Hedgehope School is a fabulously modern and truly up to date, future focused environment bursting with resources and wonder.

Our student whanau are curious, dazzled and hugely appreciative of the modern spaces and resources that the BOT and PTA have tirelessly supported.

Student efficacy and agency gives powerful voices to students to lead their own interests for learning.

This year our overarching theme is Curiosity, with an added focus of Local History, students have their own passions, big questions and timelines.

Hedgehope’s Forest School involves a weekly adventure into the local bush and the launch of a new biodiversity and restoration project in Sherwood Forest.

Students have been out and about being adventurous in Southland, talking with experts, visiting sites of historical significance and learning with Hokonui Runanga. 

We have 2 classes with 27 students currently who all love to learn! 

We all REACH for Greatness in everything we do!

Our History Curiosity continues to gain momentum, students really enjoyed two Thursday ignition visits.

The history of Kati Mamoe & Ngai Tahu in Southland and especially around the coast from Fiordland to the Catlins is intriguing.

Tuturau being the last place a musket shot was fired during the landwars.



As we all stood on the pa site overlooking Mataura, it was hard to imagine much of the lower land being covered in water.

Since then though we have seen several fossil artifacts of shells on land even in Hedgehope.



We were sad to learn about the man made changes to Mataura Falls and to smell and see the state of our local river.

Our students were really intrigued by the old school at Pioneer Village, as this is something they can really relate and compare their experiences with.



Students were also full of wonder about what learning would have been like at the sights of the Upper Hedgehope School on Murchison Road and Glencoe School where the Glencoe Monument now stands.



Albie Sands and Roland McEachren's (Mrs Leckies uncle) dwellings and equipment opened a few eyes to the hardships that early settlers would have endured.

We made some links at the Presbyterian Church looking at photos of the embroidered quilt that was collaboratively made by the community to raise funds to build the church.

A few years ago Shirley Dickson was kind enough to exhibit the quilt at our history art day; a few of the older students could remember it.



A highlight would have been bush bashing to find the old logging track route on top of Horton's farm.

Getting down the hill was also a very entertaining sight! 

Collaboratively we have started to create a timeline of people in the Hedgehope area and their reasons for being here.

We are really wanting to collate as many stories and as much knowledge as possible.



Senior students are independently investigating time periods they are particularly interested in, while Piwakawaka are asking questions to lead the following days learning starting from early migration, hunting and gathering to the arrival of Captain Cook’s and Abel Tasman’s mapping voyages.

We will be collating all the stories into a whole school documentary, book and who knows what else. 

We really appreciate our community's support and collaboration for our learning. 

We are all so eager with our integrated curriculum and student voice.

The chefs are still in the kitchen creating wonders from our garden.

Student leaders are organising events such as Hedgehope Olympics and Discovery Kitchen.

Hopefully the Kereru team will be able to head into Deep Cove at the end of this month.

Even in these unpredictable times, we are determined to cater for ourselves and pull off a once in a lifetime camp.

At Hedgehope School we all believe that anything is possible with a little hard work and effort.

Hedgehope School proudly supported by Classic Kitchens