Wharepapa South School
Full Primary · State
- Year levels
- 1–8
- Total roll
- 30
- Enrolment zone
- No
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- 14 Wharepapa Road, Te Awamutu
- Territorial authority
- Waipa District
- Phone
- 07-8722826
- office@wharepapa.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: Monday 2 February - Thursday 2 April
Monday 2 February - Thursday 2 April
Year stated asTerm Dates 2026
- Term 2, 2026: Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July
Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July
Year stated asTerm Dates 2026
- Term 3, 2026: Monday 20 July - Friday 18 Sep
Monday 20 July - Friday 18 Sep
Year stated asTerm Dates 2026
- Term 4, 2026: Monday 12 October - Tuesday 15 Dec
Monday 12 October - Tuesday 15 Dec
Year stated asTerm Dates 2026
- Term 1, 2026: Monday 2 February - Thursday 2 April
- Getting there
- A school bus children can catch to and from school each day, travelling part way down Aotearoa Road, Waipapa Road, Wharepapa South to Seafund Road and half way down Owairaka Valley Road; free within the transport entitlement zone, $110 per child per term outside it.
We have a school bus that children are able to catch to and from school each day. There is no charge for those who live within the transport entitlement zone, however if you live out of the zone, there is a cost of $110 per child per term. Please contact the office or the principal to check which category you fall in to. Generally, you need to live at least 3.2 km away from school and we must be the closest school for you to qualify for the free bus service. Our bus travels part way down Aotearoa Road, Waipapa Road,Wharepapa South to Seafund Road, and half way down Owairaka Valley Road.
- A school bus children can catch to and from school each day, travelling part way down Aotearoa Road, Waipapa Road, Wharepapa South to Seafund Road and half way down Owairaka Valley Road; free within the transport entitlement zone, $110 per child per term outside it.
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
- miniball
Whether it’s miniball, touch rugby, netball, or other sports
- touch rugby
Whether it’s miniball, touch rugby, netball, or other sports
- netball
Whether it’s miniball, touch rugby, netball, or other sports
- Eastern Zone (EZ) Swimming Sports
Eastern Zone (EZ) Swimming Sports is hosted by Pukeatua School over 2 separate days.
- Eastern Zone (EZ) Cross Country
Eastern Zone (EZ) Cross Country is hosted by Arohena school in Term 2.
- EZ Winter Sports
EZ Winter Sports is hosted by Wharepapa South School across 2 days.
- Junior Sports Day
Our Junior Sports Day is held for the years 0-3 students where they demonstrate their gross motor skills through throwing, kicking and striking games.
- The Senior Sports Day
The Senior Sports Day is held for the years 4-8 students where they can compete in games such as soccer, hockey, ki ō rahi, tāpu ae, bowls and miniball.
- soccer
games such as soccer, hockey, ki ō rahi, tāpu ae, bowls and miniball
- hockey
games such as soccer, hockey, ki ō rahi, tāpu ae, bowls and miniball
- ki ō rahi
games such as soccer, hockey, ki ō rahi, tāpu ae, bowls and miniball
- tāpu ae
games such as soccer, hockey, ki ō rahi, tāpu ae, bowls and miniball
- bowls
games such as soccer, hockey, ki ō rahi, tāpu ae, bowls and miniball
- EZ Athletics
EZ Athletics is hosted by Puahue School and held at the Te Awamutu Athletics Club.
- colour run
We host a fun colour run each year as a FUNdraiser.
- mud run
During the winter, we are putting on a massive mud run for anyone who would like to take part.
- miniball
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 26
- Māori
- 3
- Pacific
- 1
- Asian
- 2
- 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 01 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Year 02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Year 03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Year 04 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Year 05 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Year 06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Year 07 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Year 08 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 34 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 05 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Age 06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Age 07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Age 08 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Age 09 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Age 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| Age 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Age 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Age 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 34 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
271.2%
| Wharepapa South School | 271.2% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 53.9% |
| Full Primary | 35.6% |
| State | 40.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 793.5% |
| Māori | 274.3% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | Not available (source marker: "nd") |
| European/Pākehā | 266.3% |
| Total | 271.2% |
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
0%
| Wharepapa South School | 0% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 6.6% |
| Full Primary | 3.9% |
| State | 4.5% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | Not available (source marker: "nd") |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
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
0%
| Wharepapa South School | 0% |
|---|---|
| Waikato Region | 2.4% |
| Full Primary | 1.7% |
| State | 1.9% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | Not available (source marker: "nd") |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 496
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Rural other
- Date opened
- 16 November 1858
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
- 4
- Last reviewed
- 28 March 2023
- Latest report
- Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
- Report type
- Profile report
- Board assurance
- The board attested to all areas (28 March 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 board assurance report of 28 March 2023 carries no actions-for-compliance section — the section ERO uses when it names non-compliance it identified. That is what this report contains; it is not ERO saying it found none. Other reports ERO holds for this school may say something different.
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 30 — 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.
September 2019
29
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 21 November 2019
September 2015
27
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 29 October 2015
We draw no line between these. Each was counted for its own report, years apart, by a different review team, and a roll moves between reviews for reasons none of these figures record — so the difference between any two of them measures nothing.
What ERO wrote in its latest report
This is ERO’s report of 28 March 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 19 months of the Education Review Office and Wharepapa South School 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
Wharepapa South is a rural school located in the Waitomo District. In 2021, an acting principal was appointed and in 2022 this appointment was made permanent. The principal is a first-time principal.
Wharepapa South School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:
strengthen teacher capabilities
grow great learners.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Wharepapa South School’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well tamariki experience success in reading.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to:
enhance student participation, engagement and achievement in learning
improve internal systems and processes to guide school improvement and build capacity.
The school expects to see accelerated progress in literacy for target learners and children with additional needs.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to improve tamariki success in reading.
a well-established plan that clarifies actions and provides indicators of success
leadership and staff that understand and are committed to improving outcomes for all learners
a well-established culture of acceptance and celebration of diversity and inclusion
well known school values that support the wellbeing of all learners.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
supporting teachers to build practice to teach reading
building culturally responsive pedagogy across the school.
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.
Phil Cowie Director Review and Improvement Services (Central) Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
28 March 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 4 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).