83-95 Malfroy Road, Rotorua
View on mapThis Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and Rotorua Intermediate working in Te Ara Huarau, an improvement evaluation approach used in most English Medium State and State Integrated Schools. For more information about Te Ara Huarau see ERO’s website. www.ero.govt.nz
Rotorua Intermediate is located in the city of Rotorua and provides education for students in Years 7 and 8. The school maintains a stable roll and staff and are proud of their partnership with the wider school community. Wellbeing of students is a key focus of the school kaupapa, with student hauora being supported through the dedicated Mauri Ora team. The school prioritises providing a culturally responsive environment that is closely aligned to Ngāti Whakauetanga.
Rotorua Intermediate’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:
continue strengthening collective and responsive teaching and learning practices to maximise opportunity for outcomes of equity and excellence for all learners
provide professional learning opportunities for teachers that are needs-based and focused on improving outcomes for learners
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Rotorua Intermediate’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well school-wide structures of collective responsibility and high expectations for teaching and learning impact equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
the positive and significant difference it will make for a large number of learners
the opportunity it provides to strengthen and embed collective responsibility and high expectations for the progress, achievement and wellbeing of all learners
to ensure progress of strategic goals is effectively monitored and evaluated to inform ongoing improvement.
The school expects to see enhanced organisational structures, processes and practices for collectively monitoring and responding to learner needs, resulting in increasingly excellent and equitable outcomes for all learners.
The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to enhance schoolwide structures for collective responsibility and high expectations for valued outcomes for all learners:
A detailed plan that includes clear actions and indicators of success.
School leaders prioritise and support staff and student wellbeing.
Collaborative leadership and staff who understand the need for, and are committed to, improving outcomes for all learners.
Culturally responsive pedagogy and environments that support learner identity and wellbeing.
Established systems and processes for distributed leadership that enhance quality teaching and learning.
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
high expectations for achieving valued and equitable outcomes for all learners
embedding processes for robust monitoring and evaluation of learner outcomes to respond effectively to learner needs
ongoing professional mentoring to support and strengthen leadership influence of Whānau and Ako leaders.
ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. ERO will support the school in reporting their progress to the community. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report and is due within three years. 
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
29 July 2022
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
As of September 2021, the Rotorua Intermediate Board of Trustees has attested to the following regulatory and legislative requirements:
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For further information please contact Rotorua Intermediate Board of Trustees.
The next Board of Trustees assurance that it is meeting regulatory and legislative requirements will be reported, along with the Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report, within three years.
Information on ERO’s role and process in this review can be found on the Education Review Office website.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
29 July 2022
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
Students at Rotorua Intermediate benefit from a broad, responsive curriculum and inclusive school culture that promotes their engagement and success. Students engage and progress well in carefully designed programmes. Respectful and reciprocal relationships among staff and students foster settled, purposeful classrooms where students benefit from highly effective teaching and learning practices.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Rotorua Intermediate is a large urban school that serves the local community and surrounding districts. Since the last ERO review in 2013 the roll has grown to 706 students in Years 7 and 8. Approximately 70% percent of these students are of Māori descent and a significant proportion affiliate to Te Arawa.
Students have the opportunity to learn through the medium of te reo Māori in the bilingual class. In addition, the school provides choices of specialist programmes such as the innovative learning environment, digital, boys, girls, diligence, extension classes and accelerated learning groups (ALG).
Since the last ERO review, the leadership and organisation of the school has been reviewed and restructured. The roles and responsibilities of middle leaders have been reviewed and there have been strategic appointments of new staff to these positions. The school structure is based around Whānau, Ako and Manaakitanga groups that collaborate together to achieve success for all learners.
In consultation with iwi the school has reviewed and reaffirmed the school’s traditional vision and values. Whānau groups are named after significant Te Arawa leaders Hurungaterangi, Tunohopu, Te Roro o Te Rangi, Taeotu Rangiiwaho and Pukaki and their leadership qualities are reflected in the school’s expectations for their students. New student assessment tools have been introduced and has strengthened teachers' focus on targeted professional learning and development for at risk learners.
The school is well supported by an experienced board of trustees who are committed to improving student learning outcomes. Many parents and whānau have long standing connections with the school and students benefit from positive and varied learning experiences. Recent refurbishments in many classrooms, and an increase in the use of digital technologies, are enhancing learning opportunities for students.
The school uses achievement information to effectively promote student engagement, progress and achievement. In 2015, senior and middle school leaders strengthened the way data is shared, discussed and used to reflect on practice, and better meet the learning needs of students.
School leaders and teachers gather, collate and analyse good quality school-wide assessment information, including data from contributing schools. This data is used to:
Moving forward the school is to focus on and monitor the rates of student progress, and use this information to assist teachers to plan to meet the identified needs of individual students, especially those at risk of poor educational outcomes.
