A Bay of Plenty school has successfully contested its decile rating, a result its principal believes will bring it on to a more level educational playing field.

The school decile ratings used to reflect the socio-economic circumstances of its students were reviewed late last year – the first time since after the Census in 2006.

Pukehina School is now a decile one after appealing last year's decile review. Photo: File.

The Ministry of Education re-evaluates the ratings after each census, ensuring they accurately reflect the latest information on school communities.

As a result Pukehina School, with a roll of 14, saw its decile increase from a three to a five. The decile change would have seen the small rural school have its student funding cut from $220 to $115.76 a year.

A decile of one indicates the school draws from a poor area, while a decile of 10 confirms the opposite. Schools that move to a lower rating will have an increase in funding, while those increasing will see a reduction over an 18-month period.

Pukehina School principal Roger Reid says they contested the new rating, saying the funding cut would have been too much given the school is struggling on its current funding level.

They also felt the new rating wasn't a true reflection of the area with the majority of the school's parents not owning their own home.

To appeal the review a school must successfully show the area's household income, occupations, household crowding, educational qualifications and income support aren't as positive as the Ministry of Education believe they are.

It now means the school is now designated a decile one – the lowest designation in the decile system – with funding going from about $300 per child to about $900.

'This gives us more opportunities to take them on camps and just do thing things that we are struggling to do because we don't have the money,” says Roger.

'It puts us on a more level playing field with others.”

Roger says other schools have transport such as a bus, which he hopes the school can now accumulate the funds needed.

The funds will also allow go towards basic resources such as teacher learning and behaviour, reading recovery, and social working in schools.

He says the school's profile has changed positively since the review appeal, something wich should bolster the school going forward.

'It will come in handy for the next two or three years as it will generate more income. The more students you have got the more income you get.

Kaka St special school decided not to go ahead with their appeal.

Other schools that contested their new decile rating were Te Wharekura o Mauao, who moved from a two to a three, Te Kura o Matapihi, which moved from a two to a three, and Whakamarama School which moved from an eight to a 10.

These schools were unsuccessful in their appeal.