Official documents show the Ministry of Education had reservations about two of the five charter schools announced by the Government last week.
They also show a sixth school narrowly missed the cut to become one of the fully publicly-funded private schools the Government is calling partnership schools.
The Government received 35 applications for charter schools and from a shortlist of 13 the Partnership School Authorisation Board recommended six enter negotiations.
The ministry said one of the applicants, Villa Education Trust, has no experience in its intended South Auckland location, but its bid was strong enough to enter negotiations.
It said another applicant needed more time to develop its plan for a school in Whangaruru in Northland.
The Government said the Whangaruru bid should enter negotiations anyway.
However, it accepted ministry advice to turn down private West Auckland school Nga Kakano, as it did not add any value to its current work.
