Awhitu District School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 9 months of the Education Review Office and Awhitu District 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 

Awhitu District School is located at the northern end of the Awhitu Peninsula near Auckland. The school provides education for students in Years 1 to 8. The school values of ‘Personal best, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Exploration’ underpin the vision of ‘empowering students to care, adapt and succeed with PRIDE’. 

Awhitu District School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are centred on:

• Learning to Learn – ako ki te ako

• Our Community Culture – he waka eke noa

• Our Environment – whakapehapeha i roto i te kura, me te whenua.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well the school curriculum improves outcomes for learners and promotes equitable and excellent outcomes for all.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

The school has identified a number of priorities informed by a range of information. The evaluation will provide ongoing evidence about which strategic actions are having the most impact for learners and will inform decision making. 

The school expects to see:

• improved engagement and attendance data

• a general lift in achievement data and trends toward equitable and excellent achievement outcomes

• a local curriculum that is increasingly reflective of bicultural local histories and authentic contexts for learning.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goals:

• An inclusive learning environment well supported by respectful relationships, systems and structures.

• Teachers, leaders and community collectively focused on growing culturally responsive practices.

• A range of community networks and connections that support enriched opportunities for students.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise the growth of:

• teacher practice in assessment for learning focused on what works best for improving learner outcomes

• reciprocal, learning focused partnerships with families, whānau and iwi that promote equity and excellence for all

• a local curriculum that is bicultural, reflective of the community and responsive to the needs of children and their whānau.

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.

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

22 December 2022

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