The 2015 student achievement data shows a significant proportion of children Year 7 and 8 are below National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics. In both year groups there are cohorts of students that are over represented in the below category. These students generally are Māori and boys. Data gathered in June 2016 indicates that a good many of these children made better than expected progress in reading, writing and mathematics, and are on track to meet the National Standards by the end of the year. The school has responded to this achievement information by setting relevant targets, close monitoring and implementing accelerated learning groups (ALG) in literacy and mathematics. These interventions are well organised by the Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who closely monitors the wellbeing and achievements of students with high needs and those at risk of poor educational outcomes.
The growing number of Pacific students group has similar achievement patterns to other groups of students in the school. This group also has opportunities to participate in cultural events and experiences. The school continues to seek more effective ways to engage these families in the life of the school.
Students experience a rich, coherent and well-designed curriculum that provides them with meaningful choices and pathways for learning. The curriculum is underpinned by the values of manaakitanga, whānaungatanga and ako, (respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for your actions). These values are well known by teachers, students and whānau. They are integrated into student expectations for learning and behaviour and are contributing to a settled and positive school culture. Success is recognised and celebrated through the Manaakitanga system, which acknowledges student effort, participation and leadership.
School leaders are continually reviewing the school’s curriculum and working effectively with teachers to deliver a responsive curriculum that promotes:
Senior leaders have initiated comprehensive professional development using internal and external expertise and knowledge. Staff have also visited other schools, attended workshops and conferences, and engaged in ongoing professional discussions. In addition, the appraisal process has been strengthened through evidence-based observations with specific feedback to teachers. These practices have contributed to the development of shared understandings and increased consistency in the quality of teaching and learning across the school.
Respectful and reciprocal relationships between teachers and students are a feature of the school. Teachers are responsive to students and set high expectations for learning and behaviour. School leaders responsible for pastoral care effectively coordinate the school’s strategic goal to provide a positive physical, emotional and social environment. Students are encouraged to work cooperatively, be positive role models, and develop positive citizenship skills.
School leaders have proactively focused and strengthened the school’s partnership with Ngati Whakaue. Through these advisory groups strong partnerships have developed and meaningful consultation has resulted in significant reorganisation of school operations.
The school continues to provide a range of opportunities for Māori students to succeed and excel in their learning. The proportion of Māori students achieving at and above National Standards in 2015 in reading, writing and mathematics was below that of other students in the school. Leaders carefully track and monitor the progress and achievement of Māori students and provide appropriate intervention, extension and support. Leaders are highly committed to making a difference for Māori learners and this is evidenced by improving levels of achievement over time.
Students celebrate their learning with parents and whānau regularly. Māori student's culture and heritage is acknowledged and affirmed through activities such as pōwhiri, kapa haka and knowledge and pepeha. Māori students have a forum, Kahurangatahi, where they discuss and share their views and aspirations to leaders.
Guidance of a lead teacher and recent teacher professional development have focused on building teacher knowledge, confidence and competence in accelerating the learning of Māori students. School leaders acknowledge the need to continue to imbed a Māori dimension into classroom programmes.
The following aspects of school operations and practices contribute to Rotorua Intermediate being well placed to sustain and improve its performance because:
School leaders continue to provide high levels of visionary and innovative leadership that promotes a strong sense of ownership of the school’s purpose and direction for ongoing improvement. They provide effective leadership for staff, students and the community with a strong focus on improving teacher practice.
The board of trustees, in collaboration with iwi and community, has developed a focused and strategic approach to accelerating the achievement of all students at risk of not achieving.
There are high levels of student engagement and acceleration of progress for students who enter the school achieving below expected levels.
There is a school-wide culture of rigorous self review and critical reflection, which contributes effectively to sustaining the school’s positive performance and continuous improvement.
The school enjoys high levels of support, commitment and endorsement from within the school community.
All reasonable steps have been taken to provide a safe and inclusive environment.
Before the review, the board of trustees and principal of the school completed the ERO Board Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists. In these documents they attested that they had taken all reasonable steps to meet their legislative obligations related to:
During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student achievement:
Students at Rotorua Intermediate benefit from a broad, responsive curriculum and inclusive school culture that promotes their engagement and success. Students engage and progress well in carefully designed programmes. Respectful and reciprocal relationships among staff and students foster settled, purposeful classrooms where students benefit from highly effective teaching and learning practices.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Lynda Pura-Watson
Deputy Chief Review Officer
20 December 2016
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Location |
Rotorua |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
1933 |
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School type |
Intermediate (Years 7 to 8) |
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School roll |
706 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 54% Girls 46% |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori Pākehā Pacifica Asian |
68% 22% 5% 5% |
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Special Features |
Bilingual Unit |
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Review team on site |
October 2016 |
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Date of this report |
20 December 2016 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review Education Review |
June 2013 December 2009 |
Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa
The Child – the Heart of the Matter