Walton School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 6 months of the Education Review Office and Walton 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

Walton school is a rural school, providing education for students in Years 0 to 6, situated between Morrinsville and Matamata. The school promotes the vision to grow successful, creative, collaborative learners who can stand tall and proud.

Walton School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• for all akōnga to achieve academic, cultural and wellbeing success
• to review and re-design the school-based curriculum to provide engaging and fun experiences for akōnga to showcase their creativity and innovation
• for all tiers of Walton School working collaboratively to provide the educational conditions for all akōnga to achieve positive equitable outcomes, success and wellbeing.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively partnerships are supporting the development of the localised curriculum and equitable outcomes for all learners.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the school's strategic plan
• broadening relationships to further support Māori achieving success as Māori
• to strengthen the biculturalism within the curriculum design and planning.

The school expects to see increased partnerships that support curriculum planning that reflects a bicultural lens, and Māori achieving as Māori.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to development the localised curriculum to achieve equitable outcomes for all learners:

• Well-established collaborative planning structures in place to enhance teacher capabilities.
• Strong engagement with key stakeholders aligned to support further develop of the local curriculum.
• Leadership driven systems and processes that identify and respond to student needs.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• working with current stakeholders to engage in further localised learning opportunities
• curriculum development and planning to include local expert partners
• further consultation with Māori whānau to gain insight into aspirations for their tamariki to inform future planning.

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 February 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