Our School Today
Upper Moutere is a semi rural community situated 25kms inland and south of Nelson. The area is predominantly farming and horticulture, with viticulture playing an increasingly important part. The community is set around the village, is widespread, and is serviced by a school bus route.
Upper Moutere School is a co-educational state full primary school. We have a school roll of approximately 100 students. We were reviewed by the Education Review Office in 2025 and a copy of this report is available on this site, from the school office, or on the ERO website www.ero.govt.nz.
The school has beautiful, well maintained learning environments, a spare classroom owned by the school used by our wonderful itinerant Music teachers, ample resource sheds, a teacher’s resource room, modern library, staffroom and administration area and a multi-purpose building/hall. The school has a large wooden deck sheltered by a number of mature trees, providing a relaxing area for lunch times. The playing fields are on two levels with the swimming pool, netball courts, cricket practice net and sandpit used by the wider community.
Year 7/8 Upper Moutere School pupils travel to Motueka where they are involved in Technology classes ( MOTEC) for a period each week.
Upper Moutere School has a commitment to ICT and all rooms are fully networked. We recognise the place of digital technology in our learning, more specifically in the senior school, and we teach appropriate skills to safely access and use technology through our digital citizenship agreement.
There is a dental clinic serviced by Nelson Marlborough Area Health Board. A wide range of outside agencies support the school and these include the Public Health Nurse, Dental Therapist, Police Education Officer, Community Youth Workers, Advisory Services, Speech Therapist and Group Special Education and the Motueka District Truancy Service.
Pre-school and day care facilities are available in the area, while secondary school children travel to Motueka, Richmond, Stoke or Nelson.
The School Board of Trustees ensures the strategic direction of the school is focused and developments are planned for the future.
The Supporters of Upper Moutere School (SUMS) serves the school by co-ordinating social activities and fundraising ventures for the school.
The school and local facilities are growing significantly as the area develops. This is reflected in cultural and sporting interests starting to gain momentum. There are over thirty sporting and service clubs in the surrounding Moutere Hills area.
Upper Moutere School strives to ensure that all students are provided with an education that respects their individuality, develops their responsibility and initiative, and challenges them to reach the highest standards of personal achievement, while showing concern for others and the environment.