Central Lakes Trust (CLT) has approved $765,180 over three years for the Central Otago Principals Association School Referral Programme, filling a crucial gap in government support.

The programme helps secondary schools deliver targeted support for students who aren’t thriving in mainstream settings. 

At its final grants meeting of the year on November 24, the trust confirmed the funding as part of more than $2.18 million in grants allocated this round. 

Cromwell College, Dunstan High School, and Roxburgh Area School are all included in the programme and have been allocated $42,451, $36,260, and $7,075 respectively. 

Cromwell College principal Mason Stretch said the CLT referral grant was “a valuable resource in our kura”. 

The funding allows the school to run small-group sessions and provide one-on-one support, which he said could have a “powerful influence on engagement”. 

“We identify students who are struggling to engage in learning and may have some learning challenges or attendance issues,” Mason said.  

“We have seen significant improvements for individual students.” 

He said the Ministry of Education’s operational funding for learning and behaviour support was limited, and the ongoing CLT grant received over a number of years had become “a vital part of our school’s ability to positively shift outcomes for students". 

The trust said it took a “high-trust, flexible approach” to the funding, allowing schools to use the money where it was most effective, whether that be for teacher-aide hours, one-on-one literacy and numeracy support, or alternative learning pathways for students not thriving in mainstream classrooms.

“Education is the foundation of strong communities,” CLT chief executive Barbara Bridger said.  

“By empowering schools to tailor support for students with complex needs, we’re helping create environments where every learner has the opportunity to succeed.” 

CLT operates as a charitable trust that funds a range of community initiatives across the region.  

Since its establishment in 2000, it has distributed more than $168M back into Central Lakes communities and now manages assets totalling close to $600M.