allows ERO to widen its scope and focus more broadly on what is happening for all school-aged learners in Gloriavale. At that time, court cases citing incidences of physical and sexual abuse of children within the Gloriavale community and findings about young people’s employment status and the suitability of some school staffing were significant events impacting schooling.

In October 2023, ERO’s special review found provision of education for school-aged learners in the Gloriavale community was inadequate and uncertain. The review found Gloriavale Christian School did not meet 6 of the 8 criteria for private school registration. These were in provision of suitable premises, staffing, curriculum, tuition standards, a physically and emotionally safe space and managers assessed as fit and proper persons (see appendix three). It was also found that the community’s long-term planning did not meet the educational needs of its children and young people. 

ERO recommended that the Gloriavale community leaders:

• ensure that the school meets its requirements for registration as a private school
• urgently develop a long-term strategic plan for educational provision across the community that:
• ensures that all children up to the age of 16 are successfully engaged in meaningful learning programmes and pathways, have access to high quality teaching and learning and are progressing and achieving well
• includes how education provision will be monitored, evaluated and assurance provided to the community that all students are experiencing success
• considers externally led or supported provision
• ensure that the Child Protection, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, and Health and Safety policies are well implemented and that the physical and emotional health and safety of all learners is closely, regularly, and sufficiently monitored across all schooling provision
• as governing members should be assessed by the Ministry of Education in line with fit and proper person role requirements.

ERO committed to: 

• carry out another review of the Gloriavale Christian School within 12 months, and
• fully evaluate the provision of home schooling by completing formal reviews of home school programmes within a year of the report.

In late 2024, ERO undertook a special review of all schooling options for children living within the Gloriavale community, including home schooling reviews for 96 individual children. 

An outline of education provisions, oversight arrangements and terms of reference for this special review are found in appendix one and two of this report. 

2024 Special Review Findings

Education provision within the Gloriavale community includes Gloriavale Christian Preschool, Gloriavale Christian School, home schooling and the use of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura). 

Gloriavale Christian Preschool has reopened since the previous review, with a small group of children attending regularly and more casual attendance fluctuating on any given day.

At the time of this review about half of the approximately 224 school aged children living within the Gloriavale community are home-schooled, nearly 40% are enrolled at the Private School and the remainder are enrolled with Te Kura. There are examples of families who have accessed all three schooling options, depending on the needs of their children.

A long-term strategic plan covering the education provision for all children in the community up to the age of 16, is not yet in place. Although a range of education options for children aged 0 to 16 are available, community leaders have expressed their preference that school aged children attend the private school going forward. 

Education provision in the Gloriavale Christian School is slowly improving. The school board and staff have worked extensively with board-contracted external support and Ministry of Education advice and guidance to develop capacity to provide high quality learning and teaching. The school is now following The New Zealand Curriculum. 

At the time of the previous review 6 out of 8 criteria for registration as a private school were not being met. In this review the school does not meet 3 of the criteria, these being the provision of:

1. suitable staffing for students with complex additional needs
2. suitable equipment for students with complex additional needs
3. a physically and emotionally safe space. 

The large majority of children receiving education through home-schooling are taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school. Gloriavale Christian Preschool is working towards fully implementing quality systems, processes and practices to enable the delivery of a responsive curriculum for all children. Students studying through Te Kura feel well supported. 

Access to education across the community is inequitable. Families have limited choice due to a range of factors:

• formal teacher training and qualifications limit enrolments and the delivery of curriculum at all levels of NCEA in the school
• resources available to community members depend on chosen educational provision for children.

The scope and coverage of the curriculum offered at the school and in home schooling is limited, as is accessibility to a range of career and tertiary pathways options available to students.

ERO is not yet assured that all learners physical and emotional health and safety is closely, regularly and sufficiently considered and monitored across all schooling provisions. The inconsistent application of some policies and procedures poses risk to children given a history of unsafe practices within the Gloriavale community. The Gloriavale Christian Trust Board and the school board must ensure that policy implementation and reporting is rigorous and beyond question.

The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is currently investigating an allegation of staff misconduct. The school has provided ERO with the letter of expectations with formal monitoring for the staff member.

Progress against the overall recommendations made in the 2023 report

The Gloriavale Christian Trust Board (GCTB), along with the Gloriavale Christian School Board, (GCSB) have made progress against some recommendations from ERO’s 2023 report:

Ensure that the school meets its requirements for registration as a private school.

