Learn
Providing a safe and supportive environment focused on learning and developing personal responsibility.
Our Philosophy
Learn, Grow, Engage and Succeed
are the cornerstones of our education philosophy
Grow
Supporting children to build productive, healthy relationships with their peers, while developing their own talents and abilities.
Engage
Promoting sport and extracurricular activities to ensure strong wider community engagement.
Succeed
Developing the confidence and skills to succeed as students move on to higher education, training, or employment.
Our Curriculum
Victoria Valley Secondary School will deliver the New Zealand Curriculum, adapting as necessary as the Ministry of Education rolls out proposed curriculum updates.
Regardless of updates or Government led changes, the focus of Year 9 and 10 will be on literacy and numeracy, to ensure success in the Common Assessment Activities or Foundational Skills Award at the end of Year 10 or Year 11.
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Use the link below to access the 2027 Year 9 programme overview:
We are committed to ensuring our class sizes remain small so that teachers have the time and resources to provide a tailored learning experience. We want our teachers to get to know their students and how best to engage with them to achieve individual learning goals.
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Students will focus on school-based learning four days per week, with one day per week set aside as a project and/or work experience day. This structure is aimed at developing personal responsibility and providing exposure to different future career pathways.
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Amy Masters
Year 9 TeACHER
Amy Masters is an experienced educator, with over 15 years teaching up to Year 13, in a range of contexts and locations throughout New Zealand.
Originally from the Far North, Amy recently returned to Awanui with her husband and children. After completing a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, Amy’s teaching roles have included mostly Intermediate and Secondary positions, teaching everything from Technology, to English, Maths and Science. Her current teaching role is in a small school with a new secondary department, so she is well placed to navigate the requirements of the New Zealand Curriculum, National Qualifications and a start-up schooling project.
Amy also holds a Bachelor of Media Arts (Visual) and was successful in gaining a Creatives In Schools grant in 2023 to run an arts programme at Waiotira School. She believes strong relationships with learners are the key to successful teaching, as is providing relevant and engaging lessons that are future focused for each learner.
Our Start-up Team
Meet our start-up team for 2027 below.
We are also grateful to have a huge amount of guidance from some very experienced educators, supporting us in the background with advice, knowledge and resources as we bring this exciting new opportunity to our community. Additional staff will be appointed on an as required basis.
Rachel Heemi
HR & OPERATIONS
Originally from Victoria Valley, Rachel holds a Commerce degree from Otago University and spent around 10 years working predominantly in Human Resources while overseas.
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Since returning home in 2014, she has been part of three successful businesses, two of which were start-up. She now resides in Victoria Valley and works as a Contract Manager for J&R Builders, a company owned by herself and her husband.
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Her ties to Victoria Valley are strong and it was her Great Grandfather on her mothers side, Eddie White, who officially closed the doors of the original Victoria Valley School in 1973 when the roll had diminished.
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She and her husband now reside in Victoria Valley, and they are both personally committed to the success of this project.
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Rachel is the first point of contact for any enquiries relating to the school.
Maralize Bamber
FINANCE
Originally from South Africa, Maralize holds a Science degree and began her career there before moving to London in 1998. She spent ten years working in the scientific field in the UK before settling in Christchurch, New Zealand.
In Christchurch, she continued her science career as a Research Analyst with Hexion Specialty Chemicals.
Following the Christchurch earthquake in 2011, Maralize and her husband returned to Victoria Valley, Kaitaia—his hometown—where they’ve established deep roots with their three children. They now live in the family’s historic homestead, which has been in the family for nearly a century.
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Drawing on her strong analytical background, Maralize transitioned into the financial sector and now works as a Financial Manager. She combines scientific precision with financial acumen, helping businesses make informed, data-driven decisions with clarity and confidence.