Findings
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Seven Oaks Secondary School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
1 Background
The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.
Section 35I of the Education Act 1989, requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools between 6 and 12 months after they have been provisionally registered, and to report to the Ministry of Education for the Secretary to consider full registration.
This ERO review follows the provisional registration of Seven Oaks Secondary School by the Ministry of Education in 2014, and focuses on whether the school now meets the criteria for full registration as a private school.
The secondary school is on the same site as the primary school and is part of the Holistic Education Trust which was established in 2006. The school opened for students in 2009, with the secondary school opening in February 2014.
The curriculum has a focus on developing students’ creativity, self awareness, emotional wellbeing, responsibility, social skills and for them to have a connection with nature. The board is committed to low class numbers. The average class size, at the time of this review, was one educator to eight students. During the school day, students of all ages have opportunities to work together and support one another.
The board has purchased a large site in Halswell. Plans to relocate the school in 2016 are well developed and have involved the whole school community.
2 Criteria for Registration
This report builds on the ERO report of January 2014 on Seven Oaks Primary School. Since January 2014, the trust has thoughtfully planned the school to provide a secondary school education that reflects the school’s philosophy and builds on the needs and aspirations of students in a secondary environment.
The school’s unique curriculum, ‘The Brilliant Curriculum’ suitably supports students’ different learning styles, needs and interests. The further development of this curriculum to cater for the specific learning needs of secondary students is linked closely to the school’s philosophy while aiming to prepare students in Years 9 and 10 for future National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level qualifications.
The curriculum provides a wide range of learning experiences including core subjects, such as literacy and mathematics, and a variety of optional studies. The teaching of second languages, and science and technology is supported through the use of a local school’s specialist teachers and specialist classrooms. All students select from a range of additional learning courses available through The Correspondence School.
Students are given significant opportunities to work at their own rate, follow their interests and develop their thinking skills. Students are given many opportunities to contribute to the curriculum and to say how their classroom, and the school, is run.
The principal and educators are well qualified to cover all aspects of the secondary curriculum. They use technologies well to cooperatively plan and involve students in their learning. There is a shared understanding about the importance of acknowledging students’ emotional behaviours. This is expressed well by students and educators. Educators track student learning in literacy and mathematics as well as collecting a wide range of other learner information to reflect the school’s distinctive curriculum.
Educators actively involve parents in students’ learning through regular conversations, and through the school’s informative website and meetings. Calm, confident educators work in caring, thoughtful ways to nurture individual learning styles. They make themselves available to students and their parents and take time to discuss students’ learning and development. There are positive relationships among trustees, educators, parents and students.
The secondary classroom meets the requirements of suitable premises and is designed to meet the secondary learning needs of the students. Extensive outside areas and the use of specialist facilities of local schools offer significant opportunities for students to participate in learning at all levels of the curriculum.
The school continues to increase its range and availability of suitable resources. This is particularly noticeable in literacy, mathematics and technologies.
3 Other Statutory Obligations
The school’s managers have attested that they comply with the provisions of section 35G in respect to their being fit and proper persons to manage the school.
4 Conclusion
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Seven Oaks Secondary School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
Graham Randell National Manager Review Services
Southern Region
4 September 2014
About the School
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Location
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Opawa, Christchurch
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Ministry of Education profile number
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695
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School type
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Secondary (Years 9 to 15)
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School roll
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7
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Gender composition
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Girls 6 Boy 1
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Ethnic composition
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NZ European/Pākehā
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7
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Review team on site
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July 2014
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Date of this report
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4 September 2014
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Most recent ERO report
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No previous ERO reports
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