The school now meets 5 out of 8 requirements for registration as a private school. In order to meet the full criteria for registration as a private school, the Gloriavale Christian School must address the following matters: 

• that the school equipment for children with complex additional needs enrolled in the school is sufficient to allow full attendance and achievement
• that teaching and learning for children with complex additional needs enrolled in the school is sufficient to allow full attendance and achievement
• that trust board and school board decisions and practices are sufficiently robust for ensuring the emotional and physical safety and wellbeing for all children.

Urgently develop a long-term strategic plan for educational provision across the community that:

• ensures that all children up to the age of 16 are successfully engaged in meaningful learning programmes and pathways, have access to high quality teaching and learning and are progressing and achieving well
• includes how education provision will be monitored, evaluated and assurance provided to the community that all students are experiencing success
• transition into, through and beyond schooling into wider career and tertiary pathways
• considers externally led or supported provision.

A long-term strategic plan covering the education provision for all children in the community up to the age of 16, is not yet in place.

A strategic plan (2024-2026) has been developed for Gloriavale Christian School in consultation with the community and supported by external consultants. It outlines strategic priorities for the school from 2024. From Term 1 2025, the school intends to enrol students from Year 11 again and re-establish National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).

Strategic planning to support sustainability and ongoing improvements is not currently in place for the early learning centre. 

Ensure that the Child Protection, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, and Health and Safety policies are well implemented and that the physical and emotional health and safety of all learners is closely, regularly, and sufficiently monitored across all schooling provision.

Property maintenance and responsibility for children’s physical health and safety while they use the school and early childhood service rests with the Gloriavale Christian Trust Board. 

There is a comprehensive and externally supported Child Protection Policy in place across the community. A team of Child Protection Officers (CPO) meet fortnightly to discuss any concerns. A reporting process is in place and is used by the CPOs to report concerns to the relevant agency.

Suitable policy and procedures are in place but there are aspects of how these are enacted in practice that require improvement.

ERO is not yet assured that all learners physical and emotional health and safety is closely, regularly, and sufficiently considered and monitored across all schooling provision.

Gloriavale Christian Preschool (70555)

In August 2024, the community reopened Gloriavale Christian Preschool under the umbrella of the Christian Church Community Trust. Gloriavale Christian Preschool is open four mornings per week, for up to 40 children aged two to five years. 

Enrolments are mainly casual, with a small group of children attending on a more regular basis since the service has reopened. Families can self-refer for casual enrolment based on family needs and, therefore, attendance patterns fluctuate on any given day. 

Using ERO’s Improvement Framework, the centre manager identified that the service was working towards fully implementing quality systems, processes and practices to enable the delivery of a responsive curriculum for all children. ERO’s evaluation verified this.

Compliance with regulatory requirements.

An area of concern was identified.

Excursion records do not include approved ratios, risk assessments, method of travel and consistent approval by the person responsible.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008; HS17.

Gloriavale Christian School (1587) 

The provision of high-quality curriculum, teaching and learning at the school is at early stages. A plan is in place to bring about required improvements. This is facilitated by external consultants and monitored by the Ministry of Education.

Private School Registration

The criteria for registration as a Private School, as set out in clauses 2 to 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act), are that the school:

1. has premises that are suitable, as described in clause 3, Schedule 7; and
2. usually provides tuition for 9 or more students who are of or over the age of 5 years but are under the age of 16 years [clause 2(b), Schedule 7); and
3. has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school (clause 2(c), Schedule 7; and
4. has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school (clause 2(d) Schedule 7); and
5. has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and
6. has suitable tuition standards, as described in clauses 2(e), (f) and 5, Schedule 7; and
7. has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in clause 6, Schedule 7) to be managers of a private school; and
8. is a physically and emotionally safe place for students (clause 2(h), Schedule 7).

ERO’s assessment against the private school criteria is as follows:

a) The school has premises that are suitable as described in clause 3, Schedule 7

Meeting 

b) The school usually provides tuition for 9 or more students who are of or over the age of 5 years but are under the age of 16 years

Meeting 

c) The school has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school

Not Meeting 

The school now has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of their students. However, there is insufficient provision of suitable staffing for children with additional and complex needs.

At the time of the ERO onsite review phase, the school was supporting an enrolled student with extremely high and very complex needs that impact on full onsite engagement within the classroom. 

The appointment process for a specialist teacher funded by the Ongoing Resource Scheme was in process. The school had a plan for allocating specialist teaching resourcing to the learner and recruiting teacher aides. 

Since this review, visits from specialists to support communication and socialisation have occurred. An overarching goal of supporting full attendance and achievement at school is in place within the limitations of the school’s isolation, the wishes of family and the severity of the complex needs. 

