400 Karamu Road South , Hastings
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Hastings Central School
School Evaluation Report
Tēnā koutou e mau manawa rahi ki te kaupapa e aro ake nei, ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa. Mā wai rā e kawe, mā tātau katoa.
We acknowledge the collective effort, responsibility and commitment by all to ensure that the child remains at the heart of the matter.
Context
Hastings Central School provides education for students in Years 1 to 6 and is in Hastings. The school’s vision’ Inspiring our Tamariki to Succeed and Grow’ is supported through the values of manaakitanga, kotahitanga, mana motuhake and piringatanga.
The school hosts two attached units for Kowhai Specialist School.
There are three parts to this report.
Part A: A summary of the findings from the most recent Education Review Office (ERO) report and/or subsequent evaluation.
Part B: An evaluative summary of learner success and school conditions to inform the school board’s future strategic direction, including any education in Rumaki/bilingual settings.
Part C: The improvement actions prioritised for the school’s next evaluation cycle.
Part A: Previous Improvement Goals
Since the previous ERO report of March 2022, the school has focused on evaluating how effectively the school’s approach to learner agency is supporting students to be active participants in their own learning.
Expected Improvements and Findings
The school expected to see:
Students understand the purpose of their learning goals; able to articulate them and know what to do to improve their achievement outcome.
- Students know their learning goals and are increasingly able to monitor their learning through data walls and share their progress with parents and whānau; this continues to be a strategic priority.
Focused and purposeful interactions with teachers.
- Teacher’s interactions with students have become increasingly learning focused and purposeful.
- The importance of developing positive relationships and using effective teaching strategies to engage students in the learning process is prioritised.
Other Findings
During the course of the evaluation, leaders acknowledged that their own thinking about learner agency and how learners can actively lead their own learning continued to evolve. It remains a strategic priority.
Part B: Current State
The following findings are to inform the school’s future priorities for improvement.
Learner Success and Wellbeing
The school is working towards equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. |
- The majority of students achieve at curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics; improving equity for boys, and Pacific students remains a priority.
- Student achievement information requires further analysis to establish a school-wide picture of achievement and to identify how well groups of learners are achieving.
- Students speak positively about their school, display a sense of belonging and are supportive of each other.
- Less than half of students attend school regularly and the school is yet to meet Ministry of Education 2024 national attendance target; strategic actions have improved regular attendance and continue to be a priority.
Conditions to support learner success
Well established leadership supports ongoing improvement in teaching and learning. |
- The senior leadership team works collaboratively to set and pursue well aligned improvement goals focused on improving equity in outcomes for learners.
- Annual planning is accompanied by clear outcome statements to provide the board and staff with guidance and measures to support school improvement.
- Targeted professional learning for teachers is aligned to the school’s strategic priority and working well to improve outcomes for learners.
Curriculum, teaching and learning are strongly underpinned by the school values. |
- Learners see themselves, their identity and culture reflected throughout the local curriculum; they regularly and enthusiastically use a digital platform to share and involve their families in real-time learning.
- Teachers continue to embed agreed teaching and learning strategies consistently that support the many different needs of learners.
- Staff know learners well and work together to provide a wide range of purposeful curriculum experiences that broaden students' learning.
Key conditions including organisational systems and processes are aligned and embedded. |
- Productive relationships with agencies and professional networks including Kāhui Ako promote effective approaches to enhancing positive behaviour, learning and wellbeing outcomes.
- Professional learning opportunities, and monitoring of planned changes in teacher practice and student outcomes, are deliberate and aligned to strategic priorities.
- School leadership is responsive and focused on developing positive partnerships for learning with students and whānau.
- Learners’ wellbeing is promoted through respectful relationships, the school values and well-established restorative practices.
Part C: Where to next?
The agreed next steps for the school are to:
- strengthen the analysis and use of student achievement information to inform teaching and learning and increase equity for all learners
- continue to embed agreed teaching and learning strategies consistently in reading, writing and mathematics that support the different needs of learners
- continue to support students to have ownership of their learning and develop the skills necessary to become independent learners
- monitor and continue to work towards meeting the Ministry of Education’s target for regular attendance.
The agreed actions for the next improvement cycle and timeframes are as follows.
Every six months:
- analyse student achievement information to understand how well groups of students are progressing across the school
- monitor how well agreed teaching and learning strategies are being embedded across the school with a focus on literacy in years 4 to 6.
Every six months:
- evaluate the impact of actions taken to increase percentage of students attending school regularly.
