Pekapekarau School

Pekerau School

Findings

Pekerau School has made sufficient progress in relation to the key next steps identified in ERO’s 2018 report. The school will transition into ERO’s Evaluation for Improvement approach.

1 Background and Context

What is the background and context for this school’s review?

Pekerau School is located in Te Awamutu. It caters for students in years 1-to-6. Of the current roll of 221, over half identify as Māori. Since the 2018 ERO report, the school has had ongoing support from a Ministry of Education Student Achievement Facilitator (SAF). The principal, who was appointed in 2018, resigned in late 2020. The school is in the process of seeking a new principal.

2 Review and Development

How effectively is the school addressing its priorities for review and development?

Priorities identified for review and development

The 2018 ERO report identified the following areas for review and improvement:

  • strengthening aspects of internal evaluation including: strategically monitoring and reporting on rates of student progress over time; reviewing and implementing annual targets that focus on all students whose learning needs acceleration; strategically monitoring and reporting on students’ rates of progress over time to inform school improvement
  • reviewing and implementing behaviour management practices to ensure consistency across the school
  • developing clear school-wide expectations and guidelines to improve teaching practice with a particular emphasis on deliberate acts of teaching to accelerate learning and reduce disparity for Māori students and boys
  • strengthening aspects of stewardship including policy review, roles and responsibilities in relation to governance and management and consultation to inform school planning and direction.
Progress
Strengthening internal evaluation including strategically monitoring and reporting on rates of student progress over time

Board targets in the 2021 – 2023 Charter focus on all students whose progress needs acceleration. The principal reports on these targets four times a year. Students who are just below where they should be, and do not require extra interventions, are classified as target students and monitored closely by teachers. This monitoring focuses teachers on those students whose learning is at risk and their accelerated progress, in relation to curriculum expectations.

Data for the end of 2020 shows significant improvement for many groups of students. Disparity for Māori students has decreased in all areas since 2019. The school is able to show that although disparity for boys remains in reading, this has reduced since 2019. There is no disparity for boys in mathematics. Disparity for boys in writing has increased. During 2020, 56% of all students who were below or well below curriculum expectations made accelerated progress in reading; 39% made accelerated progress in writing; and 58% in mathematics.

Other aspects of internal evaluation are developing. Leaders use a researched internal evaluation model to improve the quality of their planning and decision making across a range of school operation. They are beginning to use student progress and achievement data more intentionally to evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions. Programmes are continually reviewed and refined as leaders gain new understandings about student needs.

Reviewing and implementing behaviour management practices to ensure consistency across the school

Students participate and learn in a caring and inclusive learning environment. The behaviour management system, implemented in 2019, is now well embedded and used consistently throughout the school. The school values are well promoted through a school-wide incentive system. Relationships between teachers and students are warm and supportive. Comprehensive systems in place support students with social and pastoral needs.

Developing clear school-wide expectations and guidelines to improve teaching practice with a particular emphasis on deliberate acts of teaching to accelerate learning and reduce disparity for Māori students and boys

Expectations for teacher practice are clear and consistent and well documented in most areas. A Curriculum Achievement Plan (CAP) has been developed. It sets out school expectations for achievement in relation to The New Zealand Curriculum. A school-wide planning template, used by all syndicates, helps teachers identify the learning needs of groups and individuals and track and evaluate progress.

Clear expectations about assessment and reporting are documented. School leaders are continuing to collaboratively develop and document expectations with teachers about what high quality literacy and mathematics programmes should look like at Pekerau School. Teachers are supported to meet these expectations.

Teachers are well supported to improve their practice. Regular professional learning groups have been strengthened to establish teaching strategies that are effective across all subjects. Leaders and teachers are committed to trialling and implementing new or innovative, evidence-based approaches that focus on raising student achievement.

A system has been established to more effectively engage parents as partners in their children’s learning. Students set goals that are specific and well aligned to the work they do in class. These goals are revisited and reviewed regularly.

Leaders and teachers continue to build a culturally responsive curriculum that promotes a sense of belonging for Māori students and supports them to succeed as Māori. Te reo and tikanga Māori are more visible in the school. The use of karakia and pepehā is normal practice in staff meetings and classrooms. Many teachers are actively building their capacity to teach te reo Māori. Three classrooms use te reo Māori and meet Ministry of Education guidelines for Māori partial immersion funding Level 4. Leaders and teachers are committed to providing opportunities for all students to visit local marae. These visits have been highly successful events for both students and parents to build community and cross-cultural understanding.

