Fleet Street, Masterton
View on mapSolway College
Solway College
Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
Background
This Profile Report was written within eighteen months of the Education Review Office and Solway 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
Solway College is located in Masterton (Wairarapa). It is predominantly a boarding school with limited day places for girls in years 7-13. Over the past three years the school has gone through a full change in senior leadership team. The special character which provides “a holistic education for young women, in a caring, Christian, close-knit and inclusive family environment” is at the heart of the school.
Solway College’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:
-
to pursue excellence through the Solway Way values and programmes
-
to be empowered to move confidently and purposefully into the next phase of their lives
-
for staff to work collaboratively so every student is nurtured to achieve their potential
-
for families to be partners in their daughters’ education
-
for a holistic education that prioritises wellbeing to support student success
-
that the environment equips students to thrive in tomorrow’s world.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Solway College’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the implementation of an evaluation framework to support the review of school’s curriculum (Tō Mātou Ara Manaia - Our Solway Way) and its impact on student achievement and wellbeing.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
-
to support the systematic review of Tō Mātou Ara Manaia - Our Solway Way
-
for the actions taken as a result of the Tō Mātou Ara Manaia - Our Solway Way review to have a positive impact on student achievement and wellbeing.
The school expects to see equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners as they transition successfully through their Solway education and beyond school.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to use effective evaluation to know the impact of its priorities for improvement:
-
its systematic review of school conditions that lead to equitable and excellent outcomes for learners
-
leaders’ rigorous monitoring and reporting to inform the pace and success of change
-
its prioritisation of partnership with both local iwi in the initial consultation of the strategic plan, and as partners in the ongoing implementation and evaluation of Tō Mātou Ara Manaia - Our Solway Way.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise strengthening its collective capacity to use evaluation for improvement and innovation across the school.
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.
Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
15 February 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
Solway College
Provision for International Students Report
Background
The Education Review Office reviews schools that are signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 established under section 534 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
Findings
The school is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 established under section 534 of the Education and Training Act 2020. The school has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code and has completed an annual self review of its implementation of the Code.
At the time of this review there were three international students attending the school, and no exchange students.
Students are achieving their academic and language goals. Teachers know students well and meet individual learning and wellbeing needs. As boarders, students are immersed in the social and cultural life of the school and have many opportunities to be involved in their community. They are regularly asked for feedback and any emerging issues are addressed.
The board is well informed on the effectiveness of the school's provision for international students and is making strategic decisions for the programme's future.
Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
15 February 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
Solway College
Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report 2022 to 2025
As of September 2022, the Solway College Board has attested to the following regulatory and legislative requirements:
Board Administration
Yes
Curriculum
Yes
Management of Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Personnel Management
Yes
Finance
Yes
Assets
Yes
Further Information
For further information please contact Solway College Board.
The next School Board assurance that it is meeting regulatory and legislative requirements will be reported, along with the Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report, within three years.
Information on ERO’s role and process in this review can be found on the Education Review Office website.
Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
15 February 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
Solway College
Hostel Report
Background
The Chief Review Officer has the authority to carry out reviews (which may be general or in relation to particular matters) of the provision of a safe physical and emotional environment that supports learning for students accommodated in hostels under section 470 of the Education and Training Act 2020. This function is delegated to review officers who have the powers to enter and carry out review of hostels under section 472 of the Act.
Findings
The hostel manager and the hostel owner have attested in the Hostel Assurance Statement that they met the requirements of the hostel regulations 2005.
Boarding is central to school life at Solway College, with over 80% of the school’s students living onsite. Boarders live with their peer groups in new or refurbished residential facilities. They are provided with a range of leisure and social opportunities which include access to school facilities after hours and trips together offsite. Boarders enjoy the tuakana teina relationships they form with each other that help them to successfully navigate life as a boarder, adjust to being away from home and learn to be increasingly independent. Through the student Head of Boarding and the School Council, boarders can raise suggestions or concerns with confidence that these will be listened to and considered. School and boarding staff work closely together to communicate about, and strive to support, the learning, wellbeing and social needs of each individual boarder. Parents and whānau are made welcome and included in boarding activities.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
6 July 2021
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