Timaru South School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within twelve months of the Education Review Office and Timaru South 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 

Timaru South School is located in Timaru and provides education for students in Years 1 to 8.

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

• provide a supportive, caring environment which values each student individually

• develop quality learning programmes to ensure confident, capable learners

• establish effective relationships between school and the wider community

• ensure the school is governed effectively and strategically

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well the school’s approach to structured literacy improves learning outcomes in writing for students in Years 1 to 3.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to:

• address the significant literacy learning needs across the school and support accelerated progress for those who need it, particularly in junior oral language

• ensure that teachers have a shared understanding and use of assessment practices

• develop a shared understandings of good literacy practices to ensure consistency across the school

The school expects to see accelerated rates of progress in reading and writing, particularly in the junior school. Leaders and teachers will know what strategies and approaches are most effective in raising student achievement and what needs to change to accelerate progress. 

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to evaluate how well the school’s approach to structured literacy improves learning outcomes in writing for students in Years 1 to 3.

• well-developed systems for tracking student learning and progress overtime 

• regular and ongoing professional development for all staff to ensure consistent understandings and approaches to teaching and learning

• open and collaborative school culture, with a committed staff who support each other and regularly share ideas and knowledge

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• continuing to build teacher knowledge and use of literacy teaching practices 

• build learning partnerships with whānau and families to support their children’s learning

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.

Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

3 April 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