Mataroa School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within six months of the Education Review Office and Mataroa 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

Mataroa is a small rural primary school North-West of Taihape that provides education for students in Years 1 to 8. The school vision is ‘Growing a community of lifelong learners within our classroom, our rural environment and in life.’ - 'Te tipu i te hapori o nga akonga ako-roa i roto i to taatau akomanga, to taiao me to tatou oranga.’ A new principal was appointed at the start of 2023.

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

• improve teacher capability and student achievement in core curriculum areas

• build a localised curriculum that is unique to the character of Mataroa School and the community

• nurture and prioritise student, staff, whānau and community hauora.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively the school is implementing a rich localised curriculum that is responsive to the needs of all learners.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• systems and processes that support improved outcomes for learners require further development and strengthening

• it is timely for the school to review and develop a localised curriculum that is responsive to the needs of all learners.

The school expects to see:

• consistent assessment and moderation practices across the school

• the use of schoolwide learning progressions that support teachers, learners and their whānau to know next steps in learning

• effective analysis and use of assessment data to inform teaching programmes and interventions

• the development of a rich localised curriculum informed by the aspirations of the school community and the local environment

• a progressive programme of instruction in te reo Māori

• excellent and equitable outcomes for all learners.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to evaluate the implementation of a rich localised curriculum:

• a positive school culture where learners are confident in themselves and supportive of each other

• whanaungatanga and manaakitanga are highly valued and evident throughout the school

• a strong relational approach to leadership

• a highly collegial staff committed to professional learning that supports improved engagement and outcomes for all learners.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• the development and embedding of a schoolwide assessment framework for foundational curriculum areas

• a robust schoolwide tracking and monitoring of learner progress, particularly for priority learners

• embedding of a professional growth cycle that supports all staff to grow and strengthen practice  

• the creation of a curriculum development and implementation plan

• the board of trustees continuing to engage with professional learning to build in-depth knowledge of their roles and responsibilities.

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

26 October 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