Matamata Intermediate

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within eight months of the Education Review Office and Matamata Intermediate 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 

Matamata Intermediate is a school for Year 7 and 8 students. The school’s values of Commitment, Common Sense and Consideration form the basis for the learning environment. Their vision is for all staff and students to be inspired about learning and empowered to improve and achieve their potential.

Matamata Intermediate ’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• strengthen staff competency and capability to inspire students and ensuring excellent and equitable learning pathways for all
• implement the revised New Zealand Curriculum in a relevant way that challenges and engages students
• foster a learning environment that enhances Mauri Ora, rich in cultural identity and belonging
• nurture partnerships between parents, whaanau and wider community to support learning.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Matamata Intermediate ’s website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the effectiveness of:

• the professional learning and support programme that aims to grow teacher capability to increase student engagement and teacher accountability
• the implementation of the revised curriculum in line with our localised Matamata Intermediate Curriculum and our community’s aspirations.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• evidence through use of Ako Critical Contexts for Change (a change process focusing on equity and excellence) indicates that supporting teacher capability and competency will have significant impact on excellence, equity and belonging for all students 
• student engagement and achievement are enhanced when the curriculum is established through collaborative and educationally powerful partnerships with whaanau and the community to which students belong.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate the effectiveness of change for equity and excellence:

• student-centred approach to decision making
• strong, coherent, and robust internal evaluation processes
• well-established educationally powerful connections and relationships across the community; parent, whaanau and iwi support aspirations for students
• clear strategic vision, honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to drive equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners
• strategic change driven by responding to the needs of adolescents through the use of Ako Critical Context for Change.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• professional learning and support to grow teaching capability to increase student engagement and teacher accountability the implementation of the revised curriculum to deliver an equitable and excellent experience for all.  

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.

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

15 December 2022 

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