South Wellington Intermediate

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and South Wellington Intermediate 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 

South Wellington Intermediate provides education for year 7 and 8 learners.

South Wellington Intermediate’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• all ākonga are engaged in relevant and challenging programmes of learning, focusing on high expectations for all
• all staff develop an inclusive school culture inspiring all ākonga
• all staff strengthen our expectations that SWIS is a safe, respectful and responsible school
• all staff will work collaboratively with whānau, colleagues and other professionals to redevelop SWIS.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate teaching and learning in writing, and the progress and achievement of those students achieving below expectations.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• that while most students achieve at or above expectations in writing, disparity has been identified across some groups of learners (Māori learners, English language learners and boys)
• the school has identified the need to comprehensively review the teaching of writing throughout the school. This will support leadership to further align systems and processes, strengthen curriculum delivery and culturally responsive teacher practice, and lift the writing achievement of all learners.

The school expects to see:

• accelerated achievement in writing for those achieving below expectations
• the further alignment of systems and processes that will promote shared expectations and understandings
• strengthened curriculum and culturally responsive teacher practice that will build professional capability and inclusive learning environments
• the culture, language and identity of all ākonga promoted, valued and represented in the SWIS curriculum.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to evaluate teaching and learning in writing, and the progress of those students achieving below expectations:

• a co-constructed, strategic framework that guides the implementation and review of effective writing practices developed in 2021
• a collaborative schoolwide culture of shared high expectations and a commitment to effective practices which will support the achievement of all learners
• leaders and teachers value, affirm and are responsive to the diverse identities, languages and cultures of ākonga and whānau.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• embedding and sustaining the strategic Writing Framework so that writing achievement is lifted for all learners (2021-3)
• employing school leaders’ evaluative knowledge and skills to embed and sustain evaluation practice across the school.

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

24 May 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