Review 10 April 2024
LatestTe Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
Background
This Profile Report was written within 6 months of the Education Review Office and Woodhill 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
Woodhill School is a small rural school northwest of Auckland. It is situated within the rohe of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara. Mana whenua actively supports the school. About half of the students are Māori and many whakapapa to the rohe.
Woodhill School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:
- Manaaki – to care
- Ako – to learn
- Whakawhanake – to grow
- Tikanga – ways of working
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Woodhill School’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate and develop increased learning opportunities, through targeted professional development, to enable greater equity and excellent outcomes for all.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to:
- support the aspiration of mana whenua, whānau and students to increase their level of te reo Māori and work towards the provision of bilingual education
- continue to support learners with additional needs so they feel success in their efforts
- further equip students for secondary schooling and entry to their chosen pathway.
The school expects to see increased:
- levels of achievement for all students and effective use of formative assessment teaching practices
- cultural capabilities for all staff, including normalised use of te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori
- efforts to address barriers for learning, especially for those students at risk of not achieving.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal of developing increased learning opportunities, through targeted professional development, to enable greater equity and excellent outcomes for all.
- stable, committed, and passionate, staff and Board
- partnership with local marae, supported by Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, and Woodhill School whānau who are committed to supporting the kura
- an established, inclusive learning environment which transitions and supports neurodiverse students in a positive and individualised manner
- an evolving localised curriculum founded in local pūrākau (stories) and the use of the neighbouring ngahere.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise professional development in Responsive Pedagogies for Teaching including cultural competency practices in order to improve learner success.
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
10 April 2024
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