South Otago High School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within six months of the Education Review Office and South Otago High 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 

South Otago High School is a Years 9 to 13 co-educational secondary school in the rural town of Balclutha. The school’s vision for its learners is learning with respect, excellence and perseverance | Kia manawanui, Kia Hiranga, Kia Manawa titi.

South Otago High School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• to continue to raise the engagement of all students

• targeting student learning at Years 9 and 10 through inquiry and differentiation

• to provide engaging learning opportunities for all students through online as well as face-to-face teaching.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the effectiveness of the school’s curriculum design and implementation in relation to mātauranga Māori and differentiation (adapting programmes to better meet each students’ needs).

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is the school:

• has strategically focused on improving teaching strategies that meet the needs of all learners

• wants to give full effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the changing New Zealand environment.

The school expects to see:

• teachers consistently using a range of strategies to meet the needs of all learners

• equity of opportunity and outcomes for all students with a particular focus for Māori learners.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support it in its goal to have a curriculum that reflects mātauranga Māori and differentiation.

• The ways in which staff work together to contribute to the school wide focus on positive engagement and raising student achievement.

• Its increasing success in embedding an environment that is inclusive and respectful, supporting greater engagement in learning.

• The progress teachers have made catering to the diverse needs of learners in their classrooms.

• A curriculum that is flexible and responsive, aligning well to the needs and interests of senior students and their pathways beyond school.

• The strengthening of the school’s te ao Māori curriculum reflects its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:  

• professional development and learning for staff in relation to mātauranga Māori as an integral part of teaching and learning programmes

• continuing to explore and extend powerful educational partnerships that meet the cultural and academic needs of its students

• deep analysis of all relevant information (including achievement and progress data) so that programmes and teaching are better targeted to meet the needs of those students at risk of not achieving.

​​​​​Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Acting, Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

28 February 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