Strengthening aspects of stewardship including policy review, roles and responsibilities in relation to governance and management and consultation to inform school planning and direction

Stewardship of the school requires strengthening. Extensive external support has been provided to the board of trustees by New Zealand School Trustees Association. The relationship between the board chair and acting principal is supportive and promotes positive outcomes for students. There is an urgent need for a more cohesive approach by all trustees to their roles and responsibilities to support the school’s approach to improving outcomes for students.

Key next steps

Continued improvement is needed in the following areas:

  • internal evaluation, so that it is fully embedded and integrated across all areas of school operation
  • support for teachers to fully embed expectations particularly in the use of learning progressions
  • a structured and sequential oral language programme to support students’ literacy learning
  • local curriculum development, with an emphasis on a sequential approach to local iwi history
  • trustees’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

3 Sustainable performance and self review

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

Pekerau School is better placed to sustain and continue to improve and review its performance. Leaders and teachers have established a foundation of values, leadership, tone, climate and relationships likely to sustain and improve student learning - engagement, progress and achievement. They have built the capability to sustain and continue to improve student achievement. Capacity has been developed to reflect, plan, act and report to the school’s community using evidence, that includes student achievement information from self-review.

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

4 Recommendations

Recommendations, including any to other agencies for ongoing or additional support.

ERO recommends that the Secretary for Education consider an intervention under section 171 of the Education and Training Act 2020 in order to ensure:

  • relationships between trustees and professional leaders are based on trust, integrity and openness and there is clarity about roles and responsibilities in the interests of improving outcomes for students.

Conclusion

Pekerau School has made sufficient progress in relation to the key next steps identified in ERO’s 2018 report. The school will transition into ERO’s Evaluation for Improvement approach.

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region - Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

28 May 2021

About the school

The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement.

Pekerau School - 30/08/2018

School Context

Pekerau School is located in the northern outskirts of Te Awamutu. It provides education for students in Years 1 to 6. The school roll of 293 students includes 141 Māori students. There is a very small number of children who come from a range of other diverse cultures.

The school’s vision is ‘Aspiring Attitudes, Inspiring Actions’.

The school’s culture is based on the core virtues of:

  • turangawaewae/belonging

  • hiranga/excellence

  • kotahitanga/unity

  • mana/pride

  • ngākau/integrity

  • manaaki/respect

  • wairua/spirit.

The school’s strategic goals focus on improving student learning, particularly for Māori and Pacific students and those with special education needs. Goals are also prioritised for supporting future focused environments and curriculum, digital learning and strengthening home and school partnerships.

Leaders and teachers regularly report to the board school-wide information about outcomes for students in the following areas:

  • reading, writing and mathematics.

Since the previous review in 2015, there have been multiple changes to the teaching, support staff and leadership teams. There have been two new principals, two emergency staffing principals and numerous changes to senior and team leadership positions. A very small number of staff remain from the time of the last ERO review. The school has established an enrolment zone and the overall roll has decreased over time. The school is still working on many areas identified in the last ERO report.

Evaluation Findings

1 Equity and excellence – achievement of valued outcomes for students

1.1 How well is the school achieving equitable and excellent outcomes for all its students?

The school is not achieving equitable and excellent outcomes for all of its students. The school’s achievement data from 2015 to 2017 show a large majority of students achieving at or above expected levels in reading, writing and mathematics. Overall levels of achievement have declined in reading and mathematics over the past three years. There is significant disparity in achievement for Māori students in relation to their Pākehā peers in all areas. This pattern of disparity for Māori has increased over time. Girls are achieving at higher levels than boys in literacy. Girls’ achievement has decreased significantly in mathematics and boys are now performing better than girls. School data shows that children with special needs make appropriate progress in relation to their individual goals.

1.2 How well is the school accelerating learning for those Māori and other students who need this?

The school is not accelerating learning for those Māori and other students who need this. The school’s data shows a small number of Māori and other at-risk students made accelerated progress in writing as a result of targeted intervention. Leaders and teachers identify at-risk students, however leaders are yet to analyse school-wide data to show rates of progress and acceleration for these students.

2 School conditions for equity and excellence – processes and practices

2.1 What school processes and practices are effective in enabling achievement of equity and excellence, and acceleration of learning?

The new leadership team is working collaboratively. They are focused on improving engagement and learning for students. A comprehensive performance management system has been established. This system is supporting teachers’ inquiry, and targeting at-risk students’ progress and achievement.

Students are actively involved in a range of meaningful classroom learning activities. There are positive and affirming relationships between teachers and students. Prior knowledge is used to encourage students thinking and problem solving. Target students are identified based on assessment information and grouped according to learning needs.

The curriculum provides a wide range of learning experiences for students. Cultural, sporting, camps and events enrich learning for students. There are many opportunities for senior students to develop leadership skills. School values are well known and used to guide positive interactions and relationships. Students with additional learning needs are well identified and provisions are in place to support their learning.

2.2 What further developments are needed in school processes and practices for achievement of equity and excellence, and acceleration of learning?

Internal evaluation requires strengthening.

ERO and leaders agree that priority should be given to:

  • reviewing and implementing annual targets that focus on all students whose learning needs acceleration

  • strategically monitoring and reporting on students rates of progress over time to inform school improvement

  • inquiring into the effectiveness of programmes and initiatives to accelerate learning

  • reviewing and implementing behaviour management practices to ensure consistency across the school.

There is a need to develop clear school-wide expectations and guidelines to improve teaching practice.

Leaders and teachers need to implement and embed systems and practices for:

  • planning and assessment

  • teachers and students use of learning progressions

  • deliberate acts of teaching to accelerate learning and reduce disparity for Māori students and boys.

Aspects of stewardship require urgent attention.

The board needs to:

  • undertake comprehensive policy review to ensure it meets all areas of compliance and legislation

  • develop a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities in relation to governance and management for trustees, leaders and teachers

  • continue to gather student, teacher, parent, whānau, community and iwi views and aspirations to inform school planning and direction.

3 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

  • finance

  • 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.

Actions for compliance

ERO identified non-compliance in relation to board administration, curriculum and health, safety and welfare.

In order to address this, the board of trustees must:

  1. maintain an ongoing programme of self review in relation to policies, plans and programmes, including evaluation of good-quality assessment information on student progress and achievement
    [NAG 2(b)]

  1. report to the school’s community on the progress of students as a whole, on the progress and achievement of groups (including those students at risk and with special needs) and on the progress and achievement of Māori students against school plans and targets
    [NAG 1c, NAG 2d]

  1. ensure compliance with legislation, including non-discrimination
    [Human Rights Act]

  1. in consultation with the school’s Māori community, develop and make known to the school’s community, policies, plans and targets for improving the progress and achievement of Māori students
    [NAG 1(e)]

  1. adopt a statement on the delivery of the health curriculum, at least once in every two years, after consultation with the school community
    [section 60B Education Act 1989]

  1. develop policy and procedures for dealing with smoking, drugs and alcohol
    [NAG 5]

  1. develop policy and procedures on surrender and retention of property and searches of students by the principal, teachers and authorised staff members
    [sections 139AAA to 139AAF of the Education Act 1989 and the Education Surrender, Retention and Search Rules 2013]

  1. make minimising physical restraint policies and procedures available to all parents and caregivers and provide a clear complaints process on physical restraint and alternatives to seclusion in accordance with the Ministry of Education guidelines
    [sections 139AB to 139AE Education Act 1989, Guidelines for Registered Schools in New Zealand on the Use of Physical Restraint].

Areas for improved compliance practice

To improve current practice, the board of trustees should ensure policies and procedures follow all Ministry of Education guidelines.

Priority should be given to reviewing and implementing:

  • the school’s behaviour management practices

  • discipline procedures

  • cross cultural awareness

  • policies and procedures linked to health and safety.

4 Going forward

Key strengths of the school

For sustained improvement and future learner success, the school can draw on existing strengths in:

  • leadership that is aware of the next steps for continuous school improvement.

Next steps

For sustained improvement and future learner success, priorities for further development are in:

  • internal evaluation processes and practices for identifying what is working well for student learning and where improvements are needed
    [ERO will provide an internal evaluation workshop for trustees and senior leaders.]

  • targeted planning to accelerate learning
    [ERO will monitor and discuss progress with the school.]

  • building teacher capability to achieve equity and excellence particularly for Māori students and boys

  • policy review to support a safe physical and emotional environment for all

  • strengthening consultation and communication for improved school development.

Recommendations to other agencies

ERO recommends that the Ministry of Education and New Zealand School Trustees Association provide support for the school in order to bring about improvement in:

  • internal evaluation and targeted action to accelerate learning

  • policy review and compliance matters to meet legislative requirements

  • understanding of roles and responsibilities for governance and management.

ERO’s next external evaluation process and timing

ERO intends to carry out a process of ongoing external evaluation to support development over the course of one-to-two years.

Adrienne Fowler

Director Review and Improvement Services

Te Tai Miringa - Waikato / Bay of Plenty Region

30 August 2018

About the school

Location

Te Awamutu

Ministry of Education profile number

1893

School type

Contributing (Years 1 to 6)

School roll

293

Gender composition

Boys 53% Girls 47%

Ethnic composition

Māori 48%
Pākehā 45%
Other ethnic groups 7%

Students with Ongoing Resourcing Funding (ORS)

Yes

Provision of Māori medium education

No

Review team on site

June 2018

Date of this report

30 August 2018

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review May 2015
Education Review June 2012
Education Review May 2009