In relation to students with additional needs, there is evidence that planning for inclusive, differentiated approaches are beginning. Standardised assessments are beginning to be used to inform teaching and learning decisions. Teacher aides (often teachers in training) support individual students within classrooms.

All teachers are registered with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is currently investigating an allegation of staff misconduct. The school has provided ERO with the letter of expectations with formal monitoring for the staff member.

Professional learning is in place to support teachers to build their capability and confidence in delivering education using The New Zealand Curriculum. External consultants are supporting and building pedagogical knowledge and leadership. A number of community members are currently training with the view to teaching at the school in the near future.

d) The school has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school

Not Meeting 

The school has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum and nearly all children. 

However, enrolled students with high and complex needs are unable to attend because there is insufficient equipment in the school environment to adequately support their physical needs.

e) The school has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents

Meeting 

The school has recently adopted the New Zealand Curriculum which provides the basis of a coherent, student-centred curriculum.

Assessment capability is at early stages with the recent introduction and better use of up-to-date standardised assessment tools to support more responsive planning for learning progression.

f) The school has suitable tuition standards as described in clauses 2(e), (f) and 5, Schedule 7

Meeting 

Teachers are now using a suitable curriculum and valid assessment and reporting. There is evidence that planning for inclusive, differentiated approaches are beginning. Standardised assessments are beginning to be used to inform teaching and learning decisions.

Teacher capability to manage challenging behaviour is supported through professional learning and capability is growing across the teaching team.

g) The school has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in clause 6, Schedule 7)

Meeting

As the Trust Board has responsibility for facilities, assets and health and safety across Gloriavale this places obligations to meet the criteria for registration as a Private School, as set out in clauses 2 to 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act), on the Trust Board alongside the School Board. Members of both the Trust Board and the School Board have attested that they are fit and proper persons. At the time of the onsite phase of this review, not all attestations provided to ERO had been assessed by the Ministry of Education as meeting the fit and proper person criteria.

Since the onsite phase of the review, the Ministry of Education has reported to ERO that it has assessed all Trust Board and School Board members as fit and proper.

The school needs to ensure processes are sufficiently robust that all current and new governing members required to be assessed fit and proper are identified and assessment completed in a timely manner through the Ministry of Education.

h) The school is a physically and emotionally safe place for students

A safe place is one in which risks to student safety are regularly assessed and evaluated with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, harm. A safe place is one where clear policies exist and are acted upon to eliminate or minimise harm.

ERO’s judgement is based on the quality, intent and regular review of the school’s policies and procedures. 

Suitable policy and procedures are in place but there are aspects of how these are enacted in practice that require improvement. These are:

• more rigorous safety assessment plans are required for Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)
• Safety checking requirements and processes under the Children’s Act 2014 for employment need to be more consistent. A school-based police vet register detailing all people employed or engaged at the school is not yet in place.
• Processes are needed to record and make known to the school who is on-site and off-site at any time during the school day.
• Before confirming employment or reinstating an individual, the school board must more robustly consider allegations of serious misconduct, and assess the risks to the health, safety and welfare of the children under Children's Act 2014.

Home schooling 

ERO reviewed the provision for 96 of the 108 children exempted from a registered school.

Key reasons identified by parents for home schooling include wanting a successful education for their children, keeping their children safe, responding to challenges of children’s behaviour and staff shortages in the school. 

ERO’s overall judgements 

An education review of an exempted student determines whether or not the exempted student is taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school.
[Section 38(1)(a) Education and Training Act 2020].

ERO finds that:

• Almost all children are taught as regularly as in a registered school.
• Most children are taught at least as well as in a registered school.

A range of home school curricula are used by parents to support their children’s learning. Over half the children are now using different curricula than approved in the exemption. 

Some curricula do not provide pathways to recognised secondary school qualifications although they are sufficient for many junior learners at the current time. In future, as children age, fewer home school programmes will meet the threshold for educating children as well as in a registered school, if not adapted overtime. 

Resourcing for home schooling families is not equitable across the community. A wide range of factors contribute to this, including where people are permitted to live and the number of people living within an area. 

Children with additional learning needs, previously enrolled in the Awhina Class, are supported by their families in a home school programme. External agencies are used to target behaviour management, mental health, disability support and social services. 

Home schooled children living on the main site can participate in some school activities and access the wider community environment during the school day. Supervision for children is expected to be provided by the parents of home-schooled children. It is unclear who has responsibility for the health and safety of children while they participate in school activities.

Senior Secondary Schooling provision through Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu

ERO reviewed the quality of supervision and support for students enrolled in Te Kura. ERO did not review the education provision provided by Te Kura.

