Masterton Intermediate

School Context

Masterton Intermediate caters for students in Years 7 and 8 from the town of Masterton and the surrounding Wairarapa area. At the time of this ERO evaluation there are 514 students, 31% of whom identify as Māori. The school has experienced a period of considerable roll growth. A number of new staff have been appointed to meet the demands of this growth. At the time of this evaluation the appointment of the deputy principal was in process.

The school’s vision is for “The ADMIRE values of Active brain, Dependable, Managing self, Interactions, Relationships and Excellence are embedded throughout school operation. The whakatauki is engaged, self-managing learners who interact positively in our community and have a desire to achieve excellence.”“E matahi ana, e mataara-Work together and be on to it.”

Future development of the school is guided by three overarching strategic goals:

• to know our students so they engage in learning, aim for excellence and realise their potential

• to ensure that the Māori culture is alive and well at Masterton Intermediate

• to promote the unique character of Masterton Intermediate.

Leaders and teachers regularly report to the board, schoolwide information about outcomes for students in the following areas:

• reading, writing and mathematics in relation to curriculum expectations

• progress and achievement in relation to school targets and charter goals

• engagement and wellbeing for learner success.

Teachers have been involved in professional learning and development (PLD) in accelerating learning in literacy during 2016 and 2017. In 2018 there is a schoolwide focus on improving teaching in mathematics and on growing staff leadership through the ‘Leading from the Middle’ project. Enhancing ‘Future focused teaching and learning’, and students’ self-management skills are the current curriculum priorities.

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?

School achievement information shows the majority of students achieve at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics. Higher achievement is evident in reading. However, nearly half of students do not achieve expectations in writing.

School achievement information continues to show significant disparity for Māori in reading with lower levels of disparity evident in writing and mathematics. Disparity is also evident for a small number of Pacific students, particularly in mathematics. Boys achieve less well than girls in literacy, especially in writing. Achievement in mathematics is similar for boys and girls.

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

The school does not yet have a clear picture of accelerated learning over time for groups of students who need this.

School information overtime shows that groups of students, including Māori, make significant progress during their time at the school in all three key areas.

School information from 2016 and 2017 shows that some targeted students make accelerated progress. Many students make good learning progress during their two years at Masterton Intermediate.

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?

There is a clear focus on promoting student wellbeing and building positive relationships as a basis for student success. Pastoral care strategies resourcing and close relationships, both internally and with community agencies, wrap around to support those students at risk of poor educational outcomes. Students with additional needs participate in learning opportunities with appropriate support.

Students experience an appropriately broad curriculum that is enhanced by a variety of options. These are designed to engage and provoke interest in new learning and to provide opportunities for students to lead, achieve and excel in a wide range of sporting, cultural and arts contexts. Students are now beginning to have input into curriculum decisions and design. Authentic contexts are prioritised. Success is valued and celebrated. Students collaborate and support the learning of others.

Teaching is responsive to students’ needs and interests and draws on community resources. Teachers collectively take responsibility for students’ progress and achievement. Priority learners are well known, supported and have their progress monitored regularly. Clear actions are in place to support those students whose learning requires acceleration.

Clearly articulated, integrated values that incorporate aspects of te ao Māori and respect children’s individual identities permeates all school activities. Leaders effectively model Māori cultural practices and expect this of others. The learning of te reo Māori is strong across the school with staff working collaboratively through the ako process. Authentic contexts are deliberately planned to promote and share a Māori way of being.

Robust processes build leader and teacher capability. A culture of collaboration, inquiry and improvement is embedded in staff and board practice. Teachers are well supported through opportunities a range of relevant and strategic professional learning initiatives. A clear and comprehensive appraisal process supports and builds professional practice.

Strong leadership supports the school’s direction. Leaders ensure cohesive and strongly aligned systems and processes are in place to enable effective functioning of the school. They demonstrate an unrelenting focus on improving student wellbeing and learning outcomes. Sound relationships exist between leaders, trustees and staff.

Leaders and trustees work together with the school community to create a positive environment that is inclusive, values diversity and promotes cultural understanding. Trustees actively represent and serve the school and community in their stewardship roles. Respectful, open and frank discussion on school’s needs and direction supports them to make fiscally responsible, well considered resourcing decisions based on needs identified from student achievement data.

