A selection of Clutha district secondary principals were pleased to comment on their schools’ performances, as recorded by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
"A 100% [pass rate] in NCEA level 2 is outstanding and a testament to the hard work students and staff put in throughout the year," Tapanui’s Blue Mountain College principal Janelle Eason said.
"While the level 3 and University Entrance pass rates are not as high, all of our leaversachieved what they needed to follow their intended pathway, and we are very happy with that.
"In an education environment where it feels like the only constant is change, our staff and students have shown great resilience [and] we have implemented some more support for literacy and numeracy this year to help our students pass the co-requisites."
Balclutha’s South Otago High School, recorded a pass rate of 87.4% for a student count of 111.
"We are very pleased to have had improved retention of students into Y12 and Y13, and are clear that students’ minimum exit qualification is NCEA L2," principal Mike Wright said.
"Some of our students do take a couple of years to achieve this and we support them in their learning journey.
"For South Otago High School it is about finding the best path for individual students to enable them to find success and move from school to employment, training or further education [and] we have a number of students following vocational programmes which provide great opportunities for students to get into tertiary study and apprenticeships.
Lawrence Area School also recorded a 100% pass rate for its 13 level 2, 3, and University Entrance candidates, and new principal Dave Bagwell was quick to praise his predecessor.
"I would say it is a fitting legacy for the outgoing principal John Auld and the work he did over many years at the school.
"There is a strong focus on individual achievement, mentoring and support [and] the results are testament to what I have seen here over the last term and the way the school operates.
"It is also testament to the very strong partnerships between home and school," Mr Bagwell said.
