Kia ora e te whānau,
A summary of our year
As we draw our school year to a close, one that also marks Long Bay College’s 50th year, we pause to celebrate the achievements, character and momentum that define our community. This has been a year of purposeful learning, strong relationships and sustained effort from students, staff and families alike.
Across the curriculum, our students have embraced high expectations and evidencebased teaching, lifting progress and deepening understanding in every faculty. In classrooms, we have seen curiosity, perseverance and pride. Our pastoral teams have continued to nurture wellbeing and belonging, so that every young person is known well and supported to thrive.
Beyond the classroom, the arts have flourished with compelling performances and exhibitions, and our cultural groups have showcased talent, leadership and service. On the sports fields and courts, our athletes have represented the College with commitment and integrity, achieving unprecedented success. Our student leaders have set a strong tone in organising events, mentoring peers, and modelling the values we expect of ourselves as a community.
None of this happens by accident. It is the product of dedicated teaching and support staff, engaged families and whānau, and students who turn up, work hard and look out for each other. Thank you for your contribution this year: your time, expertise, encouragement and care.
For now, please enjoy a restful summer break. Celebrate the progress you’ve made, recharge, and return ready to aim high in the year ahead. Thank you for your partnership and for the privilege of educating your young people.
Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable outcomes at Long Bay College
Many of you will be aware of recent Government changes to the Education and Training Act which remove the explicit requirement for school boards to “give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi”. We recognise that our community holds a range of views on this, and we want to speak plainly about what it means for Long Bay College.
Our stance and why it matters
For many years, Long Bay College has been committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi as part of how we lead, teach, and serve our diverse community. That commitment has supported equitable outcomes for all learners, particularly for our Māori and Pasifika students, by strengthening belonging, raising expectations, and guiding evidence based teaching and pastoral practice. This has served us well and will remain a core part of who we are.
If you’re interested in recent coverage, The Post profiled our school’s journey and the role of belief, power, and belonging in our success:
“Belief, power, belonging credited to school’s success” –The Post (formerly Dominion Post): Read the article
Māori and Pasifika students’ success in NCEA – An excerpt from the Principal’s Address at the 2025 Academic Prizegiving:
“A special mention must go to our Māori and Pasifika students whose results turned national trends on their heads with results at University Entrance 55% better than the national average, 32% better at Level 2 and 29% better at Level 3. These results were also massively better when compared to schools with similar socio-economic barriers and a wonderful example of how we, as a school, continue to support equitable outcomes through our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to research informed teaching and learning practices. Ka pai to all involved.”
Our strategy – Equitable, high quality, student outcomes
Our position reflects our character, our values, years of community consultation and staff capability building. In our strategic planning documents for 2026 – 2029, we have clearly set out a continued commitment to equitable outcomes through:
- Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in governance and practice, and
- Research informed, high impact teaching and learning. “Research-informed approach empowers exceptional learning” – Education Gazette: https://gazette.education.govt.nz/articles/research-informed-approach-empowers-exceptional-learning/
What will (and will not) change
- We will keep going. Even though the law now allows boards to pause direction for 12 months, Long Bay College will not stall delivery of our new strategic plan. We have worked hard to build momentum over the past seven years, and we intend to sustain it.
- We will launch our new four-year strategic plan early next year. This plan consolidates the progress we have made and sets clear goals across curriculum, pastoral care, whānau engagement, sport, arts, culture and leadership, grounded in high quality teaching and culturally responsive practices.
- We will continue to measure what matters. We will keep tracking and reporting on achievement, engagement and retention for all student groups, with particular focus on Māori and Pasifika ākonga and other priority learners, using robust data and continuous improvement cycles.
- We will keep partnering. Our relationships with whānau, and with iwi remain essential. We will continue to listen to, and act on, community feedback, and to strengthen pathways that reflect local tikanga and aspirations.
What this looks like for families
- Classroom practice that is explicit, inclusive and evidence based that is focused on high expectations, clarity of learning, and strong routines.
- A school culture where every young person belongs, is known well, and is supported to achieve personal excellence.
- Informed, timely communication and opportunities to kōrero with us about your child’s learning and wellbeing.
- Clear pathways in te reo Māori and tikanga, and curriculum experiences that reflect our local context.
Our next steps
Following on from our community consultation in 2025, early next year, we will share our new strategic plan. In the meantime, if you have questions or wish to discuss this further, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and our staff. Together, we will keep doing what works for our young people and our community.
Ngā mihi nui,
CJ HEALEY DEREK BLANK
Tumuaki / Principal Presiding Member
Long Bay College Long Bay College Board of Trustees
