Irongate School

1 He Kupu Arataki 

Kua whakahaere Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, mā te mahi tahi me Te Manatōpū ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahungunu, i te whakamātautanga o tētahi aromātai whakatōpū pānga e whakamahi ana i ngā huarahi aromātai kaupapa Māori ki te taha o tētahi kohinga o ētahi kura ara reo Pākehā, me tētahi whare kōhungahunga.  

Ko te whāinga matua o tēnei aromātai tōmua, kia mahi ngātahi a Ngāti Kahungunu me Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ki te waihanga ngātahi i tētahi huarahi aromātai tūtahi e hāngai ana ki ngā wawata o te iwi mō ā rātou tamariki me ā rātou rangatahi.  

Mā te taiao ka tauihi te maroro 

I whiriwhirihia ngā kura me te whare kōhungahunga mō te aromātai tōmua nei e Ngāti Kahungunu, nā ō rātou whai hononga kē ki te iwi. I tapaina e Te Manatōpū ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahungunu te ingoa “Tiro Maroro” ki te aromātai tōmua. Ko tā te ika maroro, he whakawhiti i ngā ao e rua, arā, i te rangi me te wai, heoi, he kōrero whakarite te ingoa nei mō te whakawhiti atu i te aronga aromātai kaupapa Māori ki ngā kura ara reo Pākehā, me te whare kōhungahunga.  

I waihanga ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga rātou ko Ngāti Kahungunu, ko ngā kura tōmua me ngā kaiārahi mātauranga kōhungahunga i Ngā Paearu o Tiro Maroro: Learner Outcomes for Success Indicators, nā ngā kaupapa matua i whakaraupapahia ai ki Te Tōpuni Tauwhāinga, arā, ki te rautaki mātauranga a Ngāti Kahungunu. Ko aua paearu kei te tūāpapa o te aromātai a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga. Ki te hiahia taipitopito kōrero anō e pā ana ki te Tiro Maroro, tēnā koa, pāwhiritia Irongate School | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz).  

2 Te Horopaki  

Ko Te Kura o Irongate tētahi kura auraki, ā, he kāhui reo rua tōna. He Māori, he Pasifika te nuinga o ngā tamariki o ngā tau 1 ki te 8, ā, kei Pāharakeke te kura e tū ana, i Heretaunga. Ko te tirohanga a te kura, kia tū hei hapori ākonga e tautāwhi ana i Te Ara Whakamanawa, hei hāpai, hei whakatupu hoki i ngā tamariki me ngā whānau. Ko tā Te Whare Mōrehu he whakarato i te mātauranga rumaki reo Māori ki te hautoru o ngā tamariki o te kura i ngā tau 1 ki te 8. I tēnei wā, he nui te whakahou ake i te kura, ā, e 80% o ngā whare e whakahoungia ana. E āhuru tonu ana hoki Te Kura o Irongate i tētahi atu kura i hūnuku mai ai ki tō rātou taha, whai muri i a Huripari Kaperiere.  

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai ā-Iwi 

He pēhea rawa ngā kaiārahi o tō kura e tāmata i te āheinga o ngā ākonga me ngā whānau ki te whakatinana i tō rātou mana motuhake me tō rātou rangatiratanga i roto i tā rātou mātauranga?  

E ahu whakamua ana ngā kaiārahi me ngā kaiako o Te Kura o Irongate ki te “Rangatiratanga – kia whakatinanahia e ngā ākonga me ngā whānau te mana motuhake me te rangatiratanga i roto i tā rātou mātauranga”.  

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga  

Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

Kei te piki haere te whai pānga o ngā kaupapa matua o te kura whānui ki ērā i whakatakotohia ai e te iwi, ki ngā wawata hoki o te whānau, ā, e tohu ana i te tino māramatanga ki te kōtuitanga e hapahapai ana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  