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

Leaders and trustees acknowledge there is a need for a continued focus on the acceleration of achievement, especially for many Māori and boys. Further development of systems to monitor schoolwide progress of cohorts of students whose achievement requires acceleration should provide a better picture of progress and acceleration.

ERO affirms the board’s initiative to strengthen the use of strategic internal evaluation. Further development of trustees’ and leaders’ understanding and use of evaluation should support planning and further inform resourcing decisions.

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.

Areas for improved compliance practice

To improve current practice, the board of trustees should ensure copies of current policies are easily accessible to parents and teachers at all times.

4 Going forward

Key strengths of the school

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

• collaborative systems and practices that continually improve the quality of teaching and learning

• students’ involvement in a broad curriculum that provides a wide range of opportunities for them to experience success

• pastoral systems and processes that promote positive relationships

• strong culturally responsive practices that promote students’ culture language and identity, especially for Māori students.

Next steps

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

• processes to assist leaders to better monitor and report accelerated student achievement at a schoolwide level

• strengthening evidence-based internal evaluation to better show the impact of planned actions on improving equity and excellence for all learners.

The school has requested that ERO undertakes an internal evaluation workshop for trustees and senior leaders.

ERO’s next external evaluation process and timing

ERO is likely to carry out the next external evaluation in three years.

Alan Wynyard

Director Review & Improvement Services Central

Te Tai Pokapū - Central Region

29 August 2018

About the school

Location	Masterton
Ministry of Education profile number	2909
School type	Intermediate (Years 7 to 8)
School roll	515
Gender composition	Boys 52%, Girls 48%
Ethnic composition	Māori 31% Pākehā 62% Pacific 4% Other ethnic groups 3%
Students with Ongoing Resourcing Funding (ORS)	Yes
Provision of Māori medium education	No
Review team on site	June 2018
Date of this report	29 August 2018
Most recent ERO report(s)	Education Review June 2015 education Review June 2012 Education Review December 2008

Findings

Students participate in a wide range of well-considered curriculum opportunities that respond to their strengths, interests and needs. A new senior leadership team is fostering a culture of whanaungatanga and providing a sound platform to support the school's challenge – to accelerate student achievement and progress.

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.

1 Context

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

Students enrolled in Masterton Intermediate are from diverse cultural backgrounds. Ethnic groups who attend the school include Māori (27%), European, African, Chinese, Indian, Fijian, Filipino and Samoan. Students enrol from an extensive range of primary schools across Wairarapa.

Years 7 and 8 students learn in composite classes where they usually stay with the same classroom teacher for two years. The school offers specialist technicraft staff, language options, and a wide range of itinerant music tuition and musical groups.

A school farm is integral to the curriculum, where students can care for animals in an authentic setting. The school is part of a sports and arts group through which students regularly compete alongside other intermediate schools.

ADMIRE qualities underpin the school’s expectations for students. These qualities are: active brain; dependable; managing self; interactions; relationships; and excellence.

The school seeks to be part of its community and support student citizenship through involvement and student representation in community events. They are proud of their strong kapa haka group.

There have been a number of changes to senior leadership since the June 2012 ERO report. A new principal has been in place since Term 3, 2014. Five out of the six members of the leadership team are new. There have been three principals since the previous ERO review.

Teaching staff have been involved in three main areas of professional learning and development (PLD). They are: Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L); Accelerated Literacy Learning (ALL); and writing across the school. These have been externally led projects supported by lead teachers from within the school.

2 Learning

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

The school is developing its use of achievement information to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement.

The board receives summary reports about schoolwide National Standards achievement twice a year. In November 2014, 70% of all students were at the National Standard for reading. Writing and mathematics remain areas needing immediate attention, with far fewer students at expected level. Appropriate targets are set based on end-of-year data.

In 2014, some students accelerated their progress and moved from below the National Standard to be at standard but there is an urgent need to increase the numbers of students making gains while at school.

Trustees and leaders recognise that for Māori learners, the curriculum is not yet as successful as for all students. Small numbers of Pacific learners are enrolled. They are well known and their achievement is monitored as individuals and as a group.

