Westland High School
140 Hampden Street, Hokitika · Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast
Composite score
Developing
Below median
Rank #1,906 of scored NZ schools
Active MoE intervention — limited statutory manager
A limited statutory manager has been appointed to Westland High School . NZ Gazette notice
In summary
Westland High School, located in Hokitika, serves 380 Year 7-15 students. The school has a limited statutory manager intervention currently active. ERO's December 2024 review found that learning outcomes are becoming more equitable through wellbeing initiatives, with most learners achieving NCEA levels, though work continues to address disparities in Māori learner achievement. The school has strengthened academic tracking to identify at-risk learners, offers personalised pathways aligned to student aspirations, and provides leadership opportunities for students. The school's composite score is 54.
Best suited for
Students aged 13-18 in Hokitika looking for a state-funded setting.
Is Westland High School a good school?
Westland High School is currently under MoE intervention — a limited statutory manager has been appointed. The school's day-to-day teaching continues; the intervention addresses governance or operational concerns identified by the Ministry. Read the NZ Gazette notice for details.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Academic tracking processes improved to identify learners at risk more effectively with timely interventions
- Learners have personalised pathways suited to their aspirations, interests and next steps
- School provides leadership opportunities for students that contribute to achieving school vision and values
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.
L1 91% · L2 75% · UE 38% · above band median (n=109) · why? ▼ hide
Uni 5% · Te Pūkenga 5% · Industry 12% · below band median (n=102) · why? ▼ hide
76% to Y13 · near band median (n=115) · why? ▼ hide
standdowns 111.2/1k · suspensions 4.3/1k · exclusions 3.4/1k · bottom quartile of band (n=468) · why? ▼ hide
+13.8% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · above band median (n=469) · why? ▼ hide
54/100 from ERO review 2024-12 · bottom 10% of band (n=471) · 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): 54/100.
Latest ERO review
2024-12-05 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- Outcomes for learners are becoming more equitable, supported by learning and wellbeing initiatives focused on students reaching their potential
- The majority of learners achieve at each level of NCEA; the school is beginning to address disparity in Māori learner achievement
- Leadership approaches are establishing improvements to school conditions that promote learner success
- The school is initiating steps to increase its engagement with its community, increase learner wellbeing and strengthen governance practices
- Just over a third of learners attend regularly; school attendance levels are approaching but not yet at the Ministry of Education's national target
"The majority of learners achieve at each level of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA); the school is beginning to address disparity in Māori learner achievement."
Composite score across reviews
4 ERO reviews on file, 2019–2024. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Leadership at Westland High School declined significantly between the two reports. The 2023 report described a 'stable school leadership team' with 'focused leadership for improving learner outcomes,' while the 2024 report downgraded to 'Leadership approaches are establishing improvements'—indicating a shift from established, effective leadership to emerging practices still in early stages of implementation.
2023-10 → 2024-12 diff source
Governance has shifted from a position of strength to one requiring improvement. The 2023 report praised stable board leadership with capable trustees engaged in professional learning and regular monitoring of strategic goals. The 2024 report indicates the school is only "initiating steps to... strengthen governance practices," suggesting governance has weakened or become a concern area requiring active intervention.
2023-10 → 2024-12 diff source
Both reports emphasize wellbeing support, but with a shift in focus and effectiveness. The 2023 report highlighted 'responsive systems to student wellbeing with specialist expertise and restorative approach to behaviour management,' while the 2024 report shows maturation of these systems through the whānau structure, which is now 'strengthening learner resilience, competencies and connections.' However, the overall ERO score declined from 70 to 50, suggesting implementation challenges despite positive wellbeing initiatives.
2023-10 → 2024-12 diff source
Governance improved notably between 2019 and 2023. The 2019 report noted the board 'recognises improving student achievement as high priority' with strengthened community relationships, while the 2023 report highlighted that the board has achieved 'capable leadership and stable membership since 2019' with trustees engaging in professional learning and regularly monitoring strategic progress.
2019-11 → 2023-10 diff source
Leadership at Westland High School strengthened significantly between 2019 and 2023. The 2019 report noted consolidation of pastoral leadership, while the 2023 report describes a stable leadership team with improved role clarity for middle leaders, distributed leadership capacity, and a principal providing focused leadership through a calm, professional approach.
2019-11 → 2023-10 diff source
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
90.9%
50 of 55 leavers
+3.7pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
74.5%
41 of 55 leavers
+2.2pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
38.2%
21 of 55 leavers
+10.5pt vs prior year
Data: Ministry of Education / Education Counts, CC-BY-4.0
Stay-on rate
Percentage of students who stay at school until at least their 17th birthday — the standard NZ proxy for Year-9-to-Year-13 retention.
76.4%
2024 cohort · 55 students
+6.2pt vs 2023
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
111.2
69 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
4.3
3 this year · NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
3.4
2 this year · NZ avg ~1.5
Vocational Pathway Awards
School leavers achieving Vocational Pathway Awards by industry sector (2024).
- Creative Industries 7
- Service Industries 7
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
$7.14M
Per-student funding · 2022
$18,785
2018
$3.7M
2019
$5.1M
2020
$5.8M
2021
$9.3M
2022
$7.1M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 07 58
- Year 08 56
- Year 09 64
- Year 10 69
- Year 11 57
- Year 12 51
- Year 13+ 33
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 81.1%
- Māori 27.1%
- Asian 6.6%
- Pacific 3.7%
- Other / MELAA 2.4%
- International 2.1%
International students
SIEBA member · Day school only
Location
140 Hampden Street, Hokitika. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Westland High School.
Frequently asked
Is Westland High School a good school?
Westland High School is currently under MoE intervention — a limited statutory manager has been appointed. The school's day-to-day teaching continues; the intervention addresses governance or operational concerns identified by the Ministry. Read the NZ Gazette notice for details.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2024-12 review identified 5 key findings. Outcomes for learners are becoming more equitable, supported by learning and wellbeing initiatives focused on students reaching their potential
How do I enrol my child at Westland High School?
Contact the school directly on 03-7556169, email office@westlandhigh.school.nz, or visit www.westlandhigh.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?
Westland High School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Westland High School has 380 students, with an EQI of 475 (mid-range socio-economic context).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Westland High School in 2024-12, signed by Shelley Booysen. 5 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
- gazette.govt.nz
- sieba.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- westlandhigh.school.nz
- crimestats.co.nz