Dargaville Intermediate

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and Dargaville Intermediate 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 

Dargaville Intermediate School provides education for students in Year 7 and 8. The school’s values are respect, honesty, security, responsibility, self-worth and whānaungatanga.

Dargaville Intermediate’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:

• create a physical and emotional environment which fosters creativity and encourages students to explore the inter-connectedness between all living things

• enact learning programmes which enable knowledge and skill acquisition and stimulate innovation, inquiry and curiosity through purposeful learning contexts

• provide learning opportunities and systems which promote healthy choices, routines and practices

• build a student, school, home and community partnership.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Dargaville Intermediate’s website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the impact of Dargaville Intermediate School’s learning programmes on equitable and excellent outcomes in reading, writing, and mathematics. The school is aiming to design and deliver learning programmes that enable knowledge and skill acquisition and stimulate innovation, inquiry and curiosity through purposeful learning contexts.  

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is: 

• that maximising success in reading, writing and mathematics increases students’ ability to access learning across the curriculum

• student preparedness in reading, writing and mathematics is a pre-requisite for further educational success

• to continue to promote equitable and excellent outcomes in reading, writing, and mathematics.

The school expects to see an increase in the number of students achieving at or above expected curriculum levels in reading, writing and mathematics. The school also expects to see teachers engaging learners through learning programmes that include purposeful learning contexts and promote innovation, inquiry and curiosity.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate the impact of Dargaville Intermediate School’s learning programmes on equitable and excellent outcomes in reading, writing, and mathematics.

• clear communication between teachers and learners enabling shared knowledge around learners’ levels of achievement, and the co-construction of their learning goals

• responsive curriculum design which utilises relevant learning contexts, and supports learners make meaningful connections

• school values are modelled and encouraged in school life and create a sense of connectedness and belonging for students, staff and the wider community

• a supportive School Board which promotes the school’s direction and supports the school to enable successful outcomes for all learners. 

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• whole school consistency in the effective teaching of literacy

• the implementation of Pūtoi Rito - Community of Readers initiative to improve achievement reading and writing

• increased problem-solving opportunities in mathematics to help make the learning meaningful and relevant

• designing and deliver learning programmes that enable knowledge and skill acquisition and stimulate innovation, inquiry and curiosity through purposeful learning contexts.  

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.

Filivaifale Jason Swann
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

10 March 2023 

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