Moerewa School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report 

Background

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

Moerewa School is located in the Northland town of Moerewa within the rohe of Ngāti Hine. The school caters for mainly Māori learners from Years 1 to 10 and offers an option for Māori medium education with two classes in Whānau Tere Awatea.  The school is a member of the Peowhairangi Kāhui Ako. 

Moerewa School’s vision is expressed in the whakatauki: 

Taumarere herehere i te riri

Te rere i tiria

Te puna i keteriki 

Ngāti Hine he pukepuke rau

He puke he rangatira

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

• high quality teaching and learning experiences are informed by knowledge and evidence of what works for Māori students to achieve excellent educational outcomes
• student engagement and oranga are enhanced by the strength of the relationships with students and their whānau, hapū, iwi and community
• the Tuna Whakaheke Teaching and Learning Framework will underpin the marau ā-kura and form the basis of school structure and organisation.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how the development of the marau ā-kura, based on the Tuna Whakaheke Teaching and Learning Framework, leads to improved oranga and achievement for all learners. 

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is: 

• professional learning has a focus on building strong kaiako-tamaiti relationships in the context of effective teaching practices 
• the Tuna Whakaheke Teaching and Learning Framework is informed by and connected to the Ngāti Hine Education Plan
• kaiako and leaders are developing the marau ā-kura to reflect the language, culture and identity of tamariki.

The school expects to see:

• kaiako supporting tamariki to be engaged in their learning, confident in their language, culture and identity and achieving success as Māori 
• pathways and opportunities for young leaders to develop mana motuhake over their oranga. 

Strengths 

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate how the development of the marau ā-kura, based on the Tuna Whakaheke Teaching and Learning Framework, leads to improved oranga and achievement for all learners.

• there are enduring relationships between the school, whānau, hapū, iwi and community
• school culture is underpinned by Ngāti Hine mātauranga and their status as mana whenua is celebrated
• teachers and leaders are committed to the oranga of tamariki and whānau. 

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise: 

• refining and fully implementing the marau ā-kura based on the Tuna Whakaheke Teaching and Learning Framework
• embedding professional learning to guide kaiako to be more deliberate in their use of teaching practices which make a difference
• continuing to strengthen the use of achievement information by leaders and kaiako 
• leaders and the board working together to evaluate strategic priorities 
• continuing to consult with the community and local iwi leaders on the development of the marau ā-kura. 

Recommendation 

ERO recommends that the School Board works with the New Zealand School Trustees Association to increase their understanding of the stewardship role, including updating the school’s strategic documents to incorporate the National Education and Learning Priorities based on consultation with the local and wider community. 

ERO recommended that the Ministry of Education Student Achievement Function (SAF) practitioner continues to support the kaiako and leaders to strengthen school-wide assessment systems, processes and practices and refine and fully implement the marau ā-kura. 

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 

7 February 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