Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/34085-s12-official-information-request-head-prefect-selection-process on May 27, 2026 17:40

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s12 Official Information Request - Head Prefect Selection Process

Mr E Stokes made this Official Information request to Rongotai College

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From: Mr E Stokes

Dear Rongotai College,

Re: Request for Information, s12 of the Official Information Act.

Under s12 of the Official Information Act, I request the following information relating to Head Prefect/Head Student Selection Process.

>The general rationale/thought process which the school considers when considering who to appoint.
>The role, if any, that student voting plays in the selection process.
>Any written policies (if these exist,) or otherwise, the general procedure, with all considerations.
>Whether a top-down approach, of who is best for the HS Role, and only THEN appointing all deputy roles is used.

Please note this request doesn't relate to any question of the current selection, but is part of a more general endeavour to understand processes used at schools around NZ.

As I understand, am I entitled to a response as soon as is practical.

I am an NZ Citizen, my full name as below.

Yours faithfully,

Mr E Stokes.

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From: The Principal
Rongotai College

Kia ora Mr Stokes
Thanks for the request under s12 of the Official Information Act, and
apologies for the delay in responding; I have been overseas attending to
some International Marketing matters.
In response to the questions you have asked in regard to Head Prefect/Head
Student Selection Processes at our kura:

 1. The general rationale/thought process which the school considers when
considering who to appoint - We go through a voting process towards
the end of Year 12 with all the students in that cohort and with our
staff for who should be our student leaders/prefects for the following
year. As part of this we also ask students & staff to name their
choices for the HP/HS role and also for the deputy roles. These votes
are tallied, and narrowed to a long list which we seek feedback from
staff, and then our Leadership Team then considers who becomes a
student leader and in what role that might be suited to.
 2. The role, if any, that student voting plays in the selection process. 
(see outlined above, which suggests we take student voting into
account). Interestingly, in most years over my time as Principal
at this school, students and staff voting has considered the same
student to be the HP/HS  of the school.
 3. Any written policies (if these exist,) or otherwise, the general
procedure, with all considerations. There are no written policies, but
see above for the procedure. Things we take into account when
considering the who will be the HP/HS include: the relative staff and
student voting, the students history of involvement in a range of
co-curricular and service activities, their ability as a public
speaker and "front person", teacher comments, discipline record
(particularly over the previous 2 years) and the thoughts of the year
level Dean (who by that time, had been the Dean of that cohort of
students for 4 years.
 4. Whether a top-down approach, of who is best for the HS Role, and only
THEN appointing all deputy roles is used - Yes that is the approach we
use at Rongotai College

I hope this gives you an understanding of how Rongotai College selects its
student leaders.
Ngā mihi
Kevin Carter

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