Mount Richmond School

In 1916, Mount Richmond School was a well-oiled machine, supporting students with special educational needs in partnership with their families. The school, nestled in Otahuhu, Auckland, had comprehensive systems and ongoing professional learning to manage its complex setting. Mount Richmond School even coordinated an outreach program supporting students in mainstream classes at seven other South Auckland schools. The school’s vision was for its students to be all they could be, fostering a sense of belonging to the “Mount Richmond family.” The curriculum was designed around a “Circle of Courage” framework, emphasizing belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery. This framework guided their strategic planning, curriculum, and assessment. Students engaged in a range of learning experiences designed to prepare them for adult life. Even then, the school recognized the importance of culturally responsive practices, making students’ cultures and languages visible in the classroom. Fast forward to today, and Mount Richmond School, still located at 30 Albion Road, continues its dedication to students with high or very high complex needs, aged 5 to 21. The school has expanded to include satellite classes at several other schools like Bairds Mainfreight Primary, Flat Bush Primary, and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, continuing to manage the pressures of roll growth and property demands. The school’s commitment to wellbeing and inclusive learning remains paramount, using a “village-style approach” grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy. They work in close partnership with families and a specialist therapy team provides transdisciplinary support for students. While the school navigates the ever-evolving landscape of special education, the core values of belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery continue to shape the experience of its students.