Westbridge school closure confirmed despite families’ pleas to keep it open

Detailed summary

An Auckland residential school for children with complex needs will close in January despite pleas from families who credited it with transforming their children’s lives.…

The Westbridge Residential School in Massey is closing after a critical ERO report that recorded more than 30 assaults in two terms.

An Auckland residential school for children with complex needs will close in January despite pleas from families who credited it with transforming their children’s lives.

Westbridge Residential School in Massey will close on January 27, 2027, a formal closure notice signed by Education Minister Erica Stanford on November 3 confirmed.

The decision follows a critical Education Review Office (ERO) report that recorded more than 30 assaults in two terms and found students were not consistently receiving the support expected of a school providing round-the-clock care.

The school’s commissioner said the decision had brought a “great deal of sadness” and warned the need for specialist support for young people with complex needs would remain.

The decision ends months of uncertainty for the school, which is one of only three such residential schools in the country.

Stanford announced her initial decision to close Westbridge in September, with the school’s commissioner given 28 days to provide further information, submissions or arguments before a final decision.

At the time, Stanford said she had considered advice from the Ministry of Education, ERO and the Secretary for Education.

“There have been some very, very serious concerns,” she said, pointing to assaults on students and incidents where police had been called.

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