Annually:
- report to the board about progress of target learners and schoolwide progress and achievement
- analyse achievement data and report to the board about progress of target learners and schoolwide progress and achievement
- regularly gather student feedback and ideas to evaluate effectiveness of strategies used to sustain active participation in their own learning
- review and report the effectiveness of agreed teaching and learning strategies and the impact on learner outcomes.
Actions taken against these next steps are expected to result in:
- dependable achievement information that contributes to a schoolwide picture of achievement
- improved equity for identified groups of learners through embedded teaching and learning strategies in literacy and mathematics
- students able to monitor their own learning progress and contribute to key decisions taken by the school
- an increase in the percentage of students attending school regularly.
ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a School Evaluation Report and is due within three years.
Me mahi tahi tonu tātau, kia whai oranga a tātau tamariki
Let’s continue to work together for the greater good of all children
Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools
17 December 2024
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
Hastings Central School
Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report 2024 to 2027
As of June 2024, the Hastings Central School 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 Hastings Central School, School 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.
Shelley Booysen
Director of Schools
17 December 2024
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
Hastings Central School
Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
Background
This Profile Report was written within 15 months of the Education Review Office and Hastings Central 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
Hastings Central School is located in Hastings and provides education for learners in years 1 to 6. The values of kotahitanga, manaakitanga, mana motuhake, and whakapiringatanga underpin all aspects of school life.
Hastings Central School’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:
-
active learners: learners are empowered to be active participants in their own learning
-
invested staff: build a culture of high performance and continuous improvement
-
sound partnerships: empower parents and whānau to be partners in their child’s learning
-
school values: identify and employ the values in all aspects of school life.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Hastings Central School’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how effectively the approach to learner agency is supporting all students, particularly identified target students, to be active participants in their own learning to promote equitable outcomes.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
-
empowering students to be active participants in their own learning is an ongoing strategic priority
-
for leadership to know how well this is improving learning outcomes for all students particularly those most at risk of poor educational outcomes.
The school expects to see:
-
focused and purposeful interactions with teachers
-
differentiated programming based on each child’s learning needs and skillset
-
learners understand the purpose of their learning goals, are able articulate them and know what they need to do to improve their achievement outcomes.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support its goal to evaluate how well learner agency is supporting all students, particularly identified target students, to be active participants in their own learning to promote equitable outcomes.
-
positive relationships and a strong belief that learners can achieve educational success that supports and affirms their identities, language, and culture
-
staff open to new learning and willing to be challenged in their beliefs
-
access to a wide range of curriculum opportunities that respond to the diverse needs and interests of learners.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
-
a review of assessment for learning processes and practices to ensure a shared understanding of effective teaching that promotes equitable outcomes for all learners
-
continuing to strengthen professional capability and collective capacity to improve learner outcomes as well as ongoing improvement and innovation.
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.
Phil Cowie
Acting Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
21 December 2022
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
Hastings Central School
Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements Report 2022 to 2025
As of March 2022, the Hastings Central School, School 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 Hastings Central School, School 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.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
21 December 2022
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
Hastings Central School - 25/06/2018
School Context
Hastings Central School is a contributing (Years 1 to 6) school with 205 students on the roll. Of these, 132 identify as Māori and 26 are of Pacific heritage. The roll is increasing. There is a close relationship with the adjacent Kowhai Special School. An attached unit is on the school site.
This community school practises its mission: ‘Together we succeed, Kia mau te kotahitanga’.
The school’s learning aim is to accelerate the achievement in reading, writing and mathematics of priority students within every classroom.
Leaders and teachers regularly report to the board, schoolwide information about outcomes for students in the following areas:
-
achievement over time in reading, writing, mathematics and science
-
acceleration of progress
-
achievement of Māori learners
-
progress of boys at risk of not achieving in writing and children below expectations In reading after 40 weeks
-
additional learning needs, including English Language Learners.
In 2018 a new principal joined the long-serving staff. Most trustees have been recently elected and participated in a number of workshops to become familiar with their stewardship role.
There has been a long time involvement with the Enviro Schools programme and the school recently received a Green Ribbon Award from the Ministry of the Environment.
The school is a member of the Hastings East Kāhui Ako.
Evaluation Findings
1 Equity and excellence – achievement of valued outcomes for students
1.1 How well is the school achieving equitable and excellent outcomes for all its students?
Most students achieve well in reading and the majority of students are at or above the school’s expectations in writing and mathematics.
A higher proportion of Māori students achieve above school expectations than non-Māori in reading, writing and mathematics and most Pacific students achieve at or above the school expectations in reading, writing and mathematics.
Overall there is significant disparity for boys in reading and writing. The Year 5, 2017 cohort had a significant number of students not achieving in reading, writing and mathematics. The school recognises that more students should be reaching above the expected achievement level.
