The Education Review Office (ERO) Evaluation - 2010
To the Parents and Community of Wairarapa College. These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Wairarapa College.
Located in Masterton, Wairarapa College is a Decile 6, state, co-educational school catering for students from Years 9 to 13. At the time of this review, 22% of students identified as Māori. The college is set in spacious attractive grounds with a boarding hostel, an attached farm and a new hall. The environment is welcoming, and students, staff and trustees demonstrate pride in their college. Achievement in academic, sporting and cultural areas, at all levels, is highly valued and celebrated both within the college and through newsletters.
Since the October 2007 ERO report, senior management have instigated a schoolwide learning community to encourage teachers to share best practice and enhance teaching and learning at the college. The impact of this professional learning is evident in those classes where high quality teaching was observed.
The strategic plan and priorities for the college are appropriately student centred. Annual goals and measurable targets focus on raising academic achievement. Trustees and management have high expectations for effective engagement of students. Many well considered initiatives have been introduced to motivate students to attend, engage and achieve.
The college’s philosophy of ‘students respected and valued in a safe school’ underpins the approach to pastoral care. The extensive guidance system maintains an holistic overview of student welfare, including advocacy for their emotional and physical safety.
In-depth analysis of student achievement in the National Certificates of Education Achievement (NCEA) is undertaken. Achievement in Years 11 to 13 within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) shows that overall, the number of students achieving Levels 2 and 3 NCEAs continues to be above that of similar type and decile schools. However, in the past three years results for students achieving Level 1 are below, particularly in 2009. In 2010, a detailed analysis has been undertaken to review these achievement results.
The board of trustees and principal have identified that strengthening the use of achievement data in Years 9 and 10, improved use of junior assessment information, and continued professional development to extend the range of effective teaching strategies are areas for further development and review.
Future Action
ERO is likely to carry out the next review within three years.
Review Coverage
This report provides an evaluation of how effectively the school’s curriculum promotes student learning - engagement, progress and achievement. ERO’s evaluation takes account of the school’s previous reporting history and is based on:
- what is known about student achievement information, including the achievement of Māori and Pacific students;
- decisions made to improve student achievement using assessment and self‑review information; and
- teaching strategies and programmes implemented to give effect to the school’s curriculum.
- ERO also gathers information during the review to contribute to its national reports. The national reports are published on ERO’s website.
If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the school or see the ERO website, www.ero.govt.nz.
Kathleen Atkins
National Manager Review Services
Central Region
General Information about Reviews
About ERO
ERO is an independent, external evaluation agency that undertakes reviews of schools and early childhood services throughout New Zealand.
About ERO Reviews
ERO follows a set of standard procedures to conduct reviews. The purpose of each review is to:
- improve educational achievement in schools; and
- provide information to parents, communities and the government.
- Reviews are intended to focus on student achievement and build on each school’s self review.
Review Focus
ERO’s framework for reviewing and reporting integrates the following:
- school curriculum;
- national evaluation topics –contribute to the development of education policies and their effective implementation; and
- the Board Assurance Statement, including student and staff health and safety.
ERO’s review is responsive to the school’s context. When ERO reviews a school, it takes into account the characteristics of the community from which it draws its students, its aspirations for its young people, and other relevant local factors.
ERO also builds on the school’s own self-review information. ERO is interested in how a school monitors the progress of its students and aspects of school life and culture, and how it uses this information to improve student learning.
This helps ERO to answer the major evaluation question for reviews:
"How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote student learning - engagement, progress and achievement?"Areas for Development and Review
ERO reports include areas for development and review to support on-going improvement by identifying priorities. Often the school will have identified these matters through its own self review and already plans further development in those areas.