Welcome to Ngākuru School - An exciting, motivating and positive learning environment for all to excel in! 

Ngakuru School is a small rural primary school situated south of Rotorua and provides education for students in Years 1 to 8. The school values being the hub of their rural community and encourages positive community relationships and engagement. Ngakuru School’s vision, values and learner dispositions focus on students striving for personal excellence. 

Our small class sizes and wide, open spaces are a positive feature of our school, along with our dedicated staff and awesome students. Our school is well resourced, with a solar-heated swimming pool, plenty of field space, an astroturf, library, adventure playgrounds, fruit orchard, a native tree gully and school bus transport. We have access to the community hall next door.

We are not zoned and welcome all students.  Please get in touch if you would like to make a time to come and visit us. We have a welcome pack waiting for you!

Education Review Office (ERO) Review

ERO’s role is to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners.  ERO completed their review of our school in 2025. Their report is extremely positive and highlights the strengths of our school.  Some comments are below and you can read the full report  here. 

ERO findings include:

• Almost all learners achieve at or above their expected curriculum level in reading, writing and mathematics.

• A pattern of sustained high achievement is evident over time, with an increase in numbers of learners achieving above expected levels in reading, writing and mathematics.

• Quality teaching and learning practices are consistent and effective.

• High expectations for student success are now established schoolwide enabling students to consistently progress in their learning through engaging programmes and explicit teacher instruction.

• Leaders and teachers have established effective systems to regularly monitor learner progress and achievement, responding effectively to ensure learner needs are met and outcomes are progressed. 

• Highly positive learner outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics are sustained over time, with increased numbers of learners achieving above expected curriculum levels.

• Learners requiring additional learning assistance are well supported and consistently show progress against their goals, and improved outcomes.

• Leaders build and sustain trust and collaboration within the school and community to support strategic vision and positive outcomes for learners.

• Professional learning initiatives are informed by assessment data and aligned to school strategic planning that focus staff on continually improving practice for better outcomes for learners.

• Leaders and teachers have established processes and strategies to ensure collective expectations for high quality teaching and learning across the school, resulting in continued positive outcomes for learners.

• Teacher planning meets the needs of learners, enabling learners to confidently engage in learning, grow new knowledge and consistently progress.

• Respectful and collaborative teacher-learner relationships foster an inclusive environment that promotes student engagement in learning.

• Teachers collaboratively monitor learners’ progress and achievement to support consistent planning and high-quality teaching that is focused on next steps for learners.

• Positive outcomes for learner wellbeing and engagement in learning are well supported and enhanced through established programmes and processes that grow learners’ sense of belonging, resilience and skills for self-regulation.

• Student self-management of learning at school and home is enhanced through access to a digital platform that contains planning that responds to students’ interests and learning needs.

• Leaders and teachers involve parents, whānau and community in sharing aspirations for their children; this information informs school decision making to strengthen engagement and positive outcomes for learners.

• Leaders and teachers use information from a range of sources to effectively analyse and evaluate the impact of actions focused on improving outcomes for learners, and to plan for ongoing improvement.