Welcome to Ōropi School

 BE ALL YOU CAN BE  -  WHAIA TE MATAURANGA

Our Mission 

Inspiring our students to believe in themselves and realise their potential within our rural community, so they can move forward as confident, contributing members of society.

Toi tu te mana, toi tu te whenua, toi tu te tangata

Vision 

“Oropi School exists to educate our students through experiential learning and personalised opportunities, in doing so we guide them to know their strengths. Our rural school caters for children from Year 1 to 8, developing leadership and a sense of tuakana-teina (close, co-operative, mutually-respectful relationships) across the school. A place where children can be children, take considered risks, explore new ideas and have a sense of excitement about their own life-long learning.”

and Values

Resilience, Respect, Belonging, Curiosity

Te Manawaroa, Te Whakaute, Te Whanaungatanga, Te Pākiki

Teaching & Learning @ Ōropi School

What is important for Ōropi School to retain in the future? 

Ōropi School aims to retain its distinctive identity through play and project-based learning, bilingual education, and unique programmes such as Languages & Global Citizenship Education, Garden to Table, and Calf Club Day. The school is committed to being culturally responsive, inclusive, nurturing, and equitable, with a strong focus on valuing Māori as Māori. It prioritizes environmentally sustainable practices, flexible indoor and outdoor learning opportunities, and a high-trust model that fosters freedom, creativity, and ownership in students’ learning and play. Collaboration and mixed-age group learning are encouraged, alongside embedding the principles of Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Curriculum, and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Maintaining a balanced roll to preserve the school’s environment and character, as well as fostering meaningful connections at local, national, and international levels, is also essential for its future.

Our Philosophy of Teaching & Learning

At Ōropi School, teaching and learning are viewed as a dynamic journey, continually evolving to meet the needs of students. Teachers are trusted and encouraged to tailor their approaches based on their understanding of child development, social and cultural needs, and strong connections with whānau. Professional development and reflection are encouraged to keep practices current and informed. Learning activities are designed to be self-directed, hands-on, engaging, and relevant to the children's lives, fostering independence, resilience, and resourcefulness. Students experience these qualities through play-based learning in the junior and middle school, progressing to individualised inquiry in senior classes. Every child's natural curiosity and strengths are nurtured in safe environments where they can experiment and challenge their ideas with the support and guidance of their teachers.

Special features of our Curriculum context: 

Garden to Table

Global Citizenship programme including Te Reo Māori & Mandarin (Chinese) Language Learning

Play Based Learning, including Junior & Senior School Shed for project based learning

Literacy & Numeracy - these programmes and practices across the school are aligned with the Revised Curriculum documents and resources provided to schools in 2025. A summary of approaches used will be outlined here in the coming weeks.

KidsLink is an online resource available to parents and schools to find a range of services that specialise in working with children, teenagers and their families with issues that help with educational, physical and emotional needs.