Students with special needs are well identified. A range of programmes are in place to support their progress. They are individually monitored.

A number of school initiatives are directed towards accelerating progress for those at risk of poor outcomes. A wide range of achievement information is collected and used to identify students’ needs. Teachers are expected to provide targeted support, adapt teaching programmes, collaborate with others and trial new strategies to support these learners. There are some models of good use of data to explicitly determine students’ next steps for learning.

Some guidance is in place for making overall teacher judgements about students' achievement in relation to National Standards. Teachers frequently moderate assessment of samples of writing, supported by an external facilitator. Syndicate leaders are looking to expand moderation practice between syndicates and with other schools.

Syndicate and senior leaders have access to schoolwide achievement data. Data is not yet being well used at teacher, syndicate and senior leadership levels to closely monitor the progress of students at risk of poor outcomes.

Collating and analysing the information more regularly should help to define which strategies are most successful for these students. It should also assist syndicate leaders to transfer and apply these ideas across classrooms in a quick and responsive way.

3 Curriculum

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

A wide range of well-considered curriculum opportunities are provided to respond to students’ strengths, interests and needs. They are actively encouraged to participate in the many academic, arts, cultural, sporting and technology options available within and beyond the classroom.

Involvement in a schoolwide programme to support positive behaviour has provided a consistent approach to how students and adults relate to each other. It contributes to a shared understanding of factors that support increased student engagement.

ADMIRE qualities are reinforced with students and help them to understand the expectations adults have for them as learners and the ways they should interact with others.

A positive school tone is evident. Student wellbeing is a high priority. A range of strategies is used to promote a sense of connection and belonging for students. Leaders and teachers value the strengths students bring. They celebrate success and positive learning behaviours. Students spoken to by ERO feel well supported by the adults in the school.

The principal, leaders and teachers demonstrate a willingness to individually assist students needing more support to engage in the school curriculum. Interventions include:

• targeted use of teacher aides

• careful classroom placement

• active liaison with external agencies

• careful monitoring and mentoring.

These strategies are contributing to a significant reduction in numbers of behavioural incidents in 2015.

There are models of effective teaching practice. However, senior leaders recognise the need for more consistently high quality teaching schoolwide. Externally led literacy development work is impacting positively on writing programmes. Knowledge of successful strategies used with a targeted student group in 2014 is beginning to be shared with teachers across syndicates.

Curriculum guidelines provide useful support for literacy teaching and for involving students in decisions about their learning. It is timely to review and develop the school's curriculum and guiding documents. These should now reflect current practice and:

• more explicitly reflect aspirations for 21st Century teaching and learning

• include expectations for effective teaching practice across all essential learning areas, especially mathematics

• outline how teachers’ practice will support Māori success as Māori, aligned with the strategic goals.

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

The strategic plan signals the school’s commitment to raising Māori student achievement. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic senior leaders are capably leading initiatives within the school.

Te ao Māori is valued and there are a number of opportunities for Māori learners to lead, learn more about and engage in the curriculum through their language, identity and culture.

Te reo Māori is a regular part of the school curriculum and students experience progression in language complexity through a termly programme. Those students with more skill and experience can participate in an extension programme.

The next step is to continue to build individual teacher practice to respond to Māori students’ culture and weave te ao Māori across learning areas.

4 Sustainable Performance

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

The principal and senior leaders have successfully built positive relationships with staff, students and the community. Teachers feel positive about the new developments that are taking place and are well supported by senior leaders and the board.

The senior leadership team is providing well-informed, inclusive and reflective professional leadership. They are fostering a culture of whanaungatanga and promoting the school whakatauki: E matahi ana e mataara - To work together in a diligent and focused way.

The deliberate focus on building engagement with staff and students is providing a sound platform to support the school's next challenge – to accelerate achievement and progress and to improve teaching.

In 2014, teachers reflected on the effectiveness of their teaching for groups of target students through a well-structured and transparent teacher-inquiry process. This is linked to appraisal and strategic targets. A useful template and some good models of critical reflection are apparent. However, there is variable practice schoolwide and it is unclear how successful teacher actions were for some students. Syndicate leaders recognise the need to strengthen the process. This should include:

• ensuring all teachers use an evidence base to consider how effective their practice has been

• more frequent monitoring and deeper learning conversations with syndicate leaders where teaching practice is examined and challenged.

