Māpua School is situated in Te Tau Ihu, in a positive, supportive, and growing community. The local climate and environment allows us to use our surroundings as the context for teaching and learning on a regular basis. The school has a long history in education, having celebrated its centenary in 2015. It plays a central role in our semi-rural community, with the strong links promoting a wide variety of creative and rich learning experiences for students. This includes the use of local expertise that enables extensive and meaningful involvement of students in the preservation of the local area through our “Tane’s Ark” wetland restoration project and the use of Ruby Bay Beach as a context for teaching and learning throughout the curriculum. Students develop a sense of community through the many layers of grouping within the school. Each class group forms a strong attachment with their class teacher. Classes are organised in Learning Teams where students experience a sense of place within a group of tamariki of similar ages. Individual classrooms are the base for parts of the day. During these times, tauira experience the security of a close relationship with their classroom teacher. A sense of identity as individuals and as a class is built. At other times, learning teams collaborate, allowing students access to wider social and learning opportunities. During these times both students and teachers move between teaching spaces within their team.

Kotahitanga (unity and common purpose) is further developed through whole school explorations and inquiries. Tuakana Teina is timetabled fortnightly. During these times, collaborative groupings are formed from across the school and students explore shared inquiries within house groups. This encourages tuakana teina relationships. Our younger tamariki develop a sense of whanaungatanga (a sense of belonging and community). They learn that they are part of a wider supportive community, and our rangatahi are given the opportunity to lead and nurture, to develop rangatiratanga, within a supported environment.

We are a Relationships Based Learning School. All learners develop to their potential when they experience skilled teaching in a family like context. Our tamariki are cared for and nurtured within a learning community which is well organised, embraces individual culture and where teachers are skilled practitioners, able to utilise variety of environments to meet individual needs. As part of a full primary, our students develop relationships with a range of tamariki of all ages. Tuakana Teina means that younger students are at ease in the playground as they have been able to develop trust of older students and know that they can go to them for help if needed.

Relationships with mana whenua are vital as we develop a local curriculum around the needs of our students. Our school’s cultural narrative, He Kamai Korero, gifted to us by Ngati Kuia along with Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotana o Te Tauihu guide us as we embark on this exciting journey. The Māpua school vision is for everyone “To Be all I Can”. We believe the platform for all growth and learning is hauora, which allows us to be all we can is hauora, as represented by Te Whare Tapa Whā - Taha Tinana(physical health), Taha Wairua (spiritual health), Taha Whānau (family health) and Taha Hinengaro (mental Health).

In all of this we are guided by the whakatauki: “Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti arahia o tatou mahi – let the uniqueness of the child guide our work”

Our School encourages high standards of achievement and we strive to provide an education that respects children’s individuality, develops their responsibility and initiative, whilst challenging them to reach the highest standards of personal achievement. Tumuaki, kaimahi, kaiako and tamariki are expected to show concern for others and their environment. Our tamariki respond well to our environment and this is reflected in the school achievement data.

Māpua School is a place where staff, students and whānau are valued and work together to create a rich and inviting learning environment where everyone can “be all they can.”