Welcome from ERO
Kia ora,
Our first Sharing the Mahi newsletter for 2022 coincides with some very real challenges we are all navigating. I want to acknowledge all you are doing to keep the wellbeing of tamariki and whānau central to your decision making as you continue to provide quality learning for all.
ERO has been gifted the name ‘Te Ara Huarau’ for our new approach to school evaluation. We look forward to sharing the narrative that captures the concept of Te Ara Huarau with you soon.
We are honouring this gift and using the name Te Ara Huarau from this point on when referring to our new approach to school evaluation. Our values continue to be an integral part of the approach.
For schools who have recently come into Te Ara Huarau, welcome! It’s great to have you onboard and we look forward to working alongside you to ensure equity and excellent outcomes for all learners.
In my previous newsletter I shared the commitment ERO made early in the process that your feedback would be welcomed and ERO would be responsive. ERO has received feedback from sector groups, principal reference groups, our evaluation partners, and through external evaluation. Your feedback continues to matter. Overwhelmingly schools are telling us the partnership approach and the focus on the school’s continuous improvement journey are highly valued.
As part of that feedback School leaders said that they would like to see more tools to support evaluative dialogue, and of course, have wanted to know ERO’s plans for public reporting. I am now able to update you on some improvements we have made to Te Ara Huarau as a result.
Ngā mihi
Jane Lee
Deputy Chief Executive
Review and Improvement
Te Ara Huarau Update
ERO is introducing three improvements and your Evaluation Partner is looking forward to discussing these with you.
The model has been simplified, with the five phases reduced to three to better align with a school’s own improvement journey
ERO is trialing a School Improvement Framework. The framework draws together ERO evaluation indicators and the expectations for schools in terms of outcomes for learners in the Education and Training Act. In time, the NELPs will also be incorporated. ERO’s aim is to provide one tool for use throughout a school’s evaluation cycle. The framework is designed to identify and sharpen the focus for improvement and support the monitoring of progress and growth overtime. ERO is seeking feedback on the framework throughout 2022.
Public reporting has been decided, and will comprise:
A one-off profile report
As each school transitions to Te Ara Huarau. Your evaluation partner will talk with you about what this entails, and for schools already transitioned, how the work you have already completed together will contribute to this report. The profile report will focus on the strategic goals you have in place to improve learner outcomes and will form the baseline for future reporting
Te Ara Huarau Report
A Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report every three years.
This report will include information about your school’s improvement journey towards equity and excellence in outcomes for all learners, your school’s focus for improvement, and what has been achieved for learners
Board Assurance Reporting
A Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report about a school’s attestation to meeting those requirements.
Hostel and Provision for International Students reports will be published alongside where applicable.
This reporting will also be three-yearly. Thank you to those who have already completed a Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report.
A new Regional Director for Te Tai Raki
ERO is thrilled to welcome Filivaifale Jason Swann as our new Regional Director for Te Tai Raki (Auckland and Northland).
Jason will be at the forefront of our commitment to putting the child at the heart of everything we do, working with our team of evaluators and with you all to further embed the New Schools Operating model launched in 2021 across Te Tai Raki.
For some, Jason will require little introduction having held a prominent role in the sector. Most recently Jason has been the Principal at Otahuhu Primary. Jason is well known for focusing his attention on the needs of learners, educators and the community.
Responsiveness to Current Context
ERO has an accountability role to review and report on the quality of education provision. Under the current Covid Protection Framework, ERO is engaging with schools. We are working to do this as thoughtfully and as sensitively as we can. However, the nature of this engagement is changing as public health and Covid response measures change. We are regularly reviewing our approach. For up-to-date information please see our website or talk with your evaluation partner.
Partnership profile
Have you seen our partnership profiles? These profiles give insights in to our schools, kura and leaders are embracing Te Ara Huarau. We have shared two profiles below, and look forward to capturing more of your stories in 2022.
Hear about one schools approach to student involvement in evaluation in this partnership profile with Mercury Bay Area school.
"Students have a lot more voice, and ability to change how their education goes.."
Click the image to go to the video
Primary school perspective
Hear from the Principal of Melville Primary School, as they discuss their feelings about Te Huarau, and the partnership aspects it brings.
"When the new model came out, I was so excited to see that a key part of that was building trusting relationships.. "
Click the image to go to the video
Sharing the mahi
At ERO, we look forward to working with you. We want to ensure that we are effective partners, adding value to each school’s improvement journey.
We share an obligation to put the learner at the centre, to equity and excellence in outcomes for all learners, and an understanding that quality education is a right for every New Zealand learner.
We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with you so that together, we can make a positive difference for all learners. We thank you for your commitment to supporting the successful implementation of this new approach.