Sommerville School

Education institution number:
1484
School type:
Special School
School gender:
Co-Educational
Definition:
School for pupils with intellectual impairments
Total roll:
340
Telephone:
Address:

80A Tripoli Road, Panmure, Auckland

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Sommerville School - 04/10/2017

Summary

Sommerville School provides education and care for children with complex social, physical and educational needs. It caters for students from Year 1 and until they turn 21 years old. At the time of the ERO evaluation there were 13 percent Māori learners, 29 percent Pākehā, 19 percent of Pacific heritage and 33 percent Asian students.

Beyond the base school there are 15 satellite classes hosted by nine local schools including two at the adjacent Tamaki Primary School. The school also operates an outreach programme for many mainstream students and Te Hapori, the transition unit for senior students. Sommerville School is a member of the Manaiakalani Community of Learning|Kāhui Ako (CoL).

Since the 2013 ERO evaluation there have been no changes in the leadership team and few changes in the board of trustees. The school has continued to grow and there has been a focus on distributing leadership roles and extending connections with the school community. There have been several property improvements at satellite sites, and a major redevelopment of the base school is planned.

How well is the school achieving equitable outcomes for all children?

Sommerville School has very effective strategies to achieve equitable outcomes for all students. School leadership is underpinned by expectations of equity and excellence.

Students’ progress is closely monitored. The school uses a range of standardised assessment tools, which are linked to The New Zealand Curriculum(NZC), to track this progress. An electronic programme records and collates students’ achievement of P Levels (Performance scale for students with special needs). Leaders analyse and evaluate these data to ascertain overall achievement in literacy and mathematics, and to ensure students’ learning aligns well with their IEP (Individual Education Plan) goals.

Learners are achieving excellent educational outcomes. School performance has been sustained over time through well-focused, embedded processes and practices. This school has successfully addressed in-school disparity in educational outcomes.

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in four-to-five years.

Equity and excellence

How effectively does this school respond to Māori and other children whose learning and achievement need acceleration?

The school is responding well to students’ learning needs. As a school catering for students with special needs, the achievement of all learners requires acceleration. All students have IEPs and the school is developing a four-step approach to assess achievement of target action goals within these plans.

The individual nature of education plans is notably responsive to Māori learners and whānau. Personal consultation, through IEP meetings and milestone reviews, enables whānau to express aspirations, prioritise valued outcomes and co-construct goals for their children.

Leaders have gathered considerable data about students’ achievement in reading, writing, mathematics and communication goals. Between 40 and 60 percent of students in most groups are achieving steps within P Levels at or above the expected rate in the three curriculum areas. A variety of barriers that have impeded achievement have been identified for other students.

School conditions supporting equity and excellence

What school processes are effective in enabling achievement of equity and excellence?

The school has many effective processes, services and strategies to support learners to achieve their potential. Students learn in caring, and supportive learning environments. Teachers know them well and respond individually to their different capabilities and needs.

The board and leadership team are committed to building capacity and capability throughout the school. They have developed a Leaders of Learning team of experienced teachers to mentor others, and have distributed curriculum leadership roles to promote high quality curriculum delivery.

Teachers have regular opportunities for professional learning. This includes participation in focus groups where they scrutinise their knowledge and practices in relation to specific topics or curriculum areas. Learners benefit from this initiative that supports teachers to strive for high quality outcomes.

The school provides wrap-around support for learners and their families. Examples of specialised support include:

  • regular assessment and guidance from the team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech language therapists

  • advice and guidance from the behaviour support team

  • access to a paediatrician through on-site hospital clinics

  • personal support for families when needed by providing transport, guidance when dealing with agencies, and information in relation to the medical wellbeing of students.

In addition, the Te Hapori transition unit provides very good opportunities for the oldest students to apply the skills and knowledge they have learnt as they prepare for life in the community. As well as supporting students’ increasing independence, the unit finds work experience for those who are capable, and engenders confidence in all to strive for personal goals.

