Welcome to Sommerville
Nau mai, haere mai
Ko Belinda ahau
He tumuaki no te kura o Sommerville
Ko Maungarei te maunga
Ko wai-o-Taiki te awa
Ko Ngāti Pāoa te mana whenua
Sommerville School is a place of belonging, hope and transformation for our young people. We are proud to be a specialist school that wraps around students with complex needs, ensuring they feel safe, valued and understood as they learn and grow.
At Sommerville, we believe every learner deserves the opportunity to thrive. Through personalised programmes and strong, trusting relationships, we support each learner’s personal, social, emotional and educational development. Our approach is strengths-based, trauma-informed and deeply committed to nurturing wellbeing alongside learning.
Our vision, “Together, learning to live our best lives,” reflects the heart of what we do. We work in partnership with parents, caregivers and whānau, listening carefully, celebrating progress, and walking alongside each child’s journey. We know that when whānau and school work together, young people are supported to flourish. Guided by our values of being courageous (kia māia) and connected (kia hono), we encourage our young people to take steps forward in their learning and wellbeing, while ensuring they feel deeply supported by a community that stands alongside them.
Sommerville is more than a school – it is a community that holds our young people with dignity and belief in their potential. We are honoured to be entrusted with their learning and wellbeing, and we look forward to working together to help every student live their best life.
No reira, tēna koutou, tēna koutou, tēna tatou katoa
Belinda Johnston
Tumuaki-Principal
Specialist Services
Our specialists at Sommerville work with individual students, class groups and teachers to ensure every student gets what they need to grow and meet their potential. Our team is made up of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Behavioural psychologists and specialists, Visual and Hearing Impaired specialists who have a team approach to achieve success for our students.
Enrolment
Choosing and enrolling in a school for children with special needs can be a difficult and confusing process. We work closely with families to help them complete the process as easy as possible and to understand the differences that they may be eligible for when enrolled with us. Parents can book in to see one of our senior managers who will answer any questions and let you know where your child may be if they attend Sommerville.
Parent Information
Working with families is paramount to the success of our school. Find out more about our Vision, Term dates, Afterschool programmes, School zone and more here.
Curriculum
At Sommerville we teach to the New Zealand Curriculum with adapted programmes to suit the level and the needs of our students. Our teachers create individualised learning programmes designed to grow each student in fun and exciting ways. We work closely with families and whanau to make sure every student has the best opportunities to learn at their appropriate level.
Outreach
Our Outreach service can provide specialist teacher support in local schools for ORS funded students. We have an expert team of teachers who can draw from the resources and knowledge from across our school network to work with students and teachers in other schools.