Tarawera High School

Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report

Background

This Profile Report was written within 9 months of the Education Review Office and Tarawera 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 

Tarawera High School is a Year 7 to 15 co-educational modern learning environment built in 2016, situated in Kawerau, Eastern Bay of Plenty. The school’s vision is underpinned by the values of Mana: Manaakitanga, Ako, Ngākau pono and Āwhina.

Tarawera High School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are to:

• expand integrated curriculum through a te ao Māori lens, focusing on literacy and numeracy for all

• provide a learning environment that is inclusive of Mana Ōrite mō te Mātauranga Māori

• create a sense of belonging through visible partnerships.

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

ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the extent to which internal evaluation is supporting ongoing school improvement and partnerships to support student achievement and hauora.

The rationale for selecting this evaluation is to: 

• further develop internal evaluation systems and processes across the school to identify what is working for which ākonga and why

• strengthen educationally significant connections with Kawerau whānui.

The school expects to see ongoing school improvement and partnerships to support student progress, achievement and hauora.

Strengths

The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal of ongoing improvement and partnerships to support student achievement and hauora:

• A responsive, localised curriculum promoting equitable and accelerated ākonga outcomes, that aligns with the school’s vision, values and goals

• School leadership that sustains a culture of inclusiveness, with a strong focus on relational trust and cultural responsiveness

• Leaders are continually engaged in professional knowledge building to enhance teaching effectiveness.

• Visible school values that contribute to a positive school culture for ākonga and kaiako.

Where to next?

Moving forward, the school will prioritise:

• reviewing curriculum content and delivery to ensure it is reflective of Mana Ōrite mō te Mātauranga Māori, student interests and hauora

• supporting staff to use internal evaluation processes and professional knowledge building to enhance teaching effectiveness

• providing opportunities for Kawerau whānui to engage and contribute to educational outcomes and pathways.

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 its 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.

The school’s Specialist Learning Centre for students with physical and intellectual challenges, Teen Parent Education Centre and Alternative Education facility provide for students who need additional support to fulfil their potential.

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

7 March 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

Tarawera High School also offers a Specialist Learning Centre for physically and intellectually challenged learners, a Teen Parent Unit for pregnant and parenting teenagers, and an Alternative Education facility for those at risk of leaving education.