Papakura Normal School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 24 months of the Education Review Office and Papakura Normal 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 

Papakura Normal School is in Papakura, Auckland, and caters for ākonga in Years 1-8. The mission statement and valued outcomes defined by the school for all ākonga is ‘Ki te whakahihiko, ki te whakamana i te hunga rangatahi kia koke ai rātou ki tōna āpōpō, kia rite hoki ki ngā wero e heke mai ana’ (to inspire and enable young people to progress toward their future, equipped to meet the challenges ahead). Papakura Normal School works with the University of Auckland, Faculty of Education and Social Work to support teacher trainees.

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

• embed the kaupapa of the Waka Way to provide a positive and safe environment that ensures the mana of all is treasured

• develop the professional capability of the kaimahi to raise ākonga achievement through culturally responsive and relationship-based teaching

• provide a safe, physical, and emotional environment, where ākonga learn to develop positive relationships, and feel valued and respected.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate school initiatives that positively impact on ākonga attendance, engagement, progress and achievement.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• ensuring ākonga attend school regularly, engage, progress, and achieve to experience enhanced mana, is a school goal

• identifying those effective culturally responsive and relationship-based teaching practices that support all ākonga to engage will further inform teacher practice for improved ākonga outcomes

• the outcomes of improved ākonga attendance, progress, achievement and engagement will impact positively on meaningful whānau and community engagement.

The school expects to see:

• ākonga attending school regularly and engaging in culturally responsive, relationship-based learning

• kaiako, parents, whānau and community working together to ensure the mana of all is treasured

• strengthening evaluative practice so leaders and kaiako can measure the extent to which attendance, engagement, progress and achievement contribute to improved outcomes for all ākonga.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate school initiatives that positively impact on ākonga attendance, engagement, progress and achievement:

• ākonga demonstrate and express a strong sense of belonging, and knowledge of the Waka Way

• leaders and kaiako collaborate to enact culturally responsive and inclusive practice

• the school values of ‘Others, Achieve, Respect’ underpin the design and delivery of the curriculum.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise strengthening initiatives that positively impact on ākonga attendance, engagement, progress and achievement by:

• monitoring for improvement, evaluation and reporting ākonga attendance and engagement

• further strengthening school planning and implementation for teaching practice that promotes equity and excellence for all ākonga

• continuing to strengthen sustainable ākonga-centred partnerships with whānau by collecting and responding to stakeholder voice.

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

24 May 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