Francis Douglas Memorial College

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within ten months of the Education Review Office and Francis Douglas Memorial College 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

Francis Douglas Memorial College is a Catholic state integrated school located in New Plymouth. It caters for day and boarding students from Years 7 to 13. There are facilities for 5 day a week boarding on campus in La Salle House.

Francis Douglas Memorial College’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• through the “Good College Man” programme, students will be active participants in their own learning and development, with an enhanced disposition to strive for excellence to develop their full potential
• all students will experience success by having their individual learning and pastoral needs catered for, including appropriate career and pathway advice
• the New Zealand Curriculum will be effectively implemented, and regular review will ensure it is responsive to student needs and future-orientated
• students will experience success through rich opportunities in the broad curriculum
• students will have the opportunity to develop wider perspectives beyond the horizons and opportunities of Taranaki.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Francis Douglas Memorial College's website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well the school is supporting students to achieve excellence through merit and excellence endorsements in NCEA, whilst supporting a balanced approach to curriculum delivery both academic and co-curricular.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• students achieve very in well in the National Certificate of Achievement qualifications (NCEA)
• the school is aware that merit and excellent endorsements is an area for further focus
• the school is seeking to achieve a balance between academic excellence and a wide curriculum which supports the development of well-rounded students.

The school expects to see:

• the implementation of suitable targeted interventions and support mechanisms to enhance student achievement outcomes
• improved merit and excellence endorsements in NCEA
• wellbeing data that supports the schools focus on a balanced and well-rounded education.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate how well they are supporting students to achieve excellence through merit and excellence endorsements in NCEA, whilst supporting a balanced approach to curriculum delivery both academic and co-curricular.

• a school culture of personal excellence where students and staff are encouraged to set high standards for themselves and strive for continuous improvement
• well-developed systems and processes for tracking and monitoring student progress and achievement
• a school environment where language, culture and identity is nurtured
• a culture of recognition and celebration of success to inspire and motivate
• well-developed community partnerships to enrich and support learning opportunities.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise: 

• tracking NCEA endorsement progress over time using both qualitative and quantitative data
• adapting strategies and approaches to meet the needs of learners to improve academic performance and learning outcomes
• enhancing explicit teaching and learning strategies that focus on clear communication of merit and excellence learning objectives in NCEA
• collaborating with all stakeholders, including teachers, students, parents and whānau to develop personalised learning pathways aimed at maximising achievement levels whilst maintaining high levels of wellbeing for students
• further targeting support programmes for students, particularly those with additional learning needs. 

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

27 March 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

This school has boarding facilities onsite.