Renew School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 16 months of the Education Review Office and Renew School 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 

Renew School is an integrated Christian School located in Whangārei and caters for students in Year 1 to 13. The school is committed to meeting the spiritual, academic, social, and physical needs of all students. Their motto of ‘know God, grow character, achieve potential and make a difference’ are all encouraged within the school’s culture. 

Renew School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:

• continue to develop and enhance the Christian character of students 
• improve learning outcomes against the New Zealand curriculum and that all students leave with a minimum of L2 NCEA, particularly Māori/Pasifika and to support those with learning priorities 
• improve student motivation and engagement in learning and accelerate learning for target students 
• improve levels of community input into school life 
• improve the key structures for effective school operation. 

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how to improve student achievement in writing through the implementation of a range of literacy programmes.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• to enable equitable learning outcomes for all ākonga, including Māori and Pacific
• low literacy levels have meant a greater focus on writing is needed to enable successful access of the curriculum by all ākonga
• Renew school is founded on the teachings of the bible and high levels of literacy is crucial to students engaging with the school’s special Christian character and the wider world.

The school expects to see:

• improved teacher capability in the use of effective literacy strategies that accelerates student achievement
• at least 80% of students achieving at or above their expected levels in reading and writing.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to improve reading and writing across the school.

• an inclusive and values based positive school culture is promoted
• a collaborative, reflective and responsive staff who are committed to improving outcomes for all ākonga
• supportive whānau and community who value the school’s special character.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• developing and implementing literacy assessment analysis, and strategies to inform future planning practice
• investigate the Structured Literacy approaches that can provide a solid foundation for students’ future progress in literacy.

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.

Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools

25 September 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