Piopio College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · State
- Year levels
- 7–13
- Total roll
- 159
- Enrolment zone
- No
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- 18 Aria Road, Piopio
- Territorial authority
- Waitomo District
- Phone
- 07-8778173
- principal@piopio.school.nz
- Website
- http://www.piopio.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Waikato
What would the day look like?
The practical things this school states on its own website — the hours, the uniform, the term dates, and how children get there. These are the school’s own words, not the Ministry’s record and not ERO’s.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- Term dates
- Term 1, 2026: finishes Friday 2 April
| Term 1 | | Friday 2 April
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 2, 2026: Monday 20 April – Friday 3 July
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April | Friday 3 July
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 3, 2026: Monday 20 July – Friday 25 September
| Term 3 | Monday 20 July | Friday 25 September
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 4, 2026: Monday 12 October – Friday 11 December TBC
| Term 4 | Monday 12 October | Friday 11 December TBC
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 1, 2026: finishes Friday 2 April
- Getting there
- Go Bus provides 5 Ministry-funded bus routes to Piopio College, plus a 'user pays' service for students travelling from Te Kuiti
Go bus provide 5 bus routes to Piopio College - this is a Ministry funded service. See below for details. Piopio College also has a 'user pays' service for students travelling from Te Kuiti. Contracts and rates are available from the Finance Office.
- Go Bus provides 5 Ministry-funded bus routes to Piopio College, plus a 'user pays' service for students travelling from Te Kuiti
What does the school say about itself?
Quoted, not summarised. Every school describes itself well, so this is here to be read as the school’s own case rather than as a finding — and a school that states nothing simply has no row.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- In their words
- To create personalised learning opportunities that are flexible and authentic and meet each student's aspirational, educational needs whilst encouraging the pursuit of excellence.
- "Whakaara kia Mataara" - Aim High
- An explanation: Pursue the treasure you value the most dearly. If you bow your head let it be to a lofty mountain.
What is on offer beyond the classroom?
The sports, arts, clubs and groups this school names on its own website. Not a complete list of what any school offers, and not a count — a school that names more here has written more down, which is not the same as doing more.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- On offer
- ki o rahi
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- touch
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- fishing
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- golf
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- turbo touch
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- futsal
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- softball
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- cross-country
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- athletics
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- ripper
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- unihoc
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- softcross
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- rugby
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- netball
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- football
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- basketball
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- squash
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- equestrian
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- hockey
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- volleyball
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- badminton
Activities and sports on offer include ki o rahi, touch, fishing, golf, turbo touch, futsal, softball, cross-country, athletics, ripper, unihoc, softcross, rugby, netball, football, basketball, squash, equestrian, hockey, volleyball and badminton.
- ki o rahi
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 108
- Māori
- 81
- Pacific
- 12
- Asian
- 11
- MELAA
- 0
- Other
- 0
- International
- 0
Roll by year level and age
Shown as context, not ranked, not compared to any average. As at 30 June 2026, from the same annual return as the roll count above.
