Waikato Diocesan School For Girls

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within seven months of the Education Review Office and Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 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 

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls is a state integrated Anglican school, located in Hamilton. It provides education for both day and boarding students from Years 9 to 13.

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• to provide a safe and caring supportive environment where all members of the school community are valued and respected

• to provide learner-centred programmes that meet the needs and aspirations of all students and inspire a passion for lifelong learning

• to attract, develop and retain inspiring staff who are mentors and facilitators of effective teaching and learning

• to foster the physical, cultural, personal, and social development of each student.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Waikato Diocesan School for Girls website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the extent to which practices that support learner wellbeing are modelled and demonstrated throughout the school community.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• there is an awareness of the need to re-establish connections in the dynamic post-covid environment to further support wellbeing within the special character school

• to support and reaffirm the sense of belonging amongst whaanau whaanui

• the belief that positive wellbeing is central to successful life-long learning for all.

The school expects to see:

• a shared and well-understood vision for wellbeing in the school

• evidence of improved wellbeing outcomes for learners

• a school community that has a strong sense of belonging and purpose

• the school community using a range of strategies and tools to actively support wellbeing.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate the extent to which practices that support learner wellbeing are modelled and demonstrated throughout the school community:

• a strong special character with shared values

• a willingness to engage with te ao Māori to further understand the sense of belonging and wellbeing

• a strategic vision and commitment to support and grow wellbeing.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• planning the internal evaluation cycle to include engagement with all stakeholders

• gathering information about current wellbeing practices and determining their effectiveness

• investigating best practice evidence to inform the investigative phase of the evaluation.

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

14 February 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