The appraisal process is becoming more robust and useful in support of teacher development. Currently, a process of documenting a more cohesive and coherent procedure, aligned to the Registered Teacher Criteria, that suitably supports accountability and teacher improvement is underway. ERO’s evaluation supports this as a useful next step. The process needs to consider how best to provide a more structured programme of support for the teachers who are subject to confirmation of full registration.

The board receives regular information about what is happening in the school, reports about actions taken against strategic goals and schoolwide achievement in relation to National Standards. More regular reporting about progress towards achievement targets is necessary. Trustees have developed a useful work plan to guide their operations as a board. This should be refined to include curriculum review, a wider range of policy review and community consultation.

Self review is developing. At times, review outcomes describe only the actions taken or the systems now in place. The next step to strengthen self review is to become more evaluative and consider more fully the effectiveness of new programmes or initiatives in terms of outcomes for students.

The school is developing partnerships with whānau to support student learning. Senior leaders and teachers use an increasing number of ways to share information and engage in discussion about students’ learning. Parents are well informed. They receive useful information that shows achievement and progress in relation to National Standards.

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.

In order to improve current practice the board should review a number of policies and procedures to ensure guidelines for good practice and for meeting legislative requirements are clear and current.

During the course of this review ERO found the following area of non compliance. The board of trustees must:

• 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]

Conclusion

Students participate in a wide range of well-considered curriculum opportunities that respond to their strengths, interests and needs. A new senior leadership team is fostering a culture of whanaungatanga and providing a sound platform to support the school's challenge – to accelerate student achievement and progress.

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.

Joyce Gebbie
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central 

About the School

Location	Masterton
Ministry of Education profile number	2909
School type	Intermediate (Years 7 to 8)
School roll	362
Gender composition	Male 59%, Female 41%
Ethnic composition	Pākehā Māori Pacific Other ethnic groups	69% 27%   2%   2%
Special Features	Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour Social Worker in Schools School Farm
Review team on site	May 2015
Date of this report	24 June 2015
Most recent ERO report(s)	Education Review Education Review Education Review	June 2012 December 2008 February 2006

 

Education Review Report: Arotake Paerewa Masterton Intermediate

The purpose of ERO’s reviews is to give parents and the wider school community assurance about the quality of education that schools provide and their children receive. An ERO school report answers the question “How effectively is this school’s curriculum promoting student learning - engagement, progress and achievement?” Under that overarching question ERO reports on the quality of education and learning outcomes for children and for specific groups of children including Māori students, Pacific students and students with special needs. ERO also reports on the quality of the school’s systems for sustaining and continuing improvements.

1. Context

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

Masterton Intermediate is the only intermediate school in the Wairarapa and serves a wide geographical area, with some students travelling considerable distances by bus each day. A positive school tone is evident.

There have been a number of staffing changes including a new principal, appointed late in 2011, following the retirement of the previous long serving principal. A deputy principal is taking up his position later this year, and an interim deputy principal is in place until then. The school has a positive reporting history with ERO.

A wide range of learning experiences is offered for the students in composite classrooms. This is well supported by specialist staff. Language options, including te reo Māori for all students and annual exchanges to Japan, enrich learning. Students participate in various sporting and outdoor activities, including working on the school farm.

Staff have participated in numeracy professional development over the past three years. An upgrade of information and communication technologies (ICT), currently underway, is intended to strengthen its use as a learning tool in classrooms.

2. Learning

How well are students learning – engaging, progressing and achieving?

Students show high levels of interest and motivation in their learning. Confident learners interact positively with teachers and each other. They work cooperatively, are friendly and respectful.

Implementation of National Standards is at an early stage. Progress and achievement in reading and mathematics is measured using formal assessment tools. Written language is assessed against curriculum levels.

The school reports that there are significant groups of students, including Māori who are underachieving, particularly in mathematics and writing. These areas are appropriately acknowledged as priorities for teaching and learning. Students with special learning needs are well identified and provided with a range of support, including teacher aides and referral to external agencies.

