Merivale School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and Merivale 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 

Merivale School is situated in Tauranga and provides education in English and Māori medium for 
Years 1 to 6. 

Merivale School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:

• create learning opportunities for tamariki to have new experiences, build knowledge and have ownership of their learning through our localised curriculum
• build positive relationships and make connections with students and their whānau
• encourage and support all staff in their reflective practice
• maintain school and grounds to Ministry of Education requirements
• work within the allocated set budget for 2023.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well the implementation of the local curriculum supports learner outcomes and improves achievement.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is: 

• strengthen learning-based partnerships with whānau and iwi
• test and evaluate the alignment of the Whetū indicators with stakeholder aspirations and useability for staff and students
• ascertain the extent to which the school realises its goal of creating learning opportunities for tamariki to have ownership of their learning through the implementation of the local curriculum.

The school expects to see:

• improved student attendance and engagement that leads to increased student achievement 
• refinements in the use of the school’s local curriculum to provide contextual learning programmes that engage students.

Strengths 

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate the implementation of the local curriculum to support learner outcomes and improve achievement:

• leadership and staff who are committed to implementing a local curriculum that builds identity and belonging for students and the Tūtarawānanga community
• culturally responsive and relational practices that underpins all relationships within the kura and with external services
• shared sense of unity and connection that increases collective accountability to making improvements for students
• trustees, leadership and staff promote positive leadership for students, whānau and the community.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise: 

• providing opportunities for kaiako to establish learning communities for students that strengthen student agency and contribute to the implementation of the local curriculum
• developing school wide expectations that ensure whānau aspirations for te reo Māori are safeguarded for tamariki and whānau in Ngā Hau e Whā (rūmaki syndicate).

Rumaki Outcomes and Conditions to Support Learners

Tamariki outcomes

• Tamariki enjoy opportunities to engage in authentic, relevant learning.
• Whānau and tamariki know that educational choice is valued and supported.
• Tamariki are increasingly exposed to te reo Māori.

Conditions to support tamariki

• Authentic relationships and consultation with iwi and hapū support the development of a meaningful localised curriculum.
• Purposeful educational relationships strengthen Māori medium pathway options for tamariki.
• Consistent exposure to a rumaki environment builds tamariki reo capability.

Priorities for Improvement

The school leadership will support kaiako to:

• design and implement a te reo Māori acceleration plan to further develop tamariki curriculum literacy
• design and implement robust assessment and moderation practices that will strengthen authentic, relevant learning for tamariki
• actively seek professional development to further grow rumaki specific teaching practices.

Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools

4 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