• E kaha haere ana te aro atu a ngā kaiārahi o te kura ki ngā mōhiotanga o ngā kaimahi, ā, e whakapakari ana i ngā whai wāhitanga e whakahōhonu ake ana i tō rātou māramatanga ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi, e whakamōhio ana i ngā hōtaka akoranga e hāpai ake ai i te tū o ngā ākonga ā tōna wā hei kawau mārō o te tino rangatiratanga.  
• Mā te wānanga tahi me ngā rangatira o Ngāti Kahungunu, kei te whakapakari ngā kaimahi i ō rātou mōhiotanga ki te whai pānga o te tāmitanga ki tō rātou hapū. Nā taua aronga kua whakapakarihia e ngā kaiako ngā hōtaka akoranga e hāpai ana i te tū o ngā tamariki hei kawau mārō mō ngā wawata o Ngāti Kahungunu, o ō rātou ake iwi katoa anō hoki.  
• E kaha haere ana te toro atu a ngā kaiārahi me ngā kaiako o te kura ki ngā wawata o ngā whānau me ngā ākonga, hei whakamōhio atu i ngā hōtaka akoranga me ngā huarahi mātauranga o ā rātou tamariki.  

Te Reo Māori 

Mā ngā tikanga me ngā kawa puta noa i te kura, kei te piki haere ngā kaimahi i te tangongitanga o ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā ākonga ki te noho rumaki i roto i te reo Māori, i te ao Māori, me te mātauranga Māori o Kahungunu.  

• E hāpai ana ngā whai wāhitanga ako ngaio i ngā kaiako ki te whakakaha ake i tā rātou whakamahi i te reo Māori i roto i te ao o te kura i ia rā, me te whakapakari i ngā pūkenga reo me ngā hononga ahurea o ngā tamariki.  
• E whanake ana ngā kaiārahi o ngā kura i te rautaki reo Māori ā-kura e arotahi ai ki te whiwhinga o ngā ākonga katoa i ngā whai wāhitanga ki te whakatupu i tō rātou āheinga ki te āta whakawhiti kōrero mā te reo Māori me te reo Pākehā.  
• E ahu whakamua ana ngā kaiārahi ki te whakarato i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā whānau ki te tae atu ki ngā wānanga reo Māori i te kura, hei whakatinana i tō rātou mana motuhake ki te whai wāhi atu, me te hāpai i te tupu o te reo ki te taha o ngā tamariki i ō rātou kāinga.  

Mātauranga 

E ako ana ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao e tino whakamana ana, e kaha tautoko haere ana i a rātou ki te ako mā ngā huarahi e whakapakari ake ana i tō rātou tuakiri hei Māori, hei uri hoki o Ngāti Kahungunu.  

• Kei te piki haere te whai pānga o te marau ki ngā horopaki o te hapori, mā ngā huarahi e hāpai ai i ngā ākonga ki te kite i a rātou anō, i ō rātou tuakiri, i tō rātou ahurea hoki ki aua horopaki, ā, he tūāhuatanga e hāpai ana i tā rātou whai wāhi atu ki te ao o te kura.  
• Ko te ū ki ngā whakaritenga me ngā hōtaka akoranga e hāpai ake ana i ngā ākonga ki te tautuhi me te whakanui i te reo, i ngā tikanga, i ngā whakataukī, i ngā whakapapa, i ngā pūrākau o Kahungunu, o rātou anō hoki, ā, e tautoko ana i tō rātou mōhio ki a rātou anō hei Māori, hei uri hoki o Ngāti Kahungunu.  
• Ko ngā whakaritenga me ngā hōtaka akoranga i te kura whānui, e hāpai ana i te whai māramatanga o ngā tamariki ki te whakahirahiratanga o ngā ariā Māori me ngā uara Māori, me ērā e whai pānga nui ana ki a Ngāti Kahungunu, ā, ka mārama, ka whakatinana hoki i aua tūāhuatanga i ia rā kura, hei whakapakari tonu atu i tō rātou tuakiri me ō rātou hononga ā-ahurea.  

Whanaungatanga 

Kei te kaha haere te tū pakari me te mātau o ngā ākonga ki ngā tūranga me ngā kawenga mahi i roto i te whānau, te hapū, me te iwi.  