Student achievement improves over time and reported data show almost all Year 6 leavers achieve at or above school expectations in reading and writing.
1.2 How well is the school accelerating learning for those Māori and other students who need this?
There is evidence of accelerated learning for some Māori and other students who need this. There is still a need for further acceleration.
2 School conditions for equity and excellence – processes and practices
2.1 What school processes and practices are effective in enabling achievement of equity and excellence, and acceleration of learning?
The school has clear expectations for acceleration of achievement for those students who need this. There are useful systems and practices to help teachers and leaders identify students requiringextra support and for monitoring their engagement and achievement. There is appropriate support for students with additional needs.
Students have sufficient and equitable opportunities to participate and learn. The board, leaders and teachers ensure every student has the opportunity to participate in all activities. Teachers know the students and families well and regularly discuss strategies to improve achievement. There are increased opportunities to engage in and with the community. Parent support and volunteering is valued.
Teaching is responsive to the interests of the students and development of The New Zealand Curriculum key competencies. Cultural diversity is valued and celebrated. Aspects of te ao Māori are within curriculum areas. Progressions are well articulated and students are able to describe their learning and next steps. Teachers are responsive to the needs of the learners, reflective, open to new learning and interact well with children.
Students demonstrate a sense of belonging. They engage positively and develop productive relationships. Wellbeing is evident. Students take advantage of the wide range of student leadership opportunities. Tuakana teina is strong.
Transitions into, through and out of the school are well managed. The junior class teachers have close ties with the neighbouring early childhood centres. The well-structured play-based learning programme in the junior school facilitates early school learning.
2.2 What further developments are needed in school processes and practices for achievement of equity and excellence, and acceleration of learning?
The school has recently developed and implemented a range of practices to achieve equity and excellence and to accelerate student learning. The next step is to embed these school wide and consider more deliberate teaching by all staff for greater rates of accelerated learning.
As part of the ongoing curriculum revision, leaders and teachers should document place-based learning and improve alignment with the school’s vision and values.
Leaders and teachers are reflective. There is a good process for self review. Building internal evaluation capability at all levels should assist a sharper focus on acceleration of students’ learning. This includes teacher inquiry into how their practice is making a difference for all students who are at risk of not achieving school expectations.
3 Board assurance on legal requirements
Before the review, the board 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 the following:
- board administration
- curriculum
- management of health, safety and welfare
- personnel management
- finance
- asset management.
During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student safety and wellbeing:
- emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
- physical safety of students
- teacher registration and certification
- processes for appointing staff
- stand down, suspension, expulsion and exclusion of students
- attendance
- school policies in relation to meeting the requirements of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014.
4 Going forward
Key strengths of the school
For sustained improvement and future learner success, the school can draw on existing strengths in:
-
the school culture that promotes social and emotional wellbeing
-
senior leaders who provide a strong, strategic, and collaborative direction
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staff collaboration so that students have sufficient, equitable learning opportunities
-
a strong sense of belonging where students are keen to learn
-
community support that enriches student learning opportunities.
Next steps
For sustained improvement and future learner success, priorities for further development are to:
- continue developing partnerships with whānau, hapū and iwi to better know and meet community expectations
- further extend students who are achieving school expectations and have the potential to achieve above
- build internal evaluation capability
[ERO will provide an internal evaluation workshop for trustees and senior leaders.]
ERO’s next external evaluation process and timing
ERO is likely to carry out the next external evaluation in three years.
Patricia Davey
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central (Acting)
Te Tai Pokapū - Central Region
25 June 2018
About the school
Location |
Hastings |
Ministry of Education profile number |
2569 |
School type |
Contributing (Years 1 to 6) |
School roll |
205 |
Gender composition |
Boys 53%, Girls 47% |
Ethnic composition |
Māori 63% |
Students with Ongoing Resourcing Funding (ORS) |
Yes |
Provision of Māori medium education |
No |
Review team on site |
May 2018 |
Date of this report |
25 June 2018 |
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review April 2015 |
Hastings Central School - 30/04/2015
Findings
Hastings Central School is well placed to sustain and improve its performance. Assessment data is used well to provide for students. Plans are in place to increase student progress and achievement, particularly in mathematics. Positive connections with parents and whānau help to ensure school decision-making promotes student outcomes.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
1 Context
What are the important features of this school that have an impact on student learning?
Hastings Central School caters for students in Years 1 to 6. Of the 166 students who attend, 60% identify as Māori and 9% have Pacific heritage. Stable staffing supports positive relationships. Students, staff, families and whānau demonstrate a sense of belonging in the school. Students' cultures are valued.
