The Education Minister has ruled out any chance of a third round of charter school applications this year.

Hekia Parata's statement, made to Parliament today, comes amidst concern over a Northland charter school.

Earlier today, it was revealed Parata had signed off on Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru charter school in Northland, despite ministry concerns the school had not outlined a "safe environment" for students.

Parata received a glowing reference for Whangaruru school, near Whangarei, from the authorisation board and after considering both sets of advice she authorised the school to go ahead in September 2013.

The school has since lost a quarter of its roll and has dealt with issues of attendance, bullying, drug use and management infighting.

"I take all the advice that's provided by the ministry seriously," she said.

"Taking advice doesn't mean accepting it and doesn't mean ignoring it. I took the advice, considered it, and made a decision."



Parata said one of the elements of the charter school model had always been that "in the event that a school fails it can be shut down".



"I'm not ruling [shutting it down] in or out," she said.

"We're in a process of identifying where the concerns are."

Since the school opened, the Education Review Office has identified a number of problems with the quality of teaching, learning, management, leadership and student engagement.

The latest ERO report for Whangaruru still hasn't been released and six months ago Parata said its publication was "imminent".

Today, she told MPs she expected the report to be released next month.

In response to a question in Parliament today, Parata told MPs she wouldn't be undertaking another round of charter school applications this year.

Two previous roll-outs have already seen nine charter schools introduced in the last two years under the terms of a confidence and supply agreement with the Act Party.

Last year, the first five schools were opened, which included controversial Whangaruru, and this year another four charter schools have opened.

Green Party education spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty said the decision not to kick on with any more charter school applications was a government "back-down" and a "victory for kids".

"Charter schools were supposed to be the government's big solution to education, yet from the moment they opened they've been besieged with problems," she said.



"This is an admission of failure."

Labour Party education spokesman Chris Hipkins said the whole charter school process was a "train wreck".

"The authorisation board is recommending schools for approval that the Ministry of Education doesn't think are up to scratch."