Schools to get performance boost through unique partnership

Schools to get performance boost through unique partnership

Westpac signed a partnership with Mt Wellington’s Bailey Road Primary and Intermediate School recently, as part of a roll-out of a unique alliance between the bank and a group of low-decile Auckland schools.

After a successful pilot with Rongomai Primary School in South Auckland, Westpac announced it would help five more schools through the ‘Building Better Schools’ initiative, starting with Bailey Road.

In the case of Rongomai Primary School, Westpac formed a strategic alliance when a Westpac regional manager was elected to the school board as a supporting trustee.

A series of practical projects resulted from this, including providing 170 rain jackets for students and staff, helping with fund-raising, taking the senior pupils to the zoo, and helping in their annual school camp.

After just one year of the alliance, the Education Review Office (ERO) report improved significantly and in the last two years its school roll has increased from 125 to 160 students. Absenteeism has also dramatically decreased.

Speaking at the signing of the partnership at the school, Westpac CEO, Brad Cooper said the Building Better Schools scheme is a first of its kind in NZ whereby a major business has taken such a ‘hands-on’ role in supporting education.

“Westpac has been at the heart of NZ communities for the past 145 years making a social contribution through our people, sponsorships and the services we provide as a bank. We have identified the education sector as a key area where we can make a positive difference to the future generations of NZers,” said Mr Cooper.

The Building Better Schools programme has been designed to strengthen the interface between low decile schools, businesses and communities and thereby improve school performance resulting in enhanced social outcomes.

It was originally developed as part of the Committee for Auckland Future Auckland Leaders Programme and it is currently run under the auspices of the non-profit organisation, the Committee for Auckland.

Principal of Bailey Road School Derek Linington said after speaking to the head of Rongomai, Tina Voordouw, he was very impressed with the outcomes and dedication from Westpac.

“We’ve got real strengths as well as real challenges here at Bailey Road. It is our overall goal to continue to raise student achievement for each and every child at the school.

“After meeting with Westpac staff, we are excited about how they might help us achieve this goal, by helping develop teaching and learning, the school environment, systems and processes and school resources.

“We are really excited that Westpac is on board to help us achieve our goal of becoming a school of excellence.”

And Ms Voordouw said she could see benefits the other way, too.

“I know from speaking to Westpac people that it’s be