The couple behind plans to open a charter school in Cambridge have not given up on their plans following an announcement they are not among the latest to get the government’s green light.
Ray and Maxine Nelson
Maxine and Ray Nelson of Ignite Arts Academy say they will plough ahead with their application hoping they will be among the next lot of charter schools.
David Seymour
Associate education minister David Seymour last week said charter schools in Christchurch, Kaitaia and three in Auckland would open for term one next year. They join a Christchurch school announced last month.
“We see this as just a delay at the moment and have received much positive feedback from the community and families in the Cambridge area,” Ray Nelson said.
“Our plan is to keep pressing forward and planning for a successful outcome.”
Seymour says charter schools will make New Zealand’s education system more flexible and responsive to family and student needs, and has indicated more announcements will be made.
“This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.”
Alwyn Poole
The Nelson application was one of four submitted with the assistance of charter school pioneer Alwyn Poole who lashed out at Seymour saying the process was “deeply unfair”.
Asked by The News whether the spat between Seymour and Poole might hurt their application, the Nelsons were unconcerned saying their proposal had already attracted significant support in the Cambridge community.
“We already have an existing facility, and we can start with 90 students,” said Ray Nelson.
It was the lack of feedback which was hindering them.
“We just need the go ahead.”
The Nelsons say they have backers, job applicants and students waiting. Their application is a mix of academia and culture with class sizes of 15 students to a teacher.
All charter schools have contracted target outcomes related to student attendance and achievement.
These targets vary depending on student year level and school details but are set to deliver a high standard of overall student achievement, including managed progression, compared with current State schools.
Among the targets, 80 per cent of students in years 7-10 achieving at or above the expected level, 95 per cent of students in years 11-13 achieving at least NCEA level 2 in maths, English, science and one creative art and 90 per cent attendance for all students.
