1. Partnership Schools—Potential ClosuresRt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterWEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSPartnership Schools—Potential Closures1. Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government's policies?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Rt Hon Bill English: Does she stand by her statement on behalf of the Government that children are at the heart of everything we do."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes.Rt Hon Bill English: Can she explain then how her Government's policy on partnership schools will benefit the children in those schools?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes I can explain that. Every child deserves to be in a school where they have registered and qualified teachers and where they have the ability to be taught our fantastic curriculum. What we are keen to do and what the Minister of Education has said is that for those schools there is a pathway for them to become schools of special character. There are options for them to keep their doors open. We're keen to work with them on finding that path forward.Rt Hon Bill English: Has she seen the statement by a student from one of the schools: "Before attending this school I barely did anything with my life. I hated school and was never motivated to improve but thanks to this school I have a chance of changing my life for the better."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I haven't seen that specific quote but I'm delighted to hear a child with a chance to engage in their education. We want for those children though to make sure that they are being taught in schools where they have registered and qualified teachers. We are working alongside those schools to make sure that they have a pathway to remain open. We're not asking much from them.Rt Hon Bill English: Will the Prime Minister visit at least one partnership school and talk to the students about their experience and their views on whether their school should be closed?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: One thing I will say is that it's this Government's ambition to make every school the best school it can be and there are a range of schools doing a fantastic job and actually all they've asked for is that those schools who the Government gave special treatment to be treated equally. That means curriculum that means having qualified teachers and it means the same level of funding. There is a pathway forward for them and we're working with them.Rt Hon Bill English: If the Prime Minister's policy is that everyone be treated equally what does she have to say to those students who believe that by going to one of these schools they're actually doing a lot better than at the school where they were treated equally?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: They can continue on in those schools if those schools are willing to teach the curriculum and have—[Interruption] I'd really be interested in what the Opposition's opposition to having registered and qualified teachers actually is.Rt Hon Bill English: If she believes that "children are at the heart of everything we do" why won't she visit a partnership school and ask the children at the school for their views before she proceeds to close their schools?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said we're not focused on closure; we're focused on giving them options to make sure that if they continue to teach the curriculum and have registered and qualified teachers there is a pathway for them to remain open. I'd be very interested to hear why the Opposition believes that having registered and qualified teachers is such a barrier to good education.Rt Hon Bill English: Why can't the Prime Minister of New Zealand answer a simple question: will she visit a partnership school and speak to the children about their views about their school? Why can't she answer that question?Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition rose and he started to ask his first question then he followed up with a second question and he's perhaps going to move on to a third. That's against the Standing Orders.Mr SPEAKER: I think the right honourable gentleman is absolutely correct. I've been trying to be a little bit reasonable with people who are taking unaccustomed roles until they get used to it. I will be tightening up in the new year but I think the Prime Minister's got 2½ questions and she can pick a bit to answer.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My objection is that the member is implying that we're closing those schools rather than working alongside them to transition them away from that old failed model into a model that simply asks that they teach the curriculum and that they have registered teachers. I have to say it's purely—from the students' perspective that's purely administrative; purely administrative.Rt Hon Bill English: Will the Prime Minister visit a partnership school and speak to the students to ascertain their views about their school?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again the implication that I've never in my life met a child who has been to a partnership school is wrong.Mr SPEAKER: The Rt Hon Winston Peters. [Interruption]Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Prime Minister—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. While I'm calling a member I don't expect three of the five most senior members of the Opposition to be yelling as loudly as that. They will cease.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Has the Prime Minister received any reports suggesting that the Māori students of this country should not be the victims of blind ideology when it comes to privatised education?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. I've also seen a line of questioning about it too.Mr SPEAKER: Question No. 2 the Hon Steven Joyce.Hon Steven Joyce: Thank you Mr Speaker. I—Mr SPEAKER: Sorry sorry. I beg the member's pardon. I didn't hear Nikki Kaye.Hon Nikki Kaye: Will the Prime Minister guarantee that all partnership schools with contracts will remain open if they meet the three criteria that she just mentioned: registered teachers following the curriculum and comparable funding?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As our Minister of Education has said that's a process he's going through as we speak.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can the Prime Minister confirm that there are around a thousand children attending partnership schools compared to the 760000 students attending school overall and does she think the New Zealand children—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! As a result of the interjections—I think there were five—I will take two supplementaries from the Opposition. Chris Hipkins start again please.Hon Chris Hipkins: Is she aware that there are around a thousand children attending partnership schools or charter schools compared to around 760000 children attending school overall; and does she think that those 760000—Mr SPEAKER: No. The member will sit down. He's asked a question.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes and if we'd seen that kind of advocacy from the Opposition on the 760000 maybe we would not have seen debacles like national standards."