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

Our student whanau are curious, dazzled and hugely appreciative of our learning spaces and resources that the BOT and PTA tirelessly support. Student efficacy and agency gives powerful voices to students to lead their own interests for learning.

This year our overarching theme continues to be Curiosity, students have their own passions, big questions and timelines.

Hedgehope’s Forest School involves a weekly adventure to Sherwood Forest, as part of our two year Biodiversity and Regeneration Project.

Students have been out and about being adventurous in Southland, talking with experts and local businesses. 

We have two classes of 36 students that all love to learn!

Our students are coached by 4 incredibly talented and inspiring teachers and 2 learning supports.

We are a happily connected whanau!

We all REACH for Greatness in everything we do!



2023 is already jam packed with stimulating learning experiences and opportunities at school and in our wider community and environment.

We have already connected and been inspired by Hokonui Runanga for Waitangi day, planning to build mokohi ( Māori rafts), Biodiversity study at Sherwood Forest and the planning of collaborative arts project to carve the Matamata (the "pet" Taniwha of Te Rakitauneke, that created The Hokonui hills) with Jeromy Van Riel.

This will lead into a second arts mural project with Stephanie MacDonald in Term 2, with huge thanks to funding from Creatives in Schools Initiative. 

We have a fabulous working and learning relationship with Josh Sullivan from Enviro Schools and so many of his colleagues from Environment Southland, along with Lloyd Esler, Jesse Bythell, Sarah Thorne, Makarewa Catchment Group.

Our students are gaining so much insight into the complex systems and relationships within our natural environment.

We are a Silver Enviro School, slowly working towards Green Gold.

Students are also being hugely inspired by experts associated with Field Based Stem, Ruud Kleinpaste (The Bug Man) spent another 2 days with us, along with Sam and Hari from The Milkyway.

Our students programmed Mars Rovers, went to space and into the International Space Station (using Virtual Reality Headsets) with these two experts that have worked for NASA! 

Last November Ruud and so many other experts helped us with a 24 hour Bioblitz. 

The team have also experienced Beach Education with Surf Lifesaving at Oreti Beach and seniors have enjoyed Surfing with Jessica Terrill.

The Wonder Project starts today with our new engineer relationship investigating rocket launching.

Seniors have taken on Leadership roles around the school with goals and procedures. 

Over half of our students have taken up the challenge to make their own morning tea and lunch at school daily.

The range of fresh healthy food and engagement to create from our garden is exciting to watch.

The added bonus is less morning stress at home, less rubbish and less food waste.

This also gives an opportunity to budget and portion control.

It's a win all round!

You may well be wondering how we fit in Curriculum subjects and classroom teaching and learning time.

Everything we do is integrated, students have a powerful voice that is led by their interests and needs, our teaching team's task is to explicitly make the links with students, provide extension so that we develop highly curious, flexible, literate and numerate critical thinkers and problem solvers, that are full of empathy for collaboration or independence.

Hedgehope Schools vision: Inspire students to be curious to discover, explore and actively engage in their dynamic learning community.

We are a happy little school with a huge heart.

We believe that anything is possible with effort and a big dream.

Hedgehope School proudly supported by Classic Kitchens