14 Gordon Road , Mosgiel
View on mapERO reviews of private schools are significantly different in process and more limited in scope and reporting than those for state and state-integrated schools, focusing as they do on the Criteria for Registration set out in clauses 2 to 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act).
Clause 9, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020 requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools and to report to the Secretary for Education on whether each school meets the criteria for registration.
Important changes to education settings have added new layers of protection for children with the tightening of systems across agencies, information sharing, and in particular the Children’s Act 2014 ensuring a stronger and systematic vetting process for those working with children.
More information about ERO reviews of private schools can be found on ERO’s website Private and independent schools | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz)
The criteria for registration are that the school —
When an ERO report identifies an area within the criteria for registration that is not meeting the criteria at the time of the ERO review, that will be reported, the Ministry will be informed, and the Ministry will follow up the issue with the school.
Amana Christian School is a private school, located in Mosgiel. It provides education for learners in Years 1 to 13. At the time of this review, there were 12 students attending school on the Mosgiel site. This school was last reviewed by ERO in 2018.
Since 2022, Amana Christian School has enrolled students from throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand. At the time of the review, there were 60 students who are referred to as ‘distance learners’, who digitally access the Amana Christian School’s learning programmes.
These students are enrolled at Amana Christian School. This means that the students are required to attend Amana Christian school (as a registered school) whenever it is open for instruction under section 36 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act).
Additional teachers have also been appointed in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Dannevirke and Christchurch. These teachers support the distance learners who reside in their area. They also meet with students in a range of local contexts. These are referred to as ‘Activity Hubs’. As these premises are in addition to the current premises, under clause 4(2)(a) Schedule 7 of the Act, the Secretary of Education must consider whether they are suitable premises as described in clause 3, Schedule 7. As the additional premises have not been approved by the Secretary of Education, they do not meet the criteria as described in clause 3, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
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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. ERO’s judgement based on the information provided is that the school is not meeting requirements.
| Criteria | Findings | Comments |
| a) Suitable premises | Not meeting | The school site in Mosgiel meets requirements as the original premises used by the school for the regular delivery of courses. Along with the students who attend on the school site, a further group of 60 students learn mainly in their own homes. They also meet with other learners enrolled at Amana Christian School, at various times within local community settings. At these ‘activity hubs’, students work through their distance learning material under teacher supervision. The additional premises (activity hubs) have not been approved by the Secretary of Education under clause 4, Schedule 7, and therefore they do not meet the criteria as described in clause 3, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020. |
| b) Usually provides tuition for 9 or more students aged 5 to 16 years | Not Meeting | The Mosgiel school premises provides tuition for nine or more students who are of or over the age of five years but are under the age of 16 years. Teachers plan collaboratively and provide additional support for groups and individual learners. There is a focus on improving the consistency of teaching and shared learning expectations. At the time of the review, 60 distance learners were not attending the school at the Mosgiel site when it was open for instruction, but were attending, at various times within local community settings. Information provided shows that students have access to teachers individually and in groups, online. Timetables outline expected programmes of work. During the onsite review a document of achievement based on the ACE curriculum was collated to share with ERO. For distance students the systems and processes to ensure that tuition is regular, suitable, and well supervised are inadequate. |
| c) 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 has not ensured that all staff are safety checked or police vetted. A staff member was able to operate in the school without the required Police Vet and risk assessment as required under clause 9, Schedule 4 of the Education and Training Act 2020. No evidence was provided to show that police vetting of this staff member was renewed during 2020 to 2023. ERO was unable to verify the extent to which the school was meeting this criterion, especially in the activity hubs. |
| d) Suitable equipment | Not meeting | The Mosgiel school site has equipment that supports the delivery of teaching and learning. There are insufficient, well-documented expectations, guidelines, and a system for monitoring the provision of suitable equipment for learners in distant local context. There are some suggestions for parents about how to set-up a work area in their homes. For the students in the activity hubs at distance from the school ERO’s judgement is that the equipment for curriculum delivery is not suitable. |
| e) Curriculum | Not Meeting | The school uses a range of outsourced programmes where learners set goals, self-test and mark their own work. Achievement is assessed through students’ progression through the programmes. In addition to the outsourced booklets, the school offers supplementary curriculum programmes. The school’s curriculum statements are dated and require review. Regular review should ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all students and provides sufficient guidance for teachers in all learning areas. This would include learning experiences beyond the self-paced student booklets. Clear detailed outlines of programmes of work, stating expectations of assessment, achievement and learning outcomes are required. |
| f) Tuition standards | Not meeting | On the school site learners are settled and focused. Learning is individualised by teachers. Additional workshops are provided. Students learning by distance education are not subject to the same levels of teaching, supervision, and support from the school compared with the on-site school students. The mode of curriculum delivery and the regularity of instruction for the students who were not attending the school site could not be determined as sufficient and no lower than tuition given to students enrolled at state schools of the same levels. |
| g) Managers fit and proper persons | Not Meeting | ERO has received no evidence that the school managers have been assessed as being fit and proper persons by the Ministry of Education. [Note: While the school managers have attested they are fit and proper persons, this does not constitute an assessment as required under clause 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020] |
| h) Physically and emotionally safe place | Not meeting | The school lacks a sufficiently comprehensive and up-to-date policy and procedural framework to ensure students’ physical and emotional safety, and for school managers to regularly assure themselves about students’ safety. This is particularly concerning given that most of the school’s students learn remotely. The Child Protection Policy as required under the Children’s Act 2014 applies to the school, but ERO is concerned how it applies to the activity hubs. Policies for Child Protection, Bullying, Appointments and Concerns and Complaints require immediate attention. ERO found incomplete records in relation to safety checking of Education Outside the Classroom and visits beyond the activity hubs. ERO is not assured that all distance students are learning in a physically or emotionally safe place. These additional premises (activity hubs) are insufficiently checked for suitability and safety. |
Since the onsite phase of the ERO review the managers have provided further information that shows that they have begun to update the policies for Child Protection, Bullying, Appointments and Concerns and Complaints. The school has requested that the Ministry of Education assess the managers as Fit and Proper persons. Steps have been taken to address ERO’s safety concerns re the outdoor play area/car park. The staff member not police-vetted from 2020 to 2023 has now been vetted.
