Kohimarama School

I doubt that anyone will see this review, but I was a student at Kohimarama School for eight years, so please hear me out. First, I will start by mentioning the school's merits. It is an extremely accepting school. Many children in my year had disabilities or health conditions, including myself, as I occasionally had to go to the hospital for weeks at a time. Everybody was very accepting of any differences or special help that certain kids needed. There is absolutely zero tolerance for any kind of bullying, and actual instances of bullying were rare. My experience with teachers was almost always very positive, and though there were a couple of teachers that some kids disliked, they were always very helpful and encouraging to me. They also always give the students a lot of warning about any changes, including school trips, so you always know what is going to happen when. Also, extension things like Mathex, Epro8, or the Lit Quiz, are readily available, and the teachers observe the students and invite some to participate in these activities.

However, the school has its downsides as well. They rely too heavily on devices and SchoolTalk, and it was very annoying that it was almost mandatory to have your own computer that you brought to school. I don't know whether this is normal, having no context, but I found it quite frustrating sometimes. Sometimes they throw students in the deep end without knowing how to support them when they ask about what they're actually supposed to do, and some days I'd go home with a headache from staring at my computer screen all day. Though this wasn't very common, there is no paper homework, so you end up spending extra hours on the computer when you'd rather not. Also, I don’t know whether this is the fault of the school or the curriculum, but we received almost no lessons in subjects like science, history, geography, or English. It was only in the last year that we got any real exposure to learning another language, and even then, we had no choice. Everybody likes Spanish, but if you already know it, you're just sitting in the classroom listening to the teacher repeat things you already know.

I have a talent for science (and that’s not bragging). By the age of nine, I could recite 100 elements from the periodic table, but I had to teach myself everything I learned about science. We had approximately two days of history every year, on Waitangi Day, and they basically tell you the same thing every time. By year four, you already know it all, and it just feels like repeating the same facts year after year. I'm a kid who’s thirsty for knowledge—especially knowledge like that—and at Kohi, I didn’t get it. I can’t wait to go to high school next year because I’m finally going to get some decent science classes. Or any science classes, for that matter.

One day, in year four, we were promised a "Science Day." I was incredibly excited because I had a keen interest in science even then. But it was too good to be true. The next day, we had a brief science experiment involving rolling marbles up and down a table, followed by a couple of hours of slime-making. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to give 30 nine-year-olds blue dye and access to sticky stuff, but I think the carpet still has blue stains.

Something a little better was the STEM fair in year seven. We had to use the scientific method: hypothesis, experiment, data collection, and conclusion. But we got no help with choosing topics, and it felt like one of those “throw them in the deep end and they’ll learn to swim” moments. I managed to scratch out a pretty decent project, but still.

I feel like I've said too much negative stuff, so I'm going to wrap it up now. my conclusion is, I've enjoyed my years at this school, but i honestly wouldn't recommend it. probably the best thing to go out
In conclusion, while Kohimarama School has its flaws—particularly like the reliance on technology and the lack of subjects like science and history—it still offers a supportive environment for students. The school is accepting of children with disabilities or special needs. For parents of kids with learning challenges or health conditions, I would definitely recommend Kohi. However, I would be aware that your child won't want much science or history or geography, and it might be worthwhile to give them access to books which will teach them this sort of stuff.

The school is poorly organised and extremely frustrating to deal with. The Principals and Team Leaders are there to boost their profiles and egos not support children’s education.

The teachers seem to hate working there, it’s better at the senior end of the school than the junior.

Communication with parents is atrocious, it either feels like their spamming you or that you don’t hear anything - like my son who is about to get a new teacher but we didn’t know until the day before (when I complained) who it was going to be.

The reports don’t tell you anything about your child’s strength and areas for development.

There is an over-reliance on technology and low standards when it comes to children’s work. My eldest is a high achiever but when I compare what has been covered in his learning, it’s nowhere near what my friends’ kids have covered at other schools.

Extension activities such as Otago Problem Solving, Future Problem Solving and Mathex are available but the preparation is pretty appalling because in the words of one of the teachers (relayed by my child) “we’re a public school so can’t dedicate time in our curriculum for this”.

I’ll be glad when my kids leave. They’ll be repeating the year levels in our home country to plug the gaps (and there are many) so I am not too concerned. If you’re only educating your kid here, rethink it.

This is an amazing school that both my children love attending!!!
The teachers really care about their students and how they are coping with life and the school work they are assigned.