The board and leadership team work collaboratively in a culture of trust and cooperation. They have established a clear strategic direction for the school and are committed to professional learning for themselves. The board maintains a strong financial position which ensures the school is well resourced and provides for the ongoing professional learning that is readily available for all staff. Leaders recognise the need to further develop ways of documenting their strategic evaluations to measure the effectiveness and impact of their work.

Teacher aides are an integral and valued part of students’ learning. As a team, adults use humour well to defuse difficult behaviours, maintain positive environments and encourage individual effort.

Sustainable development for equity and excellence

What further developments are needed in school processes to achieve equity and excellence?

School processes promote equitable opportunities and outcomes for all learners effectively through coherent and sustainable strategic thinking. Internal evaluation processes are used well to identify and respond to development priorities.

Board assurance on legal requirements

Before the review, the board 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 the following:

  • board administration

  • curriculum

  • management of health, safety and welfare

  • personnel management

  • asset management.

During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student safety and wellbeing:

  • emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)

  • physical safety of students

  • teacher registration and certification

  • processes for appointing staff

  • stand down, suspension, expulsion and exclusion of students

  • attendance

  • school policies in relation to meeting the requirements of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014.

Going forward

How well placed is the school to accelerate the achievement of all children who need it?

Learners are achieving excellent educational outcomes. School performance has been sustained over time through well-focused, embedded processes and practices. This school has successfully addressed in-school disparity in educational outcomes.

Agreed next steps are:

  • developing the documentation of strategic evaluations to include analyses of the effectiveness and impact of processes on learners’ outcomes

  • ensuring that appraisal evidence meets the Education Council new requirements

  • extending the access to the digital portal for all families

  • continuing to explore ways to extend the school’s bicultural journey.

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in four-to-five years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer NorthernTe Tai Raki - Northern Region

4 October 2017

About the school

Location

Panmure, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

1484

School type

Special school

School roll

249

Gender composition

Boys 67% Girls 33%

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Asian
Pacific
other

13%
29%
33%
19%
6%

Provision of Māori medium education

No

Review team on site

August 2017

Date of this report

4 October 2017

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review
Education Review
Education Review

April 2007
May 2013
June 2010

Sommerville School - 22/05/2013

1 Context

What are the important features of this school that have an impact on student learning?

Sommerville Special School promotes a vision for education that is underpinned by respect for students with moderate to profound special needs. Students, their parents and families benefit from positive relationships and a strong focus on student learning. The school’s commitment to promoting the school as turangawaewae, a place for all to stand tall, helps build a strong sense of belonging for students and their whānau. Partnerships with whānau and the wider business and professional communities are central to the school’s continued success.

The school caters for students from five to twenty-one years of age. Students receive high quality education and care within age appropriate learning areas at the base school in Panmure, and also within thirteen satellite classes across eight schools in the East Auckland area.

The principal, senior leaders, many teachers and support staff have been at the school for a number of years. This stable and highly experienced group of professionals is a key feature in improving teaching and learning programmes and promoting student learning and success. Staff stability also promotes parent confidence in and respect for the school.

2 Learning

How well does this school use achievement information to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement?

Senior leaders and teachers use student achievement information very well to plan for students’ individual learning and care needs. They respect students as capable, competent learners and have high expectations for them to make good progress and achieve. Teachers work in partnership with parents to regularly review and redesign students’ individual educational plans (IEPs). This approach allows teachers and parents to set meaningful goals for students, provide clearly focused support and promote student engagement, progress and achievement.

Teachers are increasingly using achievement information to support students to understand and monitor their own learning. The information is also used to inform parents about their child’s progress and successes. Student successes are celebrated regularly and in many different ways within the school, and with parents, whānau and the wider community.

Leaders and teachers have created assessment tools that appropriately measure student progress in literacy, numeracy and the key competencies from The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). The information leaders gather allows them to set targets and make strategic decisions to strengthen teaching practice. The school has a useful system that allows leaders to monitor changes in teacher practice. The principal and leaders recognise that providing a deeper evaluation of this information would help them show more clearly the impact of teacher professional learning and development (PLD).

