John Paul College

Education institution number:
532
School type:
Secondary (Year 7-15)
School gender:
Co-Educational
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
1128
Telephone:
Address:

Whitworth Road, Utuhina, Rotorua

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John Paul College

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 14 months of the Education Review Office and John Paul College 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 

John Paul College is an integrated Catholic school located in Rotorua, catering for students in years 7 to 13. The school’s long-serving principal recently resigned to take up a position elsewhere; the school has appointed a new principal.

John Paul College’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

  • building teacher capacity to respond to the needs of all students
  • ensuring that Māori culture and heritage are reflected in the school’s localised curriculum and the learning environment
  • supporting students to be adaptable, resilient, and optimistic and have agency for their learning.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on John Paul College’s website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively the school is supporting equitable and excellent outcomes for Māori students through culturally inclusive conditions for learning.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

  • the school’s desire to be more Tiriti led and inclusive in their provision for tamariki
  • to address identified Māori achievement trends and to provide equitable academic pathways through the school for Māori ākonga.

The school expects to see Māori students achieving at comparable levels to their non-Māori peers in NCEA certificate endorsement and University Entrance. The school also expects to see increased Māori participation in STEM subjects.

Strengths

John Paul College can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to improve equitable and excellent outcomes for Māori students through culturally inclusive conditions for learning:

  • the strategic appointment of key personnel by the Board of Trustees to support Māori student achievement and wellbeing
  • the development of a targeted professional learning programme to build teacher capability and confidence in culturally inclusive practices
  • a leadership team that responds to data to address identified student needs.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

  • developing a targeted approach to increase the number of Māori students choosing, and achieving in, STEM subjects
  • continued teacher professional learning about culturally inclusive practices to enhance Māori students’ sense of belonging at John Paul College.

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

15 June 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

John Paul College

Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report 2021 to 2024

As of August 2021, the John Paul College Board of Trustees has attested to the following regulatory and legislative requirements:

Board Administration

Yes

Curriculum

Yes

Management of Health, Safety and Welfare

Yes

Personnel Management

Yes

Finance

Yes

Assets

Yes

Actions for Compliance

ERO and the board have identified the following areas of non-compliance during the board assurance process:

  • Safety checking of the workforce should include identity checks and searching the board’s personnel records to check whether the identity is being used or has been used by any person currently or previously employed/engaged by the board.
    [Children’s Act 2014, and regulations 5 – 8 of the Children’s (Requirements for Safety Checks of Children’s Workers) Regulations 2015]

The board has since taken steps to address the areas of non-compliance identified.

Further Information

For further information please contact John Paul College 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

12 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

John Paul College

Provision for International Students Report

Background

The Education Review Office reviews schools that are signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code) established under section 534 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Findings

John Paul College has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code and has completed an annual self-review of its implementation of the Code.

At the time of this review there were 14 international students attending the school, and no exchange students.

Self-review supports the school to identify and respond to areas for improvement. A range of established communication methods inform parents, students and agents and provide opportunity for feedback.

International students have equitable access to the breadth of the curriculum. Learning opportunities are positive and responsive to students’ needs and aspirations. Students transition successfully to post-secondary education. Pastoral systems and procedures effectively support international students’ wellbeing.

Students value the special character aspects of the school, the positive relationships they enjoy and the celebration of diversity. A wide range of extra-curricular and leadership opportunities allow students to participate in the wider life of the school.

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

15 June 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