Secondary level students in Gloriavale Christian Community are currently enrolled in one of three education pathways: the Gloriavale Christian School, home school programmes or Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. The private school currently offers tuition up to Years 9 and 10 with the intention of expanding to Year 11 during 2025. In recent years, due to a lack of capacity to provide secondary programmes in the private school, senior secondary students have transitioned to one of the two distance learning options. Likewise, home schooled learners have had the option of continuing with these programmes to pursue the Christian Education New Zealand Certificate of Academic Achievement or transitioning to Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu to pursue NCEA qualifications.  

At the time of this special review 29 students were enrolled with Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu aged between 7 and 16 years. Students study independently in their homes under the supervision of parents. They reported having access to adequate digital devices, equipment, resources and facilities to support their learning. Most students reported regular study routines and active involvement and supervision by parents. Parents and students identified that managing distractions in busy home environments remained a challenge and parents described a range of strategies they use to mitigate this. Some families work together to provide opportunities for collaborative learning.

Parents, in general, felt well informed about the secondary learning options for their children and had ready access to programme advisors. A proportion of learners reported feeling only ‘a little prepared’ for study through Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu which could suggest the need for further transition support.

The majority of secondary learners, boys and girls, aspire to achieve national qualifications at NCEA Level 2 and above. They are currently studying a variety of courses towards NCEA Levels 1 to 3, including but not limited to mathematics, science, technology, visual arts, home economics and English. 

Overall Recommendations

That the Gloriavale Christian Trust Board: 

1. Support the development of a strategic community plan by community leadership for the provision of education for learners up to the age of 16 years; that supports strengthened governance, health and safety, sustainability and increasing self-management.
2. Improve equity of access to education, across all provisions.
3. Continue to engage external consultants and the Ministry of Education to closely support and monitor Gloriavale Christian School as it works towards meeting requirements.
4. Ensure that excursion records for Gloriavale Christian Preschool include approved ratios, risk assessments, method of travel and consistent approval by the person responsible.
   [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008; HS17]

That the Gloriavale Christian School Board:

1. Ensure that the school meets requirements for registration as a private school.
2. More rigorously follow the school’s policy and procedural framework. This particularly applies to school board decisions about staff appointments where insufficient attention has been paid to written procedures and the consideration of the health and safety of children, after complaints and serious incidents.
3. Oversees the implementation of health and safety practices with more rigor to ensure consistency for all children accessing the school site.

Future actions

The Education Review Office will carry out a special review of education provision across the Gloriavale Christian community for learners up to the age of 16 years within 24 months. ERO requests a review of progress toward the recommendations of this report to be sent within the next 12 months.                                                    

Sharon Kelly                                                                              Lisa Oldridge
Director of Schools                                                                   Director of Early Learning

2 July 2025 

Appendix One: Education Provision within the Gloriavale Community

There are four ways that children can access educational programmes within the Gloriavale community, all were included in the special review: 

1 Gloriavale Christian Pre-school (70555)

Gloriavale Christian Preschool, under the umbrella of the Christian Church Community Trust, provides education and care four mornings per week, for up to 40 children aged two - five years. ERO reviewed how well the service met regulatory requirements and delivered a quality curriculum consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum.

Governance for the early learning service includes the licensee and service manager. Property maintenance and responsibility for children’s physical health and safety while using the property rests with the Gloriavale Christian Trust Board.

2 Gloriavale Christian Private School (1587)

Gloriavale Christian School, a Year 1-13 private school. At the time of this review, the school enrolled only students from Year 1 to 10. The Education Review Office (ERO) reviews of private schools are significantly different, in process, scope and reporting, than those for state and state-integrated schools. They focus on the criteria for registration set out in clauses 2 to 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020. Clause 9, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act requires ERO to review private schools and to report to the Secretary for Education on whether each school meets the criteria for registration.

Governance for the private school is the Gloriavale School Board. Property maintenance and responsibility for children’s physical health and safety while using the property rests with the Gloriavale Christian Trust Board.

3 Home schooling

At the time of the previous review, a large number of families had chosen to home school their children and received Certificates of Exemption from attending a registered school by the Ministry of Education. The Education Review Office (ERO) may carry out reviews of the education services provided to persons exempted from the requirements of section 35 of the Education and Training Act 2020. 

Governance for accessing resources and financial support is through individual family request to Gloriavale Christian Trust Board. Individual children’s programmes are led and facilitated by their parents.

4 Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) – Correspondence School

ERO reviewed the quality of supervision and support for senior students enrolled in Te Kura. ERO did not review the education provision provided by Te Kura. Early learning, primary and secondary schooling, including senior students accessing NCEA programmes are provided to learners in the community.