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 07 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 32 |
| Year 08 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 21 |
| Year 09 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 22 |
| Year 11 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 24 |
| Year 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 14 |
| Year 13+ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 65 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 136 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 11 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 28 |
| Age 12 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 23 |
| Age 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Age 14 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 24 |
| Age 15 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 18 |
| Age 16 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
| Age 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| Age 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 65 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 136 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Academic results
Percentage with NCEA level 1 or above — 2025
95.8%
| Piopio College | 95.8% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 84.2% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 89.6% |
| State: Not integrated | 83.6% |
| New Zealand | 85.2% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 100% |
|---|---|
| Male | 93.3% |
| Māori | 92.9% |
| Pacific | Not applicable |
| Asian | Not applicable |
| MELAA | Not applicable |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 100% |
| Total | 95.8% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison NCEA level 1 data (2023-2025)
Percentage with NCEA level 2 or above — 2025
54.2%
| Piopio College | 54.2% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 75.7% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 83.3% |
| State: Not integrated | 75.4% |
| New Zealand | 77.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 77.8% |
|---|---|
| Male | 40% |
| Māori | 50% |
| Pacific | Not applicable |
| Asian | Not applicable |
| MELAA | Not applicable |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 60% |
| Total | 54.2% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison NCEA level 2 data (2023-2025)
Percentage with NCEA level 3 or above — 2025
25%
| Piopio College | 25% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 51.3% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 64.5% |
| State: Not integrated | 55.2% |
| New Zealand | 59% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 44.4% |
|---|---|
| Male | 13.3% |
| Māori | 21.4% |
| Pacific | Not applicable |
| Asian | Not applicable |
| MELAA | Not applicable |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 25% |
| Total | 25% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison NCEA level 3 data (2023-2025)
Percentage with VP Award — 2025
12.5%
| Piopio College | 12.5% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 15.1% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 14.7% |
| State: Not integrated | 14.4% |
| New Zealand | 14.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 33.3% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | Not applicable |
| Asian | Not applicable |
| MELAA | Not applicable |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 15% |
| Total | 12.5% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison Vocational Pathway data (2023-2025)
Retention
Percentage staying until at least 17th birthday — 2025
54.2%
| Piopio College | 54.2% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 77.4% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 83.1% |
| State: Not integrated | 81.4% |
| New Zealand | 83% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 77.8% |
|---|---|
| Male | 40% |
| Māori | 57.1% |
| Pacific | Not applicable |
| Asian | Not applicable |
| MELAA | Not applicable |
| Other | Not applicable |
| European/Pākehā | 55% |
| Total | 54.2% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison trend data (2023-2025)
— 2024
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 1: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education one year after leaving school (2022-2024 leaver cohorts)
— 2023
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education two years after leaving school (2021-2023 leaver cohorts)
— 2024
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 1: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education one year after leaving school (2022-2024 leaver cohorts)
— 2023
not reported
| Female | not reported |
|---|---|
| Male | not reported |
| Māori | not reported |
| Pacific | not reported |
| Asian | not reported |
| MELAA | not reported |
| Other | not reported |
| European/Pākehā | not reported |
| Total | not reported |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: School leavers enrolled in tertiary education two years after leaving school (2021-2023 leaver cohorts)
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
64.9%
| Piopio College | 64.9% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 53.9% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 43.4% |
| State | 40.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 11.9% |
|---|---|
| Male | 95.3% |
| Māori | 105.4% |
| Pacific | 186.4% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | Not available (source marker: "nd") |
| European/Pākehā | 52% |
| Total | 64.9% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison stand-down rates data (2024)
Age-standardised suspension rate per 1,000 students — 2024
7.9%
| Piopio College | 7.9% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 6.6% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 4.6% |
| State | 4.5% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 12.3% |
| Māori | 7.2% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | Not available (source marker: "nd") |
| European/Pākehā | 6% |
| Total | 7.9% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison suspension rates data (2024)
Age-standardised exclusion rate per 1,000 students — 2024
4.4%
| Piopio College | 4.4% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 2.4% |
| Secondary (Year 7-15) | 2% |
| State | 1.9% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 6.8% |
| Māori | 7.8% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | Not available (source marker: "nd") |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 4.4% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 499
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Rural settlement
- Date opened
- 31 January 1975
The Equity Index is used by the Ministry to allocate equity funding. It describes the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, not how good the school is. How the Equity Index works
What did ERO find?
The Education Review Office reviews every school and publishes what it finds in full. We quote ERO’s report here, section by section, in ERO’s own words and order, and link to it. We do not summarise a report, pick a line out of one, or turn one into a score. How ERO reviews schools
- Reports ERO holds
- 3
- Last reviewed
- 22 September 2023
- Latest report
- Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
- Report type
- Profile report
- Board assurance
- The board attested to all areas (22 September 2023)
A board assurance statement is the board’s own account of whether it took all reasonable steps to meet its legal obligations, on the date shown. It is not ERO’s finding. ERO reports separately, in the same report, on any non-compliance it identified during that process.