A positive tone in the school supports the engagement and learning of all students. The culture of high expectations supports the holistic development of each student. The school’s mission ‘together we succeed, kia mau te kotahitanga’ underpins all aspects of school life and the curriculum.
The school’s positive ERO reporting history continues with the findings of this review.
2 Learning
How well does this school use achievement information to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement?
The school effectively uses student achievement information to support students’ progress and achievement. Senior leaders collect a range of appropriate data to set annual student achievement targets, plan professional learning and development (PLD) and identify future directions. Senior leaders have identified writing and mathematics as priorities for PLD.
Trustees receive detailed and meaningful information about student progress and achievement. This is used to make decisions about resourcing. Data reported to the board in December 2014 shows a steady increase in achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. Significant progress is evident for some groups of students, including Māori learners. Senior leaders set annual improvement targets to support the raising of Māori student achievement.
Teachers are continuing to strengthen their use of student achievement data to improve their teaching and learning programmes. Teachers regularly reflect on the progress of learners to ensure they are providing programmes that are well matched to individual needs. Teacher aides play an important role in supporting teachers and students.
Pacific language, culture and identity are promoted through topics studied within learning programmes, targeted support programmes and positive relationships with families. National Standards data for Pacific students shows that most are achieving well in reading, writing and mathematics.
Parents are important partners in their children’s learning and achievement. They receive useful information about their children's progress and achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers’ feedback supports students’ next learning steps and strategies for parents and whānau to extend learning at home. Senior leaders continue to review student reports to parents to ensure they clearly show student progress and achievement in relation to National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics.
3 Curriculum
How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote and support student learning?
Hastings Central School’s curriculum effectively promotes and supports student learning. Teaching and learning programmes are underpinned by and consistent with The New Zealand Curriculum principles, values and key competencies. There is a sense of community and strong value is placed on establishing, building and maintaining purposeful parent and whānau relationships.
Appropriate priority is given to literacy and mathematics. Other curriculum areas such as science and social sciences are integrated through student inquiries. Students have opportunities to participate in a wide range of learning experiences in and outside of the classroom. Learners are supported to be independent and self managing.
Senior leaders are planning to review mathematics across the school. This should support the school’s current professional learning and development focus.
Students’ transition to school is well supported. Partnerships have been developed between the new entrant teacher, local early childhood centres and parents. This enhances students’ confidence and sense of security.
How effectively does the school promote educational success for Māori, as Māori?
The school continues to strengthen its approach to promoting educational success for Māori, as Māori. The percentage of students who identify as Māori has increased since the June 2012 ERO report. School leaders have recently consulted with whānau and collected their aspirations for their children and the school. These comments have been analysed and planning in response is underway.
The school is beginning to develop links with local iwi. Senior leaders have identified, and ERO agrees, that a next step is to further support Māori language, culture and identity across the school. This includes reviewing the provision of te reo Māori and continuing to build teachers’ cultural competencies. The use of Tātaiako: Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners and seeking external support should guide this development.
4 Sustainable Performance
How well placed is the school to sustain and improve its performance?
Hastings Central School is well placed to sustain and improve its performance. Senior leaders have complementary skills and proactively work towards realising the school’s vision and goals.
Trustees are continuing to build their knowledge and understanding of their governance roles and responsibilities. They make well-considered decisions that contribute to success for students, their families and whānau.
Senior leaders support staff by providing opportunities to take on leadership initiatives within the school. The school-wide direction is clear and focuses on meeting the diverse needs of students. Teachers work with each other, share ideas and reflect on their teaching practices. Good strategies and practices are focused on promoting student wellbeing.
Systems and processes to support ongoing improvement and sustainability are becoming well established. Staff appraisal supports teachers’ professional growth and self review promotes ongoing improvement.
Senior leaders, trustees and teachers demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of forming partnerships with parents, whānau and the wider community. They make positive connections, share successes and seek ideas and opinions to ensure that their decision-making is in the best interests of students.
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.
Conclusion
Hastings Central School is well placed to sustain and improve its performance. Assessment data is used well to provide for students. Plans are in place to increase student progress and achievement, particularly in mathematics. Positive connections with parents and whānau help to ensure school decision-making promotes student outcomes.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Joyce Gebbie
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central
30 April 2015
School Statistics
Location |
Hastings |
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
2569 |
|
School type |
Contributing (Years 1 to 6) |
|
School roll |
166 |
|
Gender composition |
Male 51%, Female 49% |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori |
60% |
Special Features |
Kowhai Special School and Resource Centre attached unit |
|
Review team on site |
March 2015 |
|
Date of this report |
30 April 2015 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
June 2012 |