Findings
On the basis of the findings of this review, ERO ‘s overall evaluation judgement of Huntly West School’s performance in achieving valued outcomes for its students is: Developing.
1 Background and Context
What is the background and context for this school’s review?
Huntly West School is located in the town of Huntly and caters for students in Years 1 to 8. The current roll of 149 includes 86% who identify as Māori. Since the November 2018 ERO review the principal, deputy principal and staff have remained the same.
The November 2018 ERO report identified aspects of school operations requiring improvement to more effectively provide excellent and equitable outcomes for students. This report summarises the significant progress made during the past two years on the priorities identified for review and development.
2 Review and Development
How effectively is the school addressing its priorities for review and development?
Priorities identified for review and development
- leadership of learning
- internal evaluation processes
- building teacher capability
- management and use of achievement data
- governance
ERO also identified several areas of non-compliance in relation to appraisal, physical restraint procedures and police vetting.
Progress
Leaders continue to have a deliberate approach to improving student progress and achievement. They have developed useful systems and processes with a strong focus on monitoring outcomes for learners. Leaders are open to learning and have consistently high expectations for teacher performance, and a planned approach to accessing appropriate professional learning and development. There is a distributed model of leadership that encourages collaboration and utilises staff strengths. Clear and well understood expectations are in place for the delivery of schoolwide teaching and learning programmes to support teacher confidence and practice and improve learner outcomes.
Leaders effectively gather and analyse student achievement information to determine current actions and possible next steps for improvement. Assessment practices have been reviewed to promote alignment between achievement information and learning programmes for individuals and groups of students. Leaders identify further scrutiny of achievement patterns and trends will be useful to track the progress of at-risk groups in the school. Processes for internal evaluation are well established and ongoing evaluation supports the school’s strategic priorities to have teachers and students reach their full potential.
Teachers provide supportive and productive learning environments for students. They work collaboratively to identify, track and monitor student progress. Achievement information is available to all staff and is increasingly used to effectively plan for group and individual learning needs. Teachers and leaders work together to reflect on and share best teaching practice. Staff have strengthened opportunities for students to be more actively involved in their learning, including setting goals and understanding their progress and next learning steps. A wide range of strategies, resources and tools supports students to achieve goals that have been set.
The board has a governance support plan in place. Trustees have begun to undertake training to strengthen their knowledge and effectiveness of their roles and responsibilities. Resourcing decisions are based on information received about student achievement and school operations. Trustees are more supportive of initiatives that improve progress for students, including priority learners.
The school has addressed all areas of non-compliance that were identified in the November 2018 ERO review.
Key next steps
Leaders and teachers should continue to consolidate and embed the practice and initiatives that have been implemented to support student progress and achievement.
Trustees need to continue with the revised governance support programme to ensure they meet statutory and regulatory responsibilities.
3 Sustainable performance and self review
How well placed is the school to sustain and continue to improve and review its performance?
Huntly West School is developing its capacity to sustain and continue its performance. Factors contributing to sustainability are:
- coherent systems to monitor student achievement and progress.
- professional learning and development for leaders and teachers to improve capability.
- useful processes for internal evaluation and improvement.
- governance plan in place to support trustees with roles and responsibilities.
Board assurance on legal requirements
Before the review, the board of trustees and principal of the school completed the ERO Board Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists. In these documents they attested that they had taken all reasonable steps to meet their legislative obligations related to:
- board administration
- curriculum
- management of health, safety and welfare
- personnel management
- financial management
- asset management.
During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student achievement:
- emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
- physical safety of students
- teacher registration
- processes for appointing staff
- stand-downs, suspensions, expulsions and exclusions
- attendance
- school policies in relation to meeting the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.
Conclusion
Huntly West School is developing its capacity to sustain and continue its performance. Factors contributing to sustainability are:
- coherent systems to monitor student achievement and progress
- professional learning and development for leaders and teachers to improve capability
- robust processes for internal evaluation and improvement
- governance plan in place to support trustees with roles and responsibilities.
On the basis of the findings of this review, ERO ‘s overall evaluation judgement of Huntly West School’s performance in achieving valued outcomes for its students is: Developing.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region - Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
15 April 2021
About the school
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement.