Mairangi Bay School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report 

Background

This Profile Report was written within 18 months of the Education Review Office and Mairangi Bay 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 

Mairangi Bay School is in Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland. The school provides education for students from Year 0 to Year 6. A new principal was appointed in May 2022. In 2023, a new leadership team was established.

The school’s mission is: Ako tahi mō āpōpō kia pai ake: Learning together to create a better tomorrow. 

The overarching priority of the school has been to reflect an authentic bicultural partnership. A cultural flow was created as you enter the school to celebrate diversity of a multi-cultural community.

Mairangi Bay School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for ākonga are:

• Whakatupu Mātauranga - Encourage academic growth so that all ākonga achieve their potential.
• Whakawhanaungatanga - Foster productive relationships within our school and the wider Mairangi Bay Community. 
• Wairua - Promote the wellbeing of ākonga and kaimahi.
• Whāia te iti Kahurangi - Promote excellent opportunities for ākonga to become well rounded individuals.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well Mairangi Bay School is capturing and implementing the aspirations of ākonga, whānau, iwi, kaiako, kaimahi and leadership to inform all schoolwide decisions. The school has recently developed an authentic relationship with mana whenua, through the Te Kawerau ā Maki education team.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to: 

• develop a shared understanding with the school community of what it means to embrace a strengths-based approach to ensure effective, coherent learning pathways for all ākonga
• authentically co-construct the most effective and sustainable conditions to foster a culture of learning with all ākonga.

The school expects to see:

• Continuing the strong relationship that is being established with mana whenua Te Kawerau ā Maki.
• Kaiako and kaimahi using effective, culturally responsive teaching and learning practices that promote equitable and excellent learning outcomes for all ākonga. 
• Ākonga and their whānau demonstrating a strong sense of identity, culture and language and their connection to the school.

Strengths 

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate how well Mairangi Bay School is capturing and implementing the aspirations of ākonga, whānau, iwi, kaiako, kaimahi and leadership to inform all schoolwide decisions.

• An ongoing schoolwide commitment that ensures genuine, authentic relationships with mana whenua, Te Kawerau ā Maki.
• Ākonga experiencing a caring, safe, and inclusive environment where they are encouraged to take risks in their learning and to the be the best they can be. 
• Kaiako and kaimahi collaboratively focusing on improving equitable and excellent outcomes for all ākonga.
• Leadership collaboratively promoting relational trust and enacting the school vision and values. 
• Whānau continuing to be empowered through meaningful, interpersonal conversations that shape educational outcomes for their tamariki.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will continue to prioritise providing relevant professional development supported by leadership and external personnel to enact culturally responsive pedagogy by:

• Developing a shared understanding with kaiako and kaimahi to use effective, culturally responsive teaching and learning practices that promote equitable and excellent learning outcomes for all ākonga. 
• Continuing to explore ways to listen and respond to aspirations of the school community.
• Authentically co-constructing at all levels of the school the most effective and sustainable conditions that foster a culture of learning with all ākonga and wider community.

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

12 December 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