Waitakere College

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 6 months of the Education Review Office and Waitakere College 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 

Waitakere College, in west Auckland, is a large multicultural school catering for students from Years 9 to 13. The school’s vision is centred on Manawanui (perseverance and determination), Mātauranga (knowledge and understanding) and Aroha (care and empathy).

Waitakere College’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:

• learners at the centre - learners with their whānau are at the centre of education

• equitable access to learning – great education opportunities and outcomes are within reach for every learner

• quality teaching and leadership – quality teaching and leadership make the difference for learners and their whānau

• future of learning and work – learning that is relevant to the lives of New Zealanders today and throughout their lives.

You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Waitakere College’s website.

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how the implementation of literacy strategies accelerate student learning and create equitable outcomes for all.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to further:

• support teachers in effectively implementing literacy strategies

• raise student achievement, progress and engagement.

The school expects to see increased:

• levels of confidence in reading and writing

• teachers' expertise in the teaching of literacy

• equitable and improved outcomes for all learners.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate how to accelerate student literacy:

• leaders and teachers who have high expectations for students’ academic success

• welcoming, inclusive, and positive school culture

• a broad and comprehensive curriculum that meets a range of students’ interests and needs

• a collaborative, reflective and responsive staff with a commitment to seeing improved outcomes for students

• strong community partnerships across Te Kahui Akō o Waitākere in raising the literacy of all ākonga.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• developing staff capacity in the use of effective literacy strategies

• raising the profile schoolwide of the importance of literacy skills.

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

18 August 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