ERO (Education Review Office) Supplementary Review Report
17 August 2009
To the Parents and Community of St Joseph's School (Orakei)
This supplementary review evaluates the quality of education received by students and the performance of the Board of Trustees in relation to specific terms of reference.
The Education Review Office [ERO] evaluation of St Joseph's School (Orakei) follows.
St Joseph's School (Orakei) caters for students in Years 1 to 6. The beliefs, values and practices of the Catholic faith continue to be reflected in the school charter and the life of the school. The new principal and board actively support events that promote the school's special character. During 2008 people associated with St Joseph's School had occasion to celebrate its fifty-year history.
The board has addressed the recommendations of the 2008 ERO report. The principal and deputy principal have successfully led improvements in planning and assessment so that teachers can help all students improve their learning. Ongoing external advice has been provided by several consultants to help the principal and staff develop their roles more fully to improve outcomes for students.
The board, working in conjunction with the principal, has developed systems and procedures to provide a more strategic direction for the school. It has improved its policy review and ensures teacher professional development is focused on bringing about school-wide improvements in teaching and learning. Student achievement reports provided by the principal help guide board decision-making. In areas such as the provision for international students, the board now receives better quality and up-to-date information. The board provides good support for the principalto assist the growth of his leadership and administration skills and is appreciative of the measures he has takensince his appointment to rectify areas for improvement identified in the 2008 ERO report.
Teachers support the school's strategic direction and appreciate opportunities to be involved in decision making. They plan programmes more collaboratively than previously. These factors are fostering a more cohesive, whole-school approach to teaching and learning. They engage in professional conversations that are focused on improving learning. Initiatives such as the focus on improving student writing have helped teachers to understand ways that assessment can be used to improve learning.
Students interact well with their peers and adults. They are confident, personable and engage actively in their learning. Students demonstrate a willingness and ability to make decisions about the direction of their learning. Teachers have identified that formative teaching and learning practices could be further developed to help students increase this independence. Teachers are now considering ways they can effectively share achievement information so students can easily identify their next learning steps.
The board and principal are well positioned to be forward-looking in their governance and management roles. This report recommends that the board further strengthen its self-review processes to enhance the achievement of goals outlined in the school's mission statement.
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 is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
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.