Birkenhead School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

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

Birkenhead School, Te Kura Matarae o Onewa, is situated in Birkenhead’s Highbury Village and caters for children in year 1 to 6. The school’s kaupapa are Mahi Tahi, Kia Manawanui, Kia Manawaroa and Manaakitanga.

Birkenhead School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

In order to grow active learners who make a positive difference (Whaia te matauranga hei oranga mo koutou, mo te iwi, mo te ao) we will:

• continue to shape teachers and leaders understanding of effective collaborative practice and student agency

• live our school wide vision and Kaupapa

• provide a progression of multicultural experiences while acknowledging our responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

• ensure the wellbeing of staff, students and community.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the effectiveness of teachers and leaders understanding of the impact of collaborative practice and student agency has on student outcomes.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to:

• monitor, evaluate and improve new ways of teaching that are effective in the modern school build

• strengthen and support expected collaborative practices in flexible learning spaces

• reinstate a broad curriculum post the disruption to learning, caused by a Global Pandemic.

The school expects to see improved collaborative teaching practice that maximises learning time, and improved student agency.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support it in its goal to evaluate the effectiveness of teachers and leaders understanding of the impact of collaborative practice and student agency has on student outcomes.

• learners demonstrate a strong sense of belonging and connection to the school and show confidence in their identities, languages and cultures

• continued Board resourcing and support for professional development to enhance effective pedagogy and reflective practice linked to improving outcomes for all learners

• leaders’ clear school vision and localised strategic direction well supported by engaged whānau and reciprocal home-school partnerships

• the school kaupapa are well embedded in school life, and reflected by individuality and inclusion, and the school’s responsiveness to children’s wellbeing and learning.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• continue to build leadership capabilities with senior and middle leaders, staff and children

• continue to foster the reciprocal links with local iwi, hapū, and whānau and kāhui ako to embed the local histories curriculum

• facilitate a wider range of educational and other opportunities that challenge and are linked to personal motivations.

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

8 June 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