Governance

An Integrated Area School

As an ‘Integrated Area School’, Waikato Waldorf School is part of the New Zealand State education system and is, therefore, partially funded by the Ministry of Education, which pays for most of the staff and for the school’s running costs.

An Integrated school must have a ‘special character’, which is safeguarded in law through our Integration Agreement with the Crown.

Special Character

The Special Character is based on the educational principles of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of the Waldorf School movement.

The school is subject to review by the Education Review Office (ERO) and has a School Board in the same way as other State schools.

The school is affiliated with SEANZ (Steiner Education Aotearoa New Zealand)

The School Board

The role of the School Board is ‘governance’ – it ensures that the school is well-led and managed.

The Board operates through policy and is responsible to the community and the Crown to ensure that the aakonga (learners) in the school are the focus of the school's operations, acts as a good employer for all staff, and is ultimately accountable for all aspects of the school’s operations, including compliance and legal matters.

The Waikato Waldorf School Board is comprised of:

  • Four elected Parent Representatives

  • Three Proprietors Trust Appointees

  • One Staff elected Representative

  • One Student elected Representative

  • The Principal

Board elections are held every three years, with the exception being the Student Representative, who is elected annually. The Board members elect a Presiding Member from the non-school-based members of the Board.

Board members are expected to adhere to the School Board Member Code of Conduct.

The role of the Presiding Member is to chair the meetings, ensure the work of the Board is completed, and have a working relationship with the Principal. They act under delegation of the Board and are usually the spokesperson for the Board.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are not open to the public, but are held in public places. They are held every 4-6 weeks and are advertised in the Friday Flier. Board agendas and minutes are available on request.

Principal

The Principal’s role is one of day-to-day management and school leadership. The Principal makes the Board’s vision a reality, implements the Board’s policies, and monitors the work of staff towards the achievement of the school’s Strategic Plan. The Principal, as the staff team leader, also manages and assesses delivery of the curriculum.

The Proprietors’ Trust/Rudolf Steiner Early Childhood Trust (PT)

The Proprietors’ Trust defines the Special Character of the school and supports and monitors its implementation at WWS and Miro House Kindergarten. The Proprietors’ Trust owns the school premises and land, and thus is responsible for capital works and development.

Waikato Waldorf Parent Association (PA)

The Parents Association represents the parent body of the community. The PA supports the School through fundraising for the School, Kindergartens, and Playcircles through the Medieval Carnival and Advent Fair. They also serve as volunteers assisting with school events.

All parents who have children at the School, Kindergarten, or Play Groups are members of the PA. Parents are invited to join the committee; information about meeting times are in the fortnightly school newsletter.