Reflections on the Board

Last night we had the final board meeting for the outgoing Board of Trustees and I have been reflecting on the work of the Board over my time as Principal. Working with our Board has been a very productive, supportive and entertaining experience and I am very grateful to the members of the Board for the dedication and enthusiasm that they have all brought to the role. Highlights of this Board have included some very successful building projects, the launch of the Learning Reports and the introduction of our new curriculum. It was all capped off with a very positive ERO review at the start of this year. Indeed, ERO were highly complementary of the Board, their systems and their thoroughness.

I would like to thank Paul Bryden, Chris Davies and Dave Wilding for the time and effort that they have put into the school. The skills that they have each brought have been invaluable and will be missed.

It is interesting to compare the New Zealand system with the UK system of governance. A school the size of Fendalton would typically have a governing body of around eighteen people if it were in the UK. In contrast, our Board is made up of six parents, a staff representative and the Principal. The New Zealand model allows for strong relationships to develop between the board members and certainly makes for a more efficient organisation. I am excited to find out who will be joining us when we form our new Board next month and I am looking forward to working with whoever the successful candidates are.