Dalefield School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written with Education Review Office and Dalefield 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

Dalefield School is a small rural school, situated to the southwest of Carterton. It provides education for students in Years 1 to 8.

Dalefield School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners to:

• experience a learning environment that supports all to experience success, embraces individuality and fosters collaboration
• protect and promote the wellbeing of all
• experience activities that focus on improving sustainability, the environment and positive relationships.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the impact of new literacy teaching practices on student confidence and achievement in literacy.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is a need to: 

• raise the engagement and achievement of students in reading and writing
• identify and implement effective practices in the teaching of literacy at all class levels
• develop an understanding of the impact of newly introduced structured literacy practices on student achievement in both reading and writing.

The school expects to see:

• students engaged and enjoying writing
• teachers using strategies proving to be the most effective in teaching reading and writing
• a rise in achievement and confidence in literacy across the school.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate the impact of new teaching practices on student confidence and achievement in writing.

• strong relationships that support a shared sense of belonging and support for one another
• a localised curriculum that supports the development of the whole child and offers learning opportunities in a rural environment
• teaching teams that demonstrate a willingness to engage in new and increasingly collaborative teaching practices.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise: 

• provide students with opportunities that grow their writing skills, confidence and a positive attitude to this subject
• revising assessment practices in reading and writing
• supporting staff to develop their understanding of the structured literacy approach to effective teaching in reading and writing.

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

19 June 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