Mike Summerell: School Sport New Zealand CEO says he is 'surprised' by the opening of new sports school

A new sports school is opening in Upper Hutt, promising opportunities for aspiring schoolkids to commit to an education in sports.

School Sport New Zealand CEO told Elliott Smith that the announcement has come as a surprise, and that they have had no contact with the school regarding their intentions to work with School Sport. 

"Outside of what's been reported in the media, we don't have any information or detail about the school, or their desire to become a member of School Sport New Zealand."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
You perspective perhaps of the other schools or the let's
say the incumbent view School Sports CEO for New Zealanders,
Mike Summerle Mike, great to have you on the program
this afternoon. What was your initial reaction when you heard
the news.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Look, it's come of a bit of a surprise. Obviously
outside of what's been reported in the media, we don't
have any information or detail about the school or their
desire to become a member of school Sport New Zealand.
So it's I think we need to have a bit
of a chat with David Dome, and we've reached out
to the Phoenix to get a better understanding of the
intent or otherwise to participate in our events. So until

(00:52):
we really have that chat, there's not much to speculate on.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Do you think it's a positive for kids around the country.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Look, charter schools certainly have a lot of flexibility and
autonomy and how they structure their curriculs. They can offer
different school hours, specific focuses and so on, and that
can benefit a group of students who might be underachieving
or disengaged or I might have a very clear pathway
that they want to follow, and in this case sport.

(01:21):
So you know, for those year eleven students who have
serious ambitions to become a professional athlete, then this environment
could certainly support that.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
Do you expect it will fit into your national calendar
of secondary school sports events? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:38):
Look, charter schools by definition can become a member of
school Sport New Zealand. What they need to adhere to
is the same of every school in New Zealand, so
we need to have a chat with them to understand curriculum, load,
attendance requirements, etc. And like I said, until we have
that chat, it's probably not right to speculate on what

(01:59):
that might mean.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Have you had charter schools, charter schools around the country
part of it currently?

Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yes, Saint Stephen's sorry Tiffany, are a member have year
nine students currently enrolled, so they probably don't have the
mass to participate on a national level right now, but
you know that we want to work with all schools
that can meet that criteria to become a member and
get all those incredible opportunities that exists through the calendar.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
How do you expect schools might react. Is it just
another school to you know, the other schools. Is it
just another one that adds to the books, or is
this going to be something outside the box.

Speaker 3 (02:39):
I look, there's certainly a lot of interest. We've been
fielding a lot of questions from member schools and Principles,
et cetera. We just need detail. I think it's a
great opportunity for those kids. But obviously we know that
the flip side of all the great things that can
come with that specialization pieces, especially when you're talking about

(03:00):
sport and professional athletes, it's the one and two percent
that actually ever go on and make a career out
of those things. So I would hope that the focus
right now for that charter school is around the educational component,
you know, developing what it looks like for the ninety
odd percent of those that might not actually get a

(03:20):
professional contract out of all of this, and make sure
they come out with the qualifications and the attributes they
need to be a functioning citizen.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
What are the kind of questions that Principles are already
asking you, Mike, Oh, just.

Speaker 3 (03:34):
Really general, what do you know about it? You know
that's really outside of what's been reported in the media.
There really isn't much information to go on, so I
think there's always a risk or a thought that some
schools might feel that they are going to lose their
talented athletes that they've been developing. But until we really

(03:57):
understand what the intent of the new sports charter school
is going to be, there's no points in speculating around
what it might look like.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
It's going to be a fascinating see how this develops.
With it starting two to one next year, it's a
quick turned around. Mike, thank you very much for joining
us on News Talk ZIBB. Appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
Pleasure.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
Mike summer All there joining us on News Talk ZIBB
school Sport CEO.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio