Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch)

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background 

This Profile Report was written within 8 months of the Education Review Office and ​Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch)​ 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 

Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch) is a Catholic, year 0 to 8, co-educational school located in Christchurch. The school aims to support ‘children’s spiritual, physical, emotional, social and academic development within a loving community of faith’. 

​​Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch)​’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are: 

• creating strong parish and school relationships  
• delivering best practice teaching and learning for tamariki  
• valuing and connecting with the school community.  

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on ​Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch)​’s website. 

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the extent to which schoolwide teaching strategies and practices in mathematics support equity and excellence in learner engagement and achievement. 

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is that the school: 

• has identified the need for improved achievement in mathematics and to increase equity for some learners 
• has an ongoing focus to ensure consistency in mathematics teaching strategies and practices  
• wants to know how well mathematics teaching strategies and practices are strengthening learner engagement and achievement across the school.  

The school expects to see: 

• strengthened teacher capability and consistency in mathematics teaching and learning strategies 
• actively engaged and motivated learners who are challenged in their mathematical learning 
• more effective use of mathematics assessment to inform teaching and learning 
• increased equity and achievement in mathematics for all learners. 

Strengths 

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate the extent to which schoolwide teaching strategies and practices in mathematics support equity and excellence in learner engagement and achievement: 

• A dedicated and committed leadership team, teachers and board that promote a positive and inclusive learning culture. 
• Useful school systems and processes that identify and support the individual needs of learners. 
• Ongoing professional learning that prioritises continuous improvement. 

Where to next? 

Moving forward the school will prioritise:  

• strengthening practices which promote learners’ knowledge and understanding of their own mathematical learning 
• enhancing engagement with whānau and families to better support mathematical learning at home 
• more effective use of mathematics assessment to inform teaching and learning and to evaluate the impact of consistent mathematical teaching strategies on learner progress, achievement and 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.   

Shelley Booysen 
Director of Schools  

​​22 March 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