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ERO (Education Review Office) Report
30 August 2005
To the Parents and Community of St Joseph's School (Orakei)

These are the findings of the Education Review Office's latest report on St Joseph's School (Orakei).

St Joseph's is a small, integrated Catholic school, attractively situated in a well-established residential area. The school draws children from a wide geographical area. The families that contribute to the school are ethnically diverse and are representative of a socio-economic cross section of the community. The historic church within its grounds and the presence of an on-site priest strengthens the special Catholic character of the school. These factors provide a strong foundation for the respectful relationships and shared values that underpin teaching and learning at St Joseph's School.

Since the 2002 ERO report the school has undergone considerable change. A new principal has been appointed, there are several new staff members and there is a new board of trustees. These changes, together with a decline in student numbers, has created challenges for the school but has also provided opportunities for future development.

Students are nurtured. They experience a consistently positive, settled and respectful environment and are developing the skills that enable them to be confident learners. They know class routines and expectations for learning and behaviour, and are provided with opportunities for leadership from an early age. International students are welcomed and contribute fully to the life of the school.

Teachers use their knowledge about the capabilities of individual students to cater effectively for their learning needs. Students achieve well both academically and in sporting activities. Analysed achievement information indicates that students make good progress as a result of effective teaching and learning programmes. Students achieve at a level appropriate to national expectations and commensurate with schools of a similar decile. An appropriate system for the collection and analysis of achievement information has enabled the board to fulfill the Ministry of Education's school reporting requirements.

The principal provides dynamic educational leadership. He is inclusive in his decision-making and draws on strong collegial relationships with staff. There is a strong focus on continuous school improvement and on clear communication. Teachers value this leadership. They are willing to seek assistance from their colleagues in an open and professional manner and are now ready to embrace new ideas as a team.

The board is well led by the chairperson, and trustees are confident and knowledgeable as a group. Trustees make generous provision for professional development and learning resources, consistent with the strategic direction of the school. The board should now develop annual plans to support this direction and enhance the quality of its self-review processes.

This report evaluates the quality of the school's mathematics programme. The report comments on areas of national interest including the achievement of Mäori and Pacific students, the implementation of the health and physical education curriculum and the provision for international students. It also comments on matters pertaining to health and safety and compliance with regulatory requirements. The report identifies appropriate levels of performance in all these areas and makes some recommendations for further improvement.

The board, principal and staff approached this education review in an open and supportive manner. They are in agreement on the areas for improvement and the actions contained in this report.

Future Action
ERO is confident that the board of trustees can manage the school in the interests of the students and the Crown and bring about the improvements outlined in this report.

ERO will review the school again as part of the regular review cycle.

Review Coverage
ERO reviews do not cover every aspect of school performance and each ERO report may cover different issues. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to student achievement and useful to this school. If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the school or see the ERO website, http://www.ero.govt.nz.