Enviroschools by Schooling Level

Overall, 26% of all New Zealand schools and kura are part of our network. While in total numbers there are many more primary schools involved, looking at the percentage participating by schools level shows that intermediate and secondary schools are taking up the Enviroschools and Te Aho Tū Roa in similar proportions to primary schools.  Special schools are also reasonably well represented with 11% being part of the network. Participation from the early childhood sector has been increasing in recent years.  Growing early childhood participation will be a focus for us over the next three years. 

Increasing the range of support for tamariki and rangatahi, whanau, hapu and iwi  by working through kura and wharekura,  is a focus for The Enviroschools Foundation and Te Mauri Tau.  There have been many developments in 2010, including the emergence of the name Te Aho Tū Roa, the launch of a new resource - Ko Aue Ko Koe, Ko Koe Ko Au, and the Kōtuia! project for rangatahi.  The table below includes those both the kura working within Te Aho Tū Roa and those that are part of the Enviroschools network.

Schools from all the decile groups are active participants in the Enviroschools Programme.  In comparison with the national proportions in each decile, there is a slight skew towards participation from schools in higher deciles.   However, this skew has lessened progressively since 2007 as many regions have made it a focus to ensure the programme is attractive to, and provides appropriate support for, schools/kura in the lower decile groups.

Note: The Ministry of Education defines deciles as follows: “A school’s decile indicates the extent to which the school draws its students from low socio-economic communities. Decile 1 schools are the 10% of schools with the highest proportion of students from low socio-economic communities, whereas decile 10 schools are the 10% of schools with the lowest proportion of these students.”

Regional Network

Enviroschools is a nationwide network of people working together to create sustainable communities.    The Enviroschools Programme was initiated in partnership with Local Government back in the 1990’s and Councils still provide the core support for school communities through New Zealand.  A diverse range of other organisations are grouped as ‘Community Partners’, this includes DOC Conservancy and Area offices, branches of the Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP), environmental trusts and businesses. 

Please Note: The Education for Sustainability team employed through the Schools of Education was disbanded by the Ministry of Education at the end of 2009. Also the numbers below are before the 1 November merger of 8 councils in the Auckland region to form the new Auckland Council.