• Mā ngā whakaritenga puta noa i te kura, kei te tūmāia haere, kei te mātau haere hoki ngā tamariki ki tō rātou tū hei tangata whenua e manaaki nei i ngā manuhiri.  
• Ko ngā tikanga me ngā kawa o te kura e hāpai ana ki te whakakaha ake i te ngākau titikaha me te mōhiotanga o ngā ākonga kia tautoko atu, kia kawe atu hoki i ngā kawa i te marae me ngā tikanga o Ngāti Kahungunu, o ō rātou ake hapū, ō rātou ake iwi hoki.  
• Kei te whakapakari haere ngā kaiārahi o te kura i ō rātou hononga ki ngā marae i Heretaunga, mā ngā haerenga ā-kura e hāpai ana i ngā ākonga me ngā whānau ki te whai hononga me te tūmāia ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā tūāhuatanga o te ao Māori kei tua atu i te horopaki o te kura.  

Rangatiratanga 

Kei te piki haere te tautoko o ngā kaiārahi o te kura i te whai wāhi atu a te ākonga me te whānau ki ngā whakataunga, puta noa i te kura.  

• Kei te piki ake te whakaemi i ngā wawata o ngā whānau me ngā ākonga, hei whakamōhio i ngā hōtaka akoranga, hei tautoko hoki i te whai wāhi kaha ake o te ākonga, me ngā putanga whai hua.  
• Mā ngā whakaritenga aromatawai i whakatairangatia ai, e ahu whakamua ana ngā kaiako ki te whakarato ki ngā ākonga me ō rātou whānau, ko ngā mōhiohio e pā ana ki te ahu whakamua me ngā paetae, kia taea ai e rātou te whakatinana te rangatiratanga ki ō rātou huarahi ako. He kaupapa matua tēnei e whāia tonuhia ana kia whakapai ake.  
• Kei te piki ake te whakarato a ngā kaiārahi me ngā kaiako o te kura i te tautoko me ngā rauemi e whai pānga ana, e whai hua ana hoki ki ngā whānau, kia taea ai e rātou te hāpai ake te ako, te ahu whakamua, me ngā huarahi o ā rātou tamariki i te kura me te kāinga.  

Tipuria Te Aroha 

Ko ngā whakaritenga ā-kura me te whakatinanatanga o te marau e kaha hāpai haere ana i ngā ākonga, kia ngākau titikaha, kia harikoa, kia manawa whakahī hoki hei uri o Ngāti Kahungunu, hei uri Māori rānei, hei uri Pasifika anō hoki / rānei.  

• Ko ngā uara o te kura, arā, ko te kotahitanga, te manaakitanga, te whanaungatanga, me te ako, kei te pūtake o ngā whakaritenga ā-kura, ā, e āta whakatau ana i te tautoko i te taiao papai me te whai wāhi nui a te ākonga ki te ao o te kura.  
• E tīmata ana ngā kaimahi ki te whakamahi i ngā mōhiohio e pā ana ki te ahu whakamua a ngā ākonga, hei hāpai i te ākonga ki te noho mōhio ki tōna taumata ako me ngā whakaritenga ka whai atu, ā, he tūāhuatanga tēnei ka hāpai i a rātou ki te aru me te aroturuki i tā rātou ake ahu whakamua me tā rātou angitu. He kaupapa matua tēnei e whāia tonuhia ana kia whakapai ake.  
• Ko te whai wāhi atu a ngā ākonga ki te ao o te kura e kaha tautokona ana mā te pikitanga ake o ngā whai wāhitanga ki te ako ki tua atu i te horopaki o te kura, ā, ka whakawhānui atu i tō rātou mōhiotanga me ō rātou hononga ki te whenua o Ngāti Kahungunu.  

Ētahi atu tūāhuatanga kia tauihi te Maroro 

• He kaha te poari ki te whakarato i ngā rauemi mō te hauora; he tūāhuatanga e whakamahere nahanahatia ana hei hāpai i ngā kaiako, i ia ākonga takitahi, i ō rātou whānau, me te hapori whānui, hei āta whakatau i te whai wāhi tonutanga ki te ao o te kura.  
• Ko te kaha o te whakawhirinakitanga ngātahi e whakapakari ana i te mahi ngātahi ngaio, puta noa i ngā kaimahi me te hapori whānui tonu o te kura, ā, e arotahi ana ki te whakapai ake i ngā whakaritenga me ngā putanga ki ngā ākonga katoa.  
• Ko te riterite o ngā mahi aromatawai, me te aru, te aroturuki hoki i te ahu whakamua a ngā ākonga e kaha hāpai ana i ngā kaimahi ki te tautuhi me te whakamahere hei whakatutuki i ngā matea me ngā pūmanawa o ngā ākonga.  
• Ko ngā ākonga hei āta hāpai ake, e tautuhia ana, ā, e tautokona ana mā ngā huarahi e whai pānga ana, e tika ana hoki, kia ako, kia ahu whakamua rātou i te wā e tika ana mā rātou.  