ERO considers that Amana Christian School does not meet the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education and Training Act 2020 as noted above.
In order to meet registration criteria, ERO recommends that the managers of the school take action to meet the criteria in relation to the following areas:
The school is a signatory provider to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 established under section 534 of the Education and Training Act 2020. The school has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code and has completed an annual self-review of its implementation of the Code.
At the time of this review there were no international students attending the school.
Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools
17 June 2024
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Amana Christian School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.
ERO reviews of private schools are significantly different in process and more limited in scope and reporting than those for state and state-integrated schools, focusing as they do on the Criteria for Registration set out in section 35C of the Education Act.
Section 35I of the Education Act 1989 requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools and to report to the Ministry of Education on whether each school continues to meet the criteria for registration. The schools are privately owned and the legislative requirements are significantly different to those for state and state-integrated schools. Private schools are not required to follow the National Education Goals or National Administration Guidelines.
What does apply in place of the legislation imposed upon state schools by the Education Act is the contract between the persons paying for the tuition of the child at the school – the parents – and the school authority. Those are matters between the parent and the school’s governing body. More information about ERO reviews of private schools can be found on ERO’s website www.ero.govt.nz/Reviews-Process.
The criteria for registration are that the school —
a)has premises that are suitable, as described in section 35D; and
b)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; and
c)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; and
d)has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school; and
e)has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and
f)has suitable tuition standards, as described in section 35F; and
g)has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in section 35G) to be managers of a private school.
Amana Christian School is fully registered, co-educational school for students from five years old to the end of their secondary education. The school has recently shifted to a new site in Mosgiel and is now beside the Amana Christian Preschool.
At the time of this review, 15 students attended the school. The roll included a large group of Pacific students, some English language learners (ELLs) and an international student.
On the basis of information gathered during this review, ERO considers that Amana Christian School meets the criteria for full registration as a private school, as set out in the Education Act 1989.
The two teachers are fully qualified, registered and experienced in the primary school sector (Years 1 to 8). The teaching assistant has an overseas teaching qualification, with many years of teaching experience at the secondary level. Working alongside one of the teachers, her main role is to support senior students in their learning. The school is in the process of improving its appraisal process to better meet recent changes to Education Council requirements.
The school has managers who meet as a board and oversee school operations. The school’s managers have attested that they comply with the provisions of Section 35G in respect to their being fit and proper persons to manage the school. Two school managers are frequently in the school in a voluntary capacity.
Consistent with the school’s vision, its special Christian character is central to the school’s curriculum and evident in the way students and staff relate. Students who spoke with ERO were very positive about their school. They described it as safe and friendly and stated that they enjoyed their learning. Parents are well informed about the school’s curriculum, including its Christian focus.
The junior school’s curriculum is based on the New Zealand Curriculum Framework and Interact (a New Zealand Christian Schools’ curriculum). There are appropriate guidelines and learning progressions to support teaching and learning. The Interact curriculum integrates Christian teachings with different subject areas and provides broad and deep learning. Children have regular opportunities to go into the wider community to enrich their learning. The school has appropriate resources and equipment to complement its curriculum.
When students are competent, independent readers and writers, they move on to the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum. Within this programme there is a wide range of curriculum choices. Learning is personalised, with students working on individual pathways and taking responsibility for their learning. ACE qualifications are an approved pathway to tertiary education, and past senior students have made successful transitions on to further education.
ERO is confident that tuition is of a suitable standard for students throughout the school. Students are regularly assessed and their progress is tracked and monitored. The new junior class teacher has strengthened these practices in 2018. Children with additional learning needs are very well supported. This includes children who are ELLs. Parents are well informed about their children’s learning.
The school has sound practices for health and safety. This includes the provision of suitable premises. Appropriate internal and external checks, such as building warrants, have been completed. The building and property are regularly checked for hazards, and concerns addressed. Over time, the board have continued to adapt and upgrade the new site and its facilities.
There are good systems in place for the school’s managing body to be assured that its other statutory obligations are met.
The school is a signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students (the Code) established under section 238F of the Education Act 1989. The school has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code.
At the time of this review there was one international student attending the school. This student is a valued school member. He is well supported in his learning and socially.
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Amana Christian School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
Alan Wynyard
Director Review & Improvement Services Southern
Te Waipounamu - Southern Region
29 October 2018
| Location | Mosgiel | |
| Ministry of Education profile number | 1641 | |
| School type | Composite (Years 1 to 15) | |
| School roll | 15 | |
| Gender composition | Girls: 8 Boys: 7 | |
| Ethnic composition | Pākehā Pacific Other | 3 10 2 |
| Review team on site | September 2018 | |
| Date of this report | 29 October 2018 | |
| Most recent ERO reports | Education Review: Education Review: Education Review: | December 2012 October 2007 August 2004 |