Tauhara College

School Evaluation Report

Tēnā koutou e mau manawa rahi ki te kaupapa e aro ake nei, ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa. Mā wai rā e kawe, mā tātau katoa.

We acknowledge the collective effort, responsibility and commitment by all to ensure that the child remains at the heart of the matter.

Every New Zealand state and state integrated school has an ERO review at least once every four years to evaluate what is working well for learners and what needs to be improved.

About the school

Tauhara College in Taupō provides education for 686 students, 41% of students identify as Māori. The schools’ motto of ‘tino ū tōu hiranga’ is underpinned by the values of care, courage and commitment.

Education Counts provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement, school enrolments and school zones. educationcounts.govt.nz/home

An explanation of the terms and judgements used in this report can be found here: Reporting | Education Review Office

Improvement and progress

This section is about the progress the school has made since the November 2023 ERO report. It includes an explanation of the expected improvements and findings.

Expected improvements

The school expected to see a positive shift in achievement outcomes and equitable outcome for Māori. This included providing meaningful pathways through school and beyond, that respond to learner needs, aspirations, and goals, with increased engagement and achievement outcomes as a result.

Findings

Leaders and staff strengthened culturally responsive approaches through the instruction of Te Tihi o Tauhara class. This includes building active partnerships with mana whenua and increasing te reo Māori opportunities through additional classes and planned night courses for staff. To enable more personalised learning pathways, the school is extending its integrated junior curriculum approach into Year 11. Learners’ self-management of their learning is strengthened through enhanced tracking, mentoring and a staff focused on knowing your learners.

What we know about learner success 

This section provides a summary of learner success, wellbeing and foundation school conditions, including any education in Rumaki/Reo Rua settings. The judgments are based on the ERO School Improvement Framework and evidence provided to ERO during the evaluation.

Learner success and wellbeing

This section provides a summary of learner success and wellbeing.

• By the end of Year 9, a small majority in mathematics, a large majority in reading and less than half in writing achieve at or above the expected level. By the end of Year 10, a small majority of students are at or above the expected curriculum level in reading and less than half in writing and mathematics. Achievement outcomes in Year 10 are not yet equitable for all groups of learners. 
• A large majority of students achieve National Certificates in Educational Achievement (NCEA) Levels 1, 2 and 3; less than a third achieve University Entrance (UE). The school has yet to achieve equitable outcomes for boys and Māori learners, particularly in NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance.  
• Students report a strong sense of inclusion and belonging and enjoy a wide range of learning and extra-curricular opportunities.
• A small majority of students attend school regularly which is the government attendance target of 80%. The school has a comprehensive attendance plan in place and continues to work with the community to remove attendance barriers for groups of learners. 

Conditions to support learner success

This section provides a summary of leadership, teaching, curriculum and foundation school conditions for improvement.

• The leadership team has a clear strategic vision and work well together to build staff and leadership capability to implement school improvement priorities.
• School leaders establish coherent organisational conditions aligned to the schools’ values to support school operations, a positive learning environment and ongoing improvement.
• Leaders systematically track and monitor progress towards annual improvement targets and take actions to raise learner achievement.
• A planned and co-ordinated approach toward implementing the schools’ curriculum includes clear teaching principles and expectations for quality teaching practices are clearly communicated.

• Students benefit from an integrated whānau-based curriculum approach in Years 9 and 10, with a focus on creating a sense of belonging and strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
• Teachers know their learners well and use data well to tailor their teaching practice to individual needs.
• Learners that need additional support are clearly identified and well-supported to achieve personal learning and social goals. 
• Learners in the Te Whare Mahana class experience individualised support underpinned by collaborative relationships between the school, whānau and the students.

• The Tauhara College Board is representative of the school community and use reliable evidence to establish strategic improvement priorities and to make decisions.
• Schoolwide pastoral systems and processes promote students’ wellbeing and positive, respectful relationships to support student outcomes.
• The school fosters partnerships with whānau and the wider community, including mana whenua, to strengthen student learning opportunities and success.
• Leaders and teachers participate in focused professional development, monitor implementation to know about the impact on teaching and learner outcomes and share a collective responsibility for school improvement.

Next steps for improvement

This section provides more detail for the school to include in its strategic and annual planning for ongoing improvement across the school. It identifies key priorities and actions for improvement.

Key priorities

• Improve equity in achievement and engagement outcomes, with a focus on Māori students and boys.
• Further embed literacy and numeracy strategies to improve foundational skills.
• Increase senior achievement in NCEA subject and certificate endorsements and University Entrance.
• Increase regular attendance and improve chronic absences to meet government targets.

Actions to bring about improvement 

Within six months:

• leaders and teachers review achievement data for Māori students and boys and develop targeted strategies to lift outcomes
• leaders and teachers evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated junior curriculum on literacy, numeracy, attendance and engagement
• leaders and teachers develop differentiated teaching strategies to support improved NCEA achievement including subject and certificate endorsements and UE
• leaders review the impact of attendance strategies and adjust these accordingly to sustain gains 

Every six months:

• leaders evaluate and report to the Board on the impact of targeted strategies on outcome for Māori students and boys
• leaders evaluate and report to the Board schoolwide literacy and numeracy achievement and identify successful approaches to embed and sustain improvements
• leaders and teachers refine senior tracking and targeted supports to maintain focus on improving NCEA endorsements and UE
• leaders review and report to the Board attendance trends and effectiveness of interventions and ongoing adjustments in attendance strategies

Annually:

• leaders evaluate and report to the Board on the effectiveness of targeted strategies to improve equitable outcomes for Māori and boys
• leaders and teachers evaluate and report on the impact of schoolwide literacy and numeracy strategies as a basis to support annual planning 
• leaders and teachers evaluate and report on the impact strategies to strengthen senior teaching approaches to sustain increased NCEA endorsements and the achievement of UE
• leaders and the Board review and report on the impact of the attendance plan on increasing attendance including further actions to sustain improvement and address ongoing challenges. 

Expected outcomes

• Improved achievement and equitable outcomes for all learners, particularly Māori students and boys
• Increased rates of progress and achievement in Years 9 and 10 literacy and numeracy.
• Increased achievement in NCEA endorsements at Levels 2 and 3, and UE.
• Sustained higher levels of regular attendance

The next public report on ERO’s website will be a School Report and is due within four years.

Me mahi tahi tonu tātau, kia whai oranga a tātau tamariki
Let’s continue to work together for the greater good of all children

Sharon Kelly
Director of Schools

15 May 2026