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Hohepa School is for children and young people aged 7 to 21 who have very special requirements for their care and education.
The school year consists of 39 weeks divided into four terms. Children stay at Hohepa School for the whole term, but return home for the holidays.
All our students are on the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme (ORRS), introduced by the Ministry of Education in 1998, a scheme for which Hohepa School is an Accredited Fundholder.
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The School is situated on a beautiful biodynamic farm in the Poraiti hills just outside Napier – a second part of the Hohepa Hawke's Bay Community property. This location, with superb views over Hawke's Bay, provides excellent recreational opportunities for the children. The school has three playground areas, a sports field and we share an outdoor swimming pool with the rest of the Hohepa Poraiti community.
The close proximity of the twin cities of Napier and Hastings allows the children to take full advantage of libraries, theatres, shops and other public amenities and to enjoy a variety of experiences within the wider community. Beaches, rivers, hills, walking tracks and scenic picnic sites are all within easy reach of Hohepa.
Hohepa School grounds are on the Poraiti site of the Hohepa Community property. The Poraiti property consists of the school, the children’s residential community in several family houses, land area which is cropped, citrus areas and several worker and support houses. It is the site of the original land and home of founder Lewis Harris.
The children live in purpose-built houses, each having their own bedroom, while the school itself is currently being rebuilt - part is still housed in the original building, built in 1957.
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The construction of new school buildings (new administration block shown here) is currently underway, with the full re-development expected to be completed in late 2009.
The new facilities will include five classrooms plus a transition block, craft room, kitchen and technology learning room, library and computer facilities, assembly room, kitchen and dining room, and a hall for gatherings, meetings, festivals and concerts.
Additional rooms for speech, music, eurythmy, nursing, art and movement therapies as well as a medical consulting room make this into a comprehensive facility. It is an exciting development, and will provide 'state of the art' education facilities for our children (and their teachers).