Appendix Two: Terms of Reference

The special review will consider:

1. if the school now meets requirements for registration as a private school
2. if the Early Childhood service meet regulatory requirements and deliver a quality curriculum consistent with Te Whāriki
3. the long-term strategic plan for educational provision across the community that:
   1. ensures that all children up to the age of 16 are successfully engaged in meaningful learning programmes and pathways, have access to high quality teaching and learning and are progressing and achieving well,
   2. includes how education provision will be monitored, evaluated and assurance provided to the community that all students are experiencing success,
   3. considers externally led or supported provision
4. if the Child Protection, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, and Health and Safety policies are well implemented and that the physical and emotional health and safety of all learners is closely, regularly, and sufficiently monitored across all education provisions
5. teaching and delivery of educational programmes, including suitability of home school provision.
6. pathways for children to have the options, skills, knowledge, and qualifications to succeed in employment and/or career aspirations, including Te Aho o Te Kura supervision
7. any other matters that the team see relevant to the review.

NB: the first three bullet points were recommendations from the 2023 special review report.

Additional evaluation questions based on the individual home school reviews carried out mid-2024.

• How equitable is enrolment into education services - private school and ECE services?
• What opportunities are there to support all home schooled children to be taught as well and as regularly as in a state school?
• How equitable are the opportunities for secondary aged children?
• How well supported are children with additional learning needs?
• How are the health and safety needs of all children met?

ERO gathered evidence from the following sources:

• meetings with Shepherds, trust members, school board members, early learning licensee, the acting principals (past and present), early learning and school teachers and assistants, parents and students
• documents that included school policies and procedures, school curriculum statement, teachers’ planning and recording, school board minutes and documents, school assessment documentation, home schooling applications and individual planning, individual home school learning materials, student work from all provisions
• visits to home schooled premises
• interviews and a survey of samples of students studying through Te Kura and their parents
• a survey of children in the school
• classroom observations of teaching and learning
• observations of premises and resourcing.

Appendix Three: Criteria not met during the previous review

Criteria

Findings

Comments

Suitable premisesNot meeting

The school site meets criteria. 

Premises for the Awhina class do not meet the criteria. This class comprises approximately 20% of the school roll. These students are in their own homes. ERO was not assured that these premises meet the necessary requirements.

Enrolment for tuitionMeetingThe school usually provides tuition for 9 or more students who are of or over the age of 5 years but are under the age of 16 years.Suitable StaffingNot meeting

The school does not have staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school.

Teachers are registered. Only two have school teaching qualifications and relevant experience. The boys in Years 8 to 10 have a secondary trained teacher and the girls at the same level have an ECE trained teacher. Eight out of 10 teachers have ECE qualifications: Six with diplomas and two with bachelors’ degrees. 

There is no appropriate, equitable and stable curriculum and pedagogical leadership.

The school tries to support new, inexperienced teachers through learning opportunities pertinent to their professional needs.

The school board acknowledges the issues around suitable staffing for the school.

Suitable equipmentMeetingThe school has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school.CurriculumNot meeting

The school is not delivering a coherent student-centred curriculum. Teachers use a range of outsourced programmes. There is very little assessment capability and no evidence of a cohesive programme of assessment and responsive planning for learning progression. 

A suitable curriculum was not in place for students in the Awhina class.

Criteria

Findings

Comments

Suitable tuition standardsNot meeting

Teachers are not using a suitable curriculum, valid assessment and reporting and there was very little evidence of planning based on an inclusive, differentiated approach. Standardised PAT assessments are used but are invalid due to the age of the tests used and how they are administered and analysed. They are not currently used to inform teaching and learning. 

Teachers had limited capability in managing challenging behaviour or understanding and catering for children with differing needs. Children in the Awhina class are not taught by a registered teacher.

Managers fit and proper personsNot meeting

ERO is not assured that all managers are fit and proper persons.

The Gloriavale Christian School Trust Board and the principal are deemed managers of the school as they control and manage the school under the Act whether or not they have a proprietary interest in it. (Refer to definition of 'managers of a private school' in section 10 of the Act).

Only one member of the school board has attested to the Ministry of Education and been assessed.

Through the course of this review ERO has received no evidence that the school managers have been assessed as being fit and proper persons.

[Note: A statutory declaration does not constitute such an assessment as required under clause 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020].

Physically and emotionally safe spaceNot meetingERO has reviewed this provision across all schooling options. Please see the findings within the body of the report. Although the private school management has improved policy and procedures, a process for fully understanding, monitoring and reporting student wellbeing, and in particular for the Awhina class, is not sufficiently evident