Onslow College

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within ten months of the Education Review Office and Onslow College 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 

Onslow College is a Years 9 to 15 urban co-educational school in Johnsonville, Wellington. The school’s vision for its learners is that they: bring themselves|kei konei ahau, grow|kia puāwai and thrive in the paths they choose|haere whakamua. A new principal began in 2018. Three new senior leaders have been appointed since then.

Onslow College’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:

• ensure that all aspects of the wellbeing of ākonga are supported so that they can grow and thrive

• create positive opportunities for Māori and for all ākonga to be biculturally confident citizens

• collaboratively design an innovative curriculum that supports equitable learning pathways

• create an environment that nurtures all ākonga.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching and learning based on indicators of best practice from research.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• the college wants to improve outcomes for Māori ākonga

• to ensure all students have a strong sense of belonging to Onslow College to support engagement

• the college has already begun building culturally responsive teaching practice across the school

• the board and school community are committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The school expects to see:

• all Māori learners thriving

• a combination and use of all the tools that are effective in achieving the school’s vision

• a shared understanding and evidence of what best practice is at Onslow College

• the school’s vision and values underpinning all aspects of the school.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support it in its goal to be effective Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners.

• The commitment of the board and college to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi as full treaty partners.

• Staff who are active Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners and who are keen to learn and reflect this in their teaching.

• The college’s developing partnership with Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui to support the college in its quest for equity.

• The cultural knowledge and skills of the college’s kaiako Māori that will help guide other kaimahi.

• Strong college middle leadership which supports continual improvement towards the college’s vision for its learners.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• senior leaders and teachers collaborating to develop and present an overview of the Onslow College effective teacher profile, underpinned by key research findings

• the development of a shared understanding of how restorative practices, universal design for learning, learning conversations and data (learning information) underpin the effective teacher profile

• visible and clear curriculum development focused on equity.

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.

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

6 December 2022 

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