The use of student achievement information has recently been strengthened to focus teaching and make resourcing decisions. Positive developments include:

• the collation of useful schoolwide baseline data to plan programmes and teaching and set schoolwide targets
• opportunities for teachers to look more closely at assessment information to target their teaching to identified needs
• moderation of assessment within syndicates and across the school
• clearer reporting of assessment information to the board.

Areas for review and development

School leaders acknowledge the need to accelerate students’ progress, especially those underachieving. They have identified key priorities for improving learning, which include:

• extending the use of well-analysed data to focus planning and teaching
• encouraging evidence-based teacher inquiry and reflection to identify strategies that promote learning
• strengthening formative assessment practices to promote student ownership of learning and to provide ongoing information for teachers to make robust overall teacher judgements.

ERO’s external evaluation supports these directions.

Schoolwide student achievement and progress information in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to National Standards, has yet to be collated and reported. Reporting to parents in relation to the National Standards also requires strengthening. ERO considers that developing teachers’ understanding and school systems to effectively implement the National Standards is a priority.

3. Curriculum

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

Students engage positively in a variety of curriculum opportunities. Schoolwide programmes emphasise integration of literacy and numeracy in different contexts to meet the needs of students.

Established routines provide a structure for learning in well-organised classrooms. Clear expectations for behaviour and learning are shared and understood. The recently revised school vision and values have prominence in classroom programmes and displays.

Effective teaching practices observed include sharing the purpose of learning and criteria for success, grouping for the teaching of mathematics and reading, and the facilitation of confident and cooperative interactions. Teachers demonstrate inclusive practices to promote student participation. Students have opportunities to revisit and practice learning and set goals. Successful learning is recognised and celebrated.

Teachers receive good collegial support from each other and are improvement focused.

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

The board has developed a clear strategic aim to ensure education success as Māori. A well structured annual action plan supports this development. A key focus is strengthening partnerships with whānau. Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are valued, supported and are integral parts of the school. Further review is planned to identify effective practice for promoting success for Māori.

Māori student achievement data is collated to measure progress and achievement and to support target setting.

4. Sustainable Performance

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

Trustees are committed to providing the best possible learning opportunities for students. They engage with the school’s community to determine parents’ aspirations for their children to review the school’s vision, mission and values. Recent charter development included consultation with a range of stakeholders. The strategic plan has been reviewed and a cycle for policy review put in place.

Senior leaders are focused on effective change management. They work productively with staff and trustees, and are developing staff leadership capacity. Teachers have opportunities to participate in schoolwide target setting, decision making and setting direction.

Area for review and development

Trustees acknowledge they are at the early stages of using self review. The board should continue to improve its understanding of self review and develop a clear framework to guide its actions. This is likely to result in more evidence-based decision making to improve outcomes for students.

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
• stand-downs, suspensions, expulsions and exclusions
• attendance.

Trustees have identified that the following areas need to be addressed:

• report student achievement to parents in writing twice a year in relation to National Standards[NAG2A]
• report to the community on student achievement as a whole and for groups[NAG2(c)]
• in consultation with the school’s Māori community, develop plans and targets to improve the achievement of Māori students[NAG 1(e)]
• consult with the school’s community about the delivery of the health curriculum[Section 60B Education Act 1989].

The board has not met the good practice expectations of the Ministry of Education (MOE) to have relevant annual aims and targets in the charter for the start of 2012. Trustees are currently accessing a Tailored Training and Support Services programme through MOE to strengthen their charter. ERO recommends extending this training to include implementation of effective self review.

When is ERO likely to review the school again?

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.

 

Joyce Gebbie

National Manager Review Services Central Region (Acting)

27 June 2012

About the School

Location	Masterton
Ministry of Education profile number	2909
School type	Intermediate (Year 7 to 8)
School roll	417
Gender composition	Male 51%, Female 49%
Ethnic composition	NZ European/Pākehā Māori Pacific Islands Other ethnic groups	74% 20% 3% 3%
Special features	Resource teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) Social Worker in Schools (SWIS)
Review team on site	March 2012
Date of this report	27 June 2012
Most recent ERO report(s)	Education Review Education Review Education Review	December 2008 February 2006 April 2002