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Te Kura proposes legal name change
The full legal name of our school is The Correspondence School Board of Trustees and wasn’t changed when we launched our new name, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, in February.
Although we are already using our new name in our new logo and as the way we refer to ourselves, there are some instances where we are required to use our legal name, such as in copyright statements or financial reporting.
“Updating the legal name so it is consistent with the name we are known by will be less confusing for students and other stakeholders, and will simplify communication and administrative processes,” explains Chief Executive, Mike Hollings.
For these reasons, in March the Board of Trustees passed a resolution to change the legal name of the school to align it with the new name, a change which was supported by the Secretary for Education, Karen Sewell.
The words ‘The Correspondence School’ are a key element in the school’s new logo, and will continue to be a part of the logo for the foreseeable future.
Name change questions and answers
What is the school’s legal name? Why change it?
The full legal name of our school is The Correspondence School Board of Trustees and wasn’t changed when we launched our new name, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, earlier this year.
Although we are already using our new name in our new logo and as the way we refer to ourselves, there are some instances where we are required to use our legal name, such as in copyright statements, financial reporting and so on.
Updating the legal name so it is consistent with the name we are known by will be less confusing for students and other stakeholders, and simplify communication and administrative processes. It will also help to reinforce the new name as it is implemented gradually across Te Kura materials and resources.
What is the process that schools must follow to change their name? Does it require agreement from the school community?
The Education Act 1989 specifies that the board of a State school may, subject to section 155(6), by resolution and with the Secretary for Education’s written consent, change the school’s name. Agreement from the school community is not required.
In complying with this legislation, our Board applied for and received consent from the Secretary to change our legal name. In March 2010, the Board approved a recommendation to change the legal name of the school to Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Board of Trustees.
Does this mean the new name could be changed again?
No. We are proposing only to change the legal name of the school from The Correspondence School Board of Trustees to Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu Board of Trustees, which would align our legal name with the new Māori name.
Why has the school adopted a new name?
Since our school was established in 1922, the diversity of our students and the range of our services have changed and evolved. With almost 25,000 students on our roll during 2009, nearly half of whom were Maori, it is important that our name and logo reflect the diversity of our students in all its forms.
After consultation with staff and external stakeholders to find a name that more accurately portrays our identity today, we launched the new name – Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu – and a new logo earlier. The significance of the name is twofold: our new name pays tribute to the language and background of nearly half of our students; and the meaning of the name more accurately reflects our current role as a provider of innovative distance education and e-learning.
You can read more about the meaning of our new name on our Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu webpage.
Does Te Kura intend to phase out The Correspondence School name altogether?
The words ‘The Correspondence School’ are a key element in the school’s new logo, and will continue to be part of the logo for the foreseeable future.
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