Redwood School (Christchurch)

 Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within twenty-four months of the Education Review Office and Redwood School (Christchurch) 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 

Redwood School is located in north Christchurch and provides education for students in years 1 to 6. The school’s vision ‘Climbing high, ready for life,’ is underpinned by the Reddie Learner values.  Since the last ERO review, the school has appointed a new principal. 

Redwood School (Christchurch)’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• continuing to refine its school-based curriculum to ensure that it is engaging, relevant and culturally responsive, and meets the needs of all ākonga and enables them to realise their full potential in line with the curriculum refresh
• furthering the professional growth of school leaders and teaching staff to ensure quality outcomes for all ākonga
• acknowledging and responding to Tiriti o Waitangi obligations through regular and meaningful collaborative relationships with iwi, the parent community and community organisations which benefit the Redwood School community.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Redwood School (Christchurch)’s website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively the school’s teaching of literacy is meeting the needs of all ākonga, particularly those whose achievement needs accelerating. 

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to: 

• ensure all ākonga make appropriate progress in literacy 
• ensure that the school’s curriculum reflects best practice and new pedagogy is monitored for effectiveness
• have a local curriculum that is relevant to the local cultural narrative.

The school expects to see a curriculum that is meaningful and engaging to all ākonga, with quality instructional literacy practices that promote progress and improved achievement for all learners.

Strengths 

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to promote accelerated progress in literacy:

• the cohesive and collaborative approach between teachers, leadership, and board to support continuous school improvement 
• a positive school culture that provides a safe, inclusive environment where all ākonga are valued and experience quality learning spaces
• learners and their whānau have strong connections to the school. 

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise: 

• aligning assessment practice with pedagogies to enable teachers and leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives and practices
• formalising evaluation practices to support school decision making and review processes.

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 January 2024 

About the School

The school has a close relationship with Ko Taku Reo/Deaf Education NZ and hosts a NZ Sign Language Hub for hearing impaired learners from across the city.

The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement.  educationcounts.govt.nz/home