Otumoetai Intermediate School is the winner of the Prime Minister's Supreme Award at the inaugural Education Excellence Awards in Wellington.

Finalists, representing early childhood, primary, secondary and secondary-tertiary partnerships, gathered at Te Papa where Prime Minister John Key presented awards to the winners.

WINNERS: Tauranga's Otumoetai Intermediate School received the supreme award. L-R: Principal Henk Popping, Adam Chatwin, 13, Akira McTavish-Huriwai, 12, and board chairman Mark Barratt. Photo: CAMERON BURNELL/Fairfax NZ

Principal Henk Popping attended the awards along with school student representatives as one of 14 finalists.

The school was a finalist in three categories - Excellence in Engaging, Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and Excellence in Governing.

In awarding the school the supreme award judges said the school showed a planned approach to change the lives of every student in the two years they attend.

'Their highly effective systems for teacher learning drive up achievement. Their students develop the competencies required to be truly in charge of their own learning.”

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the winners of the awards demonstrate the amazing work being done to give young New Zealanders better educational outcomes and more promising futures.

Hekia says the awards are an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and share the highly effective and innovative practice happening across the education system.

"These awards show the wonderful work being done every day by teachers, principals, trustees, education leaders and communities in classrooms and centres around the country.

"The focus is on groups, teams and partnerships and that's exactly the kind of collaboration we need to help kids do better. It's been fantastic to hear how the finalists have worked together to raise the achievement of our children and young people.

"I want to congratulate our winners, and to acknowledge the other 147 groups who submitted entries. They represent the commitment, dedication, energy, imagination, talents and skills of people, who every day are making a difference for Kiwi kids.”

A panel of education experts reviewed the entries and recommended the finalists across the five categories. Members of the judging panel then visited each of the finalists in order to determine the winning entries, as well as a supreme winner.

"We have had the time and expertise of people of the highest calibre, and I want to thank them for the very substantial and detailed work they have done. They have had a very high standard of entries to decide between,” says Hekia.

The winners of the 2014 Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards are:

Supreme prize – Otumoetai Intermediate School (Tauranga)

Excellence in Leading – Makoura College staff, whanau and Board of Trustees (Masterton)

Excellence in Teaching and Learning – Kerikeri High School and Otumoetai Intermediate School

Excellence in Governing – Nōku Te Ao" (Christchurch)

Excellence in Engaging – St Thomas of Canterbury College - Social Enterprise Hub

2014 Educational Focus Prize – Learner-led pathways – Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSTA) (Nelson)