Victory School

A little over nine years ago, Victory Primary School in Nelson had real problems with bad behaviour, truancy, and stand-downs, with a high percentage of families moving away during each school year.

Since then, however, the school has adopted an approach which it describes as ‘enrolling the family, not just the child'. Community facilities have been put in place on the school grounds and parents actively welcomed and encouraged to participate in their child's education.

The result has been that in nine years there have been no stand-downs, truancy has been dramatically reduced, behaviour problems have been all but eliminated, families are staying in their school communities longer instead of moving away, and education outcomes have improved.

As well as being involved in their child's education, families can get medical help, counselling, adult education, childcare, legal advice and meet with a number of government and community agencies providing family assistance at a school community centre.

The Families Commission worked with Victory School to create these videos outlining their "community hub" approach.