Sacred Heart School (Dunedin)

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) 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

Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) is a Catholic School situated in North East Valley, Dunedin. The school caters for students from year 1 to 6. The school aims to support children to develop their full potential spiritually, academically, physically, culturally and socially in a community environment which respects the special needs and gifts of all.

Sacred Heart School (Dunedin)’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• strengthen practice and pedagogy for improved outcomes for learners
• develop a culturally responsive and inclusive localised curriculum
• recognise the intrinsic dignity and individuality of each child and build on their natural desire to inquire and learn within a special character lens.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally responsive practice across the curriculum to improve engagement and outcomes for all learners.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:

• the principal, board of trustees and staff recognise the need to improve student attendance
• 2024 – 2025 strategic goals are focused on raising achievement for those learners who have not yet met curriculum levels
• the school is developing their localised curriculum and wants to ensure that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is woven through learning contexts
• The principal is working within Dunedin Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako to utilise support and resources for learners who are not regularly at school.

The school expects to see:

• improved outcomes in  wellbeing and achievement for all learners.
• higher levels of attendance for all learners
• the development and use of a localised curriculum that engages ākonga and wider community in reciprocal learning partnerships
• a strengthening of teacher capabilities and confidence in the use of te reo and tikanga practices.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally responsive practice across the curriculum to improve engagement and outcomes for all learners.

• A strong pastoral care focus for all ākonga and wider community.
• Strong learning centred and caring relationships between staff and ākonga which are evident in day-to- day interactions.
• Strong connections with Dunedin Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako which supports the school in professional learning for teachers and leadership.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• strengthening communication with families of learners who are not attending school regularly to support understanding of attendance expectations in Aotearoa New Zealand
• strengthening teacher pedagogical knowledge in all aspects of culturally responsive practice so that teachers grow their confidence in teaching and learning across the diversity of the school culture.
• professional learning to deepen staff understanding of a te ao Māori world view.

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

13 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