3 Curriculum

How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote and support student learning?

The school’s curriculum very effectively promotes and supports student learning. School leaders have designed a curriculum that is based on the NZC, is underpinned by research and incorporates international models. The school’s curriculum provides learning opportunities and experiences that are meaningful for students in their unique contexts. Teachers plan learning programmes that are highly effective in supporting students to be increasingly independent and self-managing at school and at home.

Teachers, specialists and teacher aides are valued as trusted professionals. They are highly skilled and work collaboratively to enhance students’ learning and wellbeing, and to provide attractive and appropriately resourced learning environments. Together they skilfully manage students’ learning and care needs, and create a calm and settled atmosphere. School leaders provide very good support for teachers in their practice and promote leadership opportunities for them within the school.

Leaders have high expectations for teachers to be reflective and to improve outcomes for students. Teachers are supported with ongoing PLD and a robust appraisal system that includes regular teaching observation and professional discussion. School leaders identify a number of clear and appropriate next steps for future curriculum development.

The school’s itinerant teachers provide useful support for other local schools to become more successfully inclusive. Effective liaison with other agencies helps to provide a range of support to ensure students’ confident engagement in learning.

How effectively does the school promote educational success for Māori, as Māori?

The school effectively promotes Māori students’ language, culture and identity. Teachers and staff value and use te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in natural ways throughout the learning day. Teachers are becoming increasingly familiar with Tātaiako: Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners, a Ministry of Education strategy to promote outcomes for Maori learners. Teachers are continuing to strengthen their understanding of culturally responsive approaches for leading, teaching and learning.

4 Sustainable Performance

How well placed is the school to sustain and improve its performance?

The school is very well placed to sustain and improve its performance. The principal’s dedication to special education, combined with her strategic approach to leadership, ensures that the school’s vision is promoted within the school and the wider community. The leadership team work collaboratively to maintain high standards and promote good practices throughout the school. The supportive and caring school culture enables teachers to perform at a high level. As a result, students benefit from a committed and capable teaching team.

Trustees bring a variety of expertise to their governance roles. They are improvement-focused, make good strategic decisions and are strong advocates for students and parents. The board provides good financial management and appropriately resources teaching and learning and the leadership team. The board receives good information about school operations, curriculum development and teaching and learning initiatives.

The board has continued to manage ongoing challenges related to property and facilities at the base school. Trustees are now looking forward to managing significant property developments planned over the next few years. These developments are designed to create more appropriate and purpose-built facilities for students with high levels of special needs.

Trustees, the principal and ERO agree that to further sustain and improve current good practices, it would be useful for the board to:

  • access external support to further strengthen trustees’ understanding and use of self review
  • promote bicultural perspectives in board practices and operations.

Board assurance on legal requirements

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:

  • board administration
  • curriculum
  • management of health, safety and welfare
  • personnel management
  • financial management
  • asset management.

During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student achievement:

  • emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
  • physical safety of students
  • teacher registration
  • processes for appointing staff
  • stand-downs, suspensions, expulsions and exclusions
  • attendance.

When is ERO likely to review the school again?

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in four-to-five years.

Dale Bailey

National Manager Review Services Northern Region

22 May 2013

About the School

Location

Panmure, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

1484

School type

Special School

School roll

203

Gender composition

Boys 68% Girls 32%

Ethnic composition

NZ European/Pākehā

Māori

Chinese

Indian

Samoan

Tongan

Cook Island Māori

Niue

African

Middle Eastern

Other

35%

11%

11%

7%

7%

5%

3%

2%

2%

1%

16%

Special Features

Satellite classes at: Anchorage Park School, Edgewater College, Glendowie Primary School, Howick Intermediate School, Owairoa Primary School, Riverhills School, Sylvia Park School

Review team on site

March 2013

Date of this report

22 May 2013

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

Education Review

Education Review

June 2010

April 2007

August 2003