The same report — the board assurance report of 22 September 2023 — also sets out actions for compliance: the non-compliance ERO identified during that process. This is that section of the report in full, in ERO’s words.
ERO and the board have identified the following areas of non-compliance during the board assurance process:
That a Police vet is obtained every three years of every person/contractor or employee who still works at the school. [Clause 9-12 Schedule 4 Education and Training Act 2020]
The board provides an annual statement of variance which provides an analysis of variance between the school’s performance and the achievement of the school’s objectives set out in its strategic plan and the relevant aims, objectives, directions, priorities, or targets set out in the school charter. [Clause 7 Education and Training Act 2020]
The school is following all the relevant guidelines in terms of safe physical restraint of students when required. [Section 99 Education and Training Act 2020]
The school board is aware of the conditions under which students may get work experience, and health and safety responsibilities under the HSWA. [NZ Gazette Notice No 158, 2 December 2004 page 3919: Work Experience Notice]
The board has since taken steps to address the areas of non-compliance identified.
The roll ERO recorded, and when
ERO writes a roll into each report it publishes: a count taken for that report, on the day shown, by the review team that was there. The Ministry of Education’s current roll for this school is 159 — the figure at the top of this page, and the one to use for how big the school is now. These are a different measurement by a different body, so they will rarely agree, and a difference between them is not a change in the school.
June 2017
171
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 5 September 2017
This is one count taken for one report. It says what the roll was on that day, and nothing about how the roll has moved.
What ERO wrote in its latest report
This is ERO’s report of 22 September 2023 — “Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.
Background
This Profile Report was written within 14 months of the Education Review Office and Piopio College working in Te Ara Huarau , an improvement evaluation approach used in most English Medium State and State Integrated Schools. For more information about Te Ara Huarau see ERO’s website. www.ero.govt.nz
Context
Piopio is situated in the King country, 20km from Te Kuiti . It provides education for students from Years 7-13 and promotes the values of manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, whanaungatanga and kotahitanga . A new principal was appointed in 2022.
Piopio College’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:
provide quality teaching and learning programmes that support high levels of student achievement
provide a learning environment that promotes student engagement and the physical and emotional wellbeing of students
provide a positive school culture that retains and develops the best personal possible to support teaching and learning
allocate funds and resources to reflect the schools priorities and to resource learning
grow and maintain effective communication with the school community, students, parents/caregivers, staff and wider community.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Piopio College’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively teaching approaches and learning programmes are supporting student progress and achievement.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
the need for the local curriculum to be reflected in teaching and learning programmes
to review and improve year 9 and 10 student engagement and achievement to ensure meaningful pathways in year 11-13 to increase student access to multiple future pathways.
The school expects to see student prior knowledge and interests used to design and implement a localised curriculum that is supported by community partnerships that improve student engagement and outcomes for learning. Students having the opportunity to develop their aspirations for future pathways within year 9 and 10.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to improve student progress and achievement.
Strategic appointments of personnel to build capability and capacity across the school.
Well-considered changes to leadership roles are better supporting improvements in teaching and learning supports for students.
Professional development plan in place to support design, development and implementation of a localised curriculum for year 9 and 10.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
staff to participate in professional development to design localised curriculum
implementation of localised curriculum for year 9 and 10 to build on strengths of junior school and support transition into senior school
strengthen the effective use of achievement information to identify what is working well and for whom.
ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. ERO will support the school in reporting their progress to the community. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report and is due within three years.
Shelley Booysen Director of Schools
22 September 2023
About the School
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 3 reports ERO holds for this school
ERO reviews a school every few years — around four years between reviews is the usual cycle — so an older date here reflects where a school sits in that cycle, not how it is doing.
Source: Education Review Office, CC BY 4.0.
Roll date: 30 June 2026 (2026).