Students benefit from a broad curriculum underpinned by the school’s special Catholic character. Overall student achievement is above national comparisons in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers and leaders are committed to strengthening ways students take responsibility for their own learning, and to developing closer relationships with the local Māori community.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
St Francis School is a state integrated Catholic school located in the Coromandel township of Thames. It caters for students from Years 1 to 8. The current roll is 95, fifteen of whom identify as Māori.
A new principal was appointed in term 4 2014. The transition from the previous well-respected and long-serving principal has been well managed, and there has been no disruption to the ongoing improvement of outcomes for students. The long-serving board chairperson is supported by a mixture of both new and experienced trustees who bring a range of skills and experiences to their roles.
The school’s vision and values have been collaboratively developed and are well articulated. They are underpinned by the school’s special Catholic character which guides and influences all aspects of school life. Students’ wellbeing is enhanced by an inclusive school culture, and the effective promotion of values such as love, honesty, respect and responsibility.
The school has a positive reporting history with ERO.
The school uses achievement information well to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement. The majority of students are performing at and above National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics. The overall levels of achievement are above national comparisons.
The board of trustees receives regular reports on student achievement which are well understood and used to make appropriate resourcing decisions.
School leaders use achievement information to track student progress and to identify and respond to trends and patterns. They set useful targets which focus on students who are at risk of not achieving, and align these with teachers’ appraisal goals.
The school has effective systems in place for identifying students at risk of poor educational outcomes and for monitoring their progress and achievement. There are a range of interventions in place to meet their needs.
Teachers use student achievement information to identify students’ next learning steps, respond to these, and to monitor progress and achievement. Teacher aides provide in-class support and supervise intervention programmes to effectively assist students with specific learning needs.
Students are supported to take responsibility for their own learning in a number of ways:
Parents receive two written reports per year about student progress and achievement in relation to National Standards. These are supported by parent/teacher interviews. The school has successfully trialled student-led conferences in 2014 and these will be extended to all year levels in 2015. Parents spoken to by ERO appreciated teachers being approachable to discuss their children’s learning.
ERO and senior leaders agree teachers that should continue to:
The school curriculum effectively promotes and supports student learning.
The St Francis School curriculum is significantly influenced by its special Catholic character and takes advantage of its history for the benefit of current students. The school was established in 1867 and has been led over the years by six different Catholic religious orders. The board and community is committed to maintaining the legacies of those groups for the benefit of current students. Through the tradition of St Francis the school places an emphasis on environmental education and on students being kaitiaki of their local environment. Because of the Mercy and Josephite sisters, the school has a strong emphasis on service to others.
Teachers incorporate local and topical issues in classroom programmes because of their relevance to students’ lives. Teachers effectively integrate literacy into the teaching of other learning areas such as science and social studies.
Students benefit from a range of extra-curricular opportunities in sport, music and performing arts. Camps for various age groups are a significant annual event for both students and parents. There are many leadership opportunities for students. Older students assisting younger ones is a common occurrence in the school.
ERO observed positive relationships and mutual respect between teachers and students. There are high levels of student engagement in their learning. Teachers display sound curricular knowledge supported by regular professional development, particularly in literacy and mathematics.
ERO observed a range of good teaching strategies used by teachers. These include:
Teachers have begun exploring more innovative ways of enacting the principles of ‘future focus’ and ‘lifelong learning’ from The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). They have initiated programmes for the Years 7 and 8 students which encourage self management. Teachers have a considered approach to the use of information communication technologies (ICT). They continue to build on and trial ways ICT can be used effectively to enhance teaching and learning.
Teachers should continue to:
Teachers have undertaken professional development in te reo Māori and bicultural education since the last review. They have established a tuakana/teina relationship with another local school which has provided them with guidance and support.
Teachers are committed to integrating relevant Māori vocabulary into topics that are being studied. The school’s religious education programmes also introduce students to vocabulary relevant to this area of learning. Teachers are committed to using Māori words and phrases incidentally in everyday classroom situations. Two teachers have undertaken a course in Māori spirituality, and Matariki has been celebrated in the school.
The school is committed to enhancing students’ Māori identity and to increasing bicultural understanding. School leaders agree it is now necessary to:
St Francis School is well placed to sustain and improve its performance.
The new principal, ably supported by an experienced deputy principal, is highly reflective. Teachers report that they are valued and supported by senior leaders who use staff strengths to enhance outcomes for students. Teachers work collegially, and regularly share good teaching practice and ideas about how to assist individual students.
The current board is focussed on improving student achievement. Parents spoken to by ERO are happy with their students’ progress, achievement and general education. There are many opportunities for parents to be involved in their students’ education and the school enjoys the support of the wider Thames community.
The board agrees that it would now be beneficial to strengthen school self review, particularly through deepening board understanding and ownership of the strategic planning process which includes meaningful collaboration with parents.
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:
During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student achievement:
Students benefit from a broad curriculum underpinned by the school’s special Catholic character. Overall student achievement is above national comparisons in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers and leaders are committed to strengthening ways students take responsibility for their own learning, and to developing closer relationships with the local Māori community.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Dale Bailey
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern
26 June 2015
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Location |
Thames |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
1945 |
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School type |
Full Primary (Years 1 to 8) |
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School roll |
95 |
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Gender composition |
Girls 57 Boys 38 |
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Ethnic composition |
Pākehā Māori Asian Other |
62 15 11 7 |
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Review team on site |
April 2015 |
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Date of this report |
26 June 2015 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review Education Review Education Review |
December 2010 June 2008 May 2005 |