The Minister of Education has outlined the Government’s priorities for education. These are to establish strong foundations for literacy and numeracy, develop the skills that young New Zealanders need to secure the country’s future economic and social success, and provide better and more valued services to all.
The Education Review Office will advance the Government’s priorities through evaluations of the quality of education and care in schools and early childhood services, and of the implementation of government education priorities. ERO’s reports are used to make good decisions and choices by parents, teachers, managers, trustees and others at the individual school and early childhood service level. They will inform government policy makers at a national level and help change the national debate about key educational issues. In this way ERO’s evaluations contribute to the Government’s commitment to a world-class education system for the 21st century.
Much has been happening in ERO over the past few years: a new structure, a new operating model, and changes to our review methodology.
In 2011 we will see more change: ongoing work in terms of our revised approach to reviewing schools; work that will begin on reviewing our approach to the evaluation of early childhood services; work on our Māori-medium methodologies; property changes; an on-going focus on working smarter and better for less; several important business initiatives; and further moves to a more customer-focused public service.
All of these initiatives will support our overall strategic approach. Organisations are strongest when they employ cycles of venturing, learning, and visioning as part and parcel of how strategy is approached.
A good example of visioning is our commitment to improving Māori achievement. One of ERO’s criteria for high-performance in a school is that Māori learners are actively engaged in their learning, are progressing well and succeeding as Māori. ERO will not regard a school as high performing if it cannot show that it is improving the achievement of its Māori students.
This Statement of Intent outlines the role of the Education Review Office and the contribution it makes to raising levels of educational achievement in New Zealand. It is consistent with the Government’s priorities for education, and demonstrates ERO’s commitment to these.
Graham Stoop
Chief Review Officer
Education Review Office
May 2011