Our Vision, Values, Mission and Te Tiriti o Waitangi Commitment
At Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga | Thames High School, our vision, mission and values (Ngā Pou Tikanga) describe what we stand for and what we want every young person to experience and achieve during their time with us.
Together, they guide how we:
- Design learning and curriculum
- Build relationships and a sense of belonging
- Make decisions as a school and as a board
- Measure success for our students and wider community
These foundations are closely connected to our Graduate Profile, which describes the knowledge, skills, values and dispositions we want our students to leave school with.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Our Commitment in Practice
Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga | Thames High School is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a foundation for learning, equity and belonging. We recognise Te Tiriti as central to Aotearoa New Zealand and to our responsibility to serve all learners well, particularly Māori learners.
In practice, this means we intentionally embed tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori within our curriculum, teaching practices and school culture. We actively create learning environments where Māori identity, language and culture are visible, valued and affirmed, and where relationships are grounded in manaakitanga and respect.
Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi includes:
- Actively improving equity and outcomes for Māori learners, so all students are supported to succeed as themselves
- Supporting learning in and through te reo Māori, including making opportunities available where this is requested by parents or caregivers
- Ensuring our policies, practices and learning environments reflect the cultural diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, promoting inclusion, fairness and belonging
This commitment guides our decision-making, our strategic priorities, and the expectations we hold for ourselves as a kura.
Our Graduate Profile gives practical expression to our Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment, describing the learner we strive to grow — confident in identity, equipped for the future, and able to contribute in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Graduate Profile – What Success Looks Like for Our Learners
Our Graduate Profile brings our vision, values and Te Tiriti commitment together by clearly describing the qualities, capabilities and understandings we want our students to develop.
Our graduates are young people who:
- Have a strong sense of identity, belonging and wellbeing
- Are respectful, inclusive and able to contribute positively in diverse contexts
- Are prepared for future pathways, including further learning, training or work
- Understand their place in Aotearoa New Zealand and the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
👉 Follow this link to learn more about our Graduate Profile and what success looks like for learners at Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga | Thames High School.
Strategic Planning – Turning Commitments into Action
Our Strategic Plan sets out how we bring our vision, values, Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment and Graduate Profile to life.
Through strategic planning, we identify clear priorities, actions and measures that help us to:
- Improve learner achievement and engagement
- Strengthen wellbeing and inclusion
- Build culturally responsive teaching and leadership
- Work in partnership with whānau, iwi and the wider community
👉 Follow this link to view our Planning and Reporting, including our Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plans.
