Otatara School
146 Dunns Road, Otatara · Otago & Southland
Composite score
Established
Below median
Rank #1,312 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Otatara School achieved a composite score of 82 in its April 2024 ERO review. Most learners achieved at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics, with Pacific learners achieving very well across all areas. The school demonstrates high and sustained achievement, very effective governance and leadership, and a responsive curriculum that authentically integrates mātauranga Māori, though some disparity exists for Māori learners in writing and mathematics compared to reading.
Best suited for
Students in Otatara looking for a state-funded setting with an established ERO profile.
Is Otatara School a good school?
Otatara School scores 67/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- High and sustained achievement in reading, writing and mathematics across most learners
- Very effective governance, leadership and management strongly focused on best outcomes for every learner
- Responsive, rich localised curriculum with strong focus on mātauranga Māori authentically integrated through teaching
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
standdowns 28.1/1k · suspensions 0.0/1k · exclusions 0.0/1k · bottom quartile of band (n=536) · why? ▼ hide
-11.6% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · bottom quartile of band (n=534) · why? ▼ hide
82/100 from ERO review 2024-04 · near band median (n=539) · why? ▼ hide
⚠ Insufficient EQI-band peers (n<10) to compute per-axis percentile context. The score above is absolute; treat it as a single-school read rather than a peer comparison.
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 82/100.
Latest ERO review
2024-04-22 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- Most learners achieved at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics in 2023, with sustained high levels over time
- Māori learners reading at higher levels than non-Māori, but disparity exists in writing and mathematics
- Pacific learners achieve very well with almost all at or above curriculum expectations across all areas
- Otātārā Graduate Profile effectively embedded into curriculum design and delivery at all school levels
- Leadership very effectively develops and enacts school vision through all aspects of school life
"Otātārā School is very effectively governed, led, managed and strongly focused on the best outcomes for every learner."
Composite score across reviews
2 ERO reviews on file, 2022–2024. Click a point to read that review.
Audited financials
Year ended 2021 · Audit opinion: unmodified
Total revenue
$2.40M
Surplus / (deficit)
+$77k
Net assets / equity
$0.94M
Discipline (age-standardised, per 1,000 students)
Stand-down = sent home temporarily. Suspension = formal investigation. Exclusion = removed from school. National averages shown for comparison.
Stand-downs · 2024
28.1
3 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
0.0
· NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
0.0
· NZ avg ~1.5
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$2.10M
Per-student funding · 2022
$8,152
2018
$1.7M
2019
$1.7M
2020
$1.8M
2021
$2.2M
2022
$2.1M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 01 36
- Year 02 37
- Year 03 47
- Year 04 31
- Year 05 45
- Year 06 42
- Year 07 13
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 75.1%
- Māori 24.5%
- Asian 4.7%
- Pacific 1.9%
- Other / MELAA 1.6%
Location
146 Dunns Road, Otatara. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Otatara School.
St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
Full Primary · 5km · 178 roll
80
+13 vs this
New River Primary
Contributing · 5.2km · 233 roll
43
-24 vs this
Invercargill Middle School
Contributing · 5.6km · 173 roll
38
-29 vs this
Invercargill Activity Centre
Activity Centre · 5.6km · roll n/a
91
+24 vs this
St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Full Primary · 5.7km · 139 roll
81
+14 vs this
Southland Girls' High School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · 5.9km · 1,063 roll
75
+8 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Otatara School a good school?
Otatara School scores 67/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2024-04 review identified 6 key findings. Most learners achieved at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics in 2023, with sustained high levels over time
How do I enrol my child at Otatara School?
Contact the school directly on 03-2131009, email admin@otatara.school.nz, or visit www.otatara.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Otatara School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Otatara School has 257 students, with an EQI of 412 (lower socio-economic need).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Otatara School in 2024-04, signed by Shelley Booysen. 3 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- web.archive.org
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz