Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
Background
This Profile Report was written within 6 months of the Education Review Office and Hokowhitu School 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
Context
Hokowhitu School is located in central Palmerston North and provides education for students in
Years 1 to 6.
Hokowhitu School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:
- inspiring lifelong learners who take ownership of their own learning
- valuing diversity by providing an inclusive environment for all
- celebrating creativity through challenge, curiosity and risk taking
- aiming for excellence through high expectations
- providing an enabling environment.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Hokowhitu School’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate: How well leaders and teachers implement professional learning and effectively use current organisational systems and processes to achieve postive outcomes for learners in literacy and mathematics.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
- to accelerate the progress of learners working toward curriculum expectations in literacy and mathematics.
The school expects to see:
- identified priority learners accelerating their progress
- staff further developing their knowledge of effective literacy and mathematics strategies
- students demonstrating a positive perception of themselves as successful learners.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal in strengthening outcomes for learners in literacy and mathematics:
- the school has robust organisational systems, processes and practices that promote collaborative practice between staff and informs their review and inquiry
- decision making by leaders reflects the needs of learners, identifying relevant priorities to achieve the community vision for student success
- the Hokowhitu School curriculum is well-designed and responsive to the aspirations of students, parents and whānau
- student identities, language and culture are appropriately reflected in the school environment and in a wide range of curriculum experiences
- collaborative learning environments promote shared values, build on learners’ strengths, and encourage the positive engagement of students in purposeful learning.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
- facilitation of further professional learning and development for staff to extend their collective knowledge of strategies that promote learner efficacy and strengthen outcomes for students in literacy and mathematics
- staff engagement in collaborative inquiry to determine the impact of introduced strategies on learner outcomes.
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
11 July 2022
About the School
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home