Vision: Red Beach School is a community empowering life long learners to achieve and make a difference

Board of Trustees

Board Members:

Principal: Lesley Tait
Staff Trustee: Denise O'Reilly
Chair: Malcolm Haggerty
Parent Elected Trustees: Anthony Wentworth, Chris Millar, Andy Mount, Wayne Blomfield




The Board - (back row left) Denise O'Reilly, Malcolm Haggerty, Wayne Blomfield, (front row left) Andrew Mount, Christine Millar, Anthony Wentworth.

A dedicated team of long serving members throughout the years has contributed, with a supportive Management team, to clear strategic direction, underpinned in recent years by the creation and development of a strong vision. The school vision: A community empowering life long learners to achieve and make a difference is the reference point for everything we do at Board level and through the school and forms the basis for our annual and long term strategic plans.

Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting

You are welcome to attend the Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting
Meeting Room - second Tues of the month at 7.00pm
Please feel free to contact the BOT by email
BOT@redbeach.school.nz

The Role of the Board

Boards of trustees are Crown entities and are responsible for the governance of schools. Our role, as trustees, is to make sure that your school is run in the best interests of our students and our community. The Reach Beach School Board of Trustees was elected in May 2010 and serve a 3 year term. To find out more about school boards or becoming a trustee check out: Ministry of Education - Boards

The board’s role is to:
  • Ensure the school has a clear sense of purpose by establishing its strategic objectives, documenting these objectives in a school charter, and monitoring progress in achieving these objectives
  • Set priorities and goals for improvement of learning and achievement in the school
  • Seek assurance from the management (principal and senior staff) that the programmes being implemented in the school can achieve the goals
  • Monitor the school’s performance against student achievement outcomes
  • Seek assurance from the school's management that the school's resources are being used optimally to deliver the agreed outcomes, ensuring, for example, that resources are available to ensure the knowledge and skills of the teachers are up to date
  • Be accountable for the exercise of decision-making rights
We need to assure the government that:
  • The students in the school are receiving a high quality standard of education
  • National priorities for school education are being addressed in the school
  • The resources are being used prudently to ensure the highest possible quality programmes are provided for students.


Malcolm Haggerty - Chairman

My name is Malcolm Haggerty. I am married to Jane and have three children, Sarah, Sam and Katie, all of whom have been, or are still, students at Red Beach School. I have sat on The Board for the last 3 years and was keen to continue. I look forward to taking an active role in the future strategic direction of the school.


Antony Wentworth

Having sat on the Board of Trustees for the last 3 years, I was keen to stand again for re-election.  

We have been fortunate to have an extremely high performing school in recent years, and it has been a great experience contributing to the overall direction with a dedicated team.  With a supportive management team,  The Board was keen to develop a strategic plan that was measurable and achievable for the 3 year cycle, and in looking back I think the progress made was excellent. 

My background includes being a director and pharmacist at Orewa Care Chemist for over 17 years, and as a parent to 3 children, 2 of which are currently at Red Beach School.


Andrew Mount

I am the father of Finn & Olivia (Year 4) and the Husband of Kelly who teaches a Year 1 class at Red Beach School. I believe commitment to family and the community are essential in maintaining a healthy and productive society. I very much enjoy living and recreating in Red Beach, which has been our home now for 10 years.

My specialist vocational area is in Leadership development that primarily utilises the Outdoor Environment. This has grown out of a 20 year contribution to Education, initially as an Outdoor Education and Recreation Instructor who then taught Science and Physical Education at Secondary Level and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at AUT University. I have a blended role at AUT within the School of Sport and Recreation that includes teaching, curriculum design, financial, personnel, recruitment management responsibilities.

I also contribute to the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences in a Governance role with a specific focus on Academic Quality of Programmes and Papers offered by the Faculty.

I particularly enjoy the opportunity to assist people who are purposefully empowering themselves through learning, that equips them to be confident, productive individuals. The skills that I have developed through these experiences and contributions align well to the Red Beach School. The School is proactive, innovative and Leads the way in quality Primary Education.


Wayne Blomfield

Jo and I have four children, Pierce (10), Boston (9) & Cooper (6) who currently attend Red Beach School and our daughter Madison (3) who will start in a couple of years time.

We have always been very impressed with Red Beach School. It has a great reputation and is held in high regard throughout the New Zealand education system. Being actively involved in the governance of the school and continuously addressing how we can provide each and every child with the opportunities to reach their full potential, is extremely rewarding.

I really appreciate this opportunity to represent you, the parents, as a Board of Trustees member.

My background is in Finance. I am currently an Authorised Financial Adviser and Licensed Sharebroker with Macquarie Private Wealth. I have been in the finance industry for over 20 years – 10 years specialising in investments and 12 years practicing as an Accountant. My qualifications include: AFA, CA, CFP & NZX Associate Adviser. This experience has given me a sound understanding of governance, corporate and public finance and the macro-economic environment


Christine Millar

My husband Mike and I have two daughters at Red Beach School, Leah (Y1) and Sophia (Y4). After being serving on the Community Committee for the past three years, being elected to the school board is a fantastic opportunity. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute at board level and to learn more about education and the governance of this future forward school.

With my children in the early stages of their time at Red Beach I have a vested interest in the success of the school long term.

I believe in contributing by getting involved and have enjoyed taking an active role in the Community Committee at Red Beach School.

My background is in marketing and communications and I have worked for a number of large corporates prior to starting a family. I currently work part time, in a marketing role for a local print, design and marketing consultancy business.


Denise O’Reily

I am married with three grown up children and this year I became a grandparent for the first time. What a liberating feeling to see the cycle begin again. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a teacher at Red Beach School since arriving in New Zealand from the UK 9 years ago. I have been the Staff Representative on the Board of Trustees for five years and it has been an amazing opportunity to find out what goes on behind the scenes to ensure that our Vision is at the core of what we do here. Every strategic decision made at the school is made with our Vision in mind and as I was a member of the staff that originally created the Vision it has been amazing to see the animation process that has brought it to life in every one of our students.

I was a New Entrant/Year 1 teacher for 12 years before being persuaded to move up to year 3 and subsequently year 4 where I am loving the enthusiasm and passion for learning that 8 and 9 year olds display.

Although called the staff representative my position on the Board of Trustees is not actually to represent the staff as such but to bring a staff perspective to our discussions and the decision making process.