Kingslea to run Rotorua classes

A South Island school providing education to children in Child, Youth and Family residences is expanding into the North Island.

Kingslea School has won Ministry of Education approval to provide education for young people at a new youth justice facility in Rotorua.

The school runs classes at the youth justice facility in Rolleston, Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo, and at two care and protection facilities, Te Oranga in Burwood, Christchurch, and Puketai in Dunedin.

Principal Tina Lomax said the North Island contract was "huge".

"We believe we can provide the best education and get the best outcomes for our students in residential care," she said.

"Most of our kids have not had a good go at education. Most have been excluded from mainstream schools or been truant or it just hasn't suited them.

"We want to get them back on track so they meet with educational success, and get them back into school, especially the little ones."

The Rotorua contract was announced last night at a conference in Christchurch showcasing Kingslea School's work with children who Lomax said could have a bright future with the right support.

"We know our children have committed crimes and done some terrible things, but our job is to educate them and give them a different path than the one they are going down and hopefully get them out of that offending cycle."

She said Kingslea was also pitching an idea to the ministry for a "transition school" in Christchurch.

Moving into the community and mainstream schools was difficult for children who had become institutionalised, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News