Cargill Open Plan School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and Cargill Open Plan 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 

Cargill Open Plan School is located in the rural Waikato township of Tokoroa, within the iwi boundaries of Ngāti Raukawa. It caters for students in Years 1 to 6. An established principal and board chair continue in their roles.

Cargill Open Plan School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners include:

• provide quality learning programmes in all curriculum areas to meet the needs of all learners, focusing on equity and excellence and Māori achieving success as Māori

• support families to access learning opportunities for their children by removing barriers

• ensure the school has a knowledgeable board who can undertake their duties effectively.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the extent to which the local curriculum reflects parent and whānau aspirations for their children, including those of the local iwi Ngāti Raukawa, and supports accelerated progress for students.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• to ensure the school curriculum reflects local priorities, thereby promoting increased student belonging, engagement and achievement

• to ensure that the school curriculum effectively promotes Māori students succeeding as Māori.

The school expects to see:

• programme content that is relevant and meaningful to all stakeholders in the school

• greater levels of student engagement and focused teaching to support students to achieve to their potential.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to evaluate the extent to which the local curriculum reflects parent and whānau aspirations for their children, including those of the local iwi, Ngāti Raukawa.

• teachers’ use of learning progressions frameworks to accurately identify students learning needs in literacy and mathematics

• clear systems and processes promote a positive culture for learning.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• strengthening school-wide expectations for effective teaching including the use of achievement information by teachers.  Priority should also be given to the collation and use of achievement information by leaders and board members to inform decision making

• continuing to strengthen the relationship with Ngāti Raukawa.

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

4 August 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