Te Hauora me ngā Painga i te Rumaki 

• E ako ana ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao kua ahu mai i te whanaungatanga, te manaaki, me te aroha. Ka whakaatu rātou i te aroha, te whakaute, me te atawhai ki ētahi atu. Ka kitea ngā tikanga me ngā uara ki te marau, ā, ka kōkiri i ngā tūmanako i te akomanga.  
• Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā taumahi me ngā wheako ako e poipoi ana i tō rātou whakawhanaketanga ā-wairua, ā-tinana, ā-whatumanawa hoki, mā te aronga nui ki ngā mōhiotanga me ngā pakiwaitara o te iwi me te hapū.  
• Ka toro atu ki te tangongitanga o ngā hōtaka me ngā rautaki hei hāpai i te ako a ngā tamariki i te reo Māori, ā, ka whakamaheretia ngā whai wāhitanga mō rātou ki te taunekeneke mā te reo Māori, ka tuituia hoki, puta noa i te marau.  
• Ka āta whakatau te ārahitanga me ngā mahi kāwana i te whai wāhi atu o ngā hononga ā-marae, ā-iwi, ā-hapū hoki ki te marau, ā, ka whakapakari hoki i ngā hononga ā-whakapapa me te aronga toi whenuatanga o ngā tamariki.  

Te Hauora o ngā Ākonga me ngā Painga  

• E piki haere ana te whakatutukitanga o te kura i ngā putanga mana taurite, putanga hiranga hoki mō ngā tamariki, i roto i tō rātou tuakiri, tō rātou reo, me tō rātou ahurea. Kua whakaritea te hauora hei kaupapa matua, ā, e whakarato ana te kura i te tautoko matawhānui, e whakakore ana hoki i ngā tauārai ka pā ki te ako a ngā tamariki me ō rātou whānau.  
• E whai tonu ana te kura i te mana taurite me te hiranga mō ngā ākonga katoa i roto i te reo matatini me te pāngarau. Ko te taetae ki te kura me ngā hōtuku paetae, te ahu whakamua hoki a te ākonga mō te tau 2023 ki te tau 2024, i tino pāngia ki a Huripari Kaperiere. Nā tēnā i te eke te haurua o ngā ākonga katoa ki ngā taumata marau i tūmanakohia ai mō te tuhituhi me te pāngarau, ā, ko te nuinga noa i eke ki te pae mō te pānui.  
• Kua tautuhia e ngā kaiako ngā rautaki matua e whakatere ai i te ahu whakamua a ngā ākonga hei hāpai ake. Ko ngā hōtuku mō ākonga o ngā tau 1 ki te 8 i te waenga tau o 2024 e tohu ana i te 46% o ngā ākonga kua whakatere ake i te ahu whakamua i roto i te pānui, ki tua atu i te kotahi tau. Ka noho tonu te pāngarau me te tuhituhi hei kaupapa matua.  
• Ahakoa kāhore anō ngā tatauranga taetae kura kia whakatutuki i ngā taumata i whakatakotohia ai e te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, e ahu whakamua tonu ana ngā kaiārahi me te poari o te kura ki te whakawhanake i ngā rautaki me te whakatakoto i ngā taumata e hāpai ai ki te whakatairanga ake i te taetae mai o ngā ākonga.  

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake 

Kua whakatau ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, rātou ko Ngāti Kahungunu me te kura, ko ngā kaupapa matua hei tirohanga wawe, ko te: 

• whakawhanake tonutanga o tētahi marau kua whakakaupapatia, ā, kua ahu mai i ngā mātauranga o Ngāti Kahungunu me te Pasifika, kia āhei ai ngā ākonga ki te ako mā ngā huarahi e whakapakari ana i ō rātou tuakiri, e hāpai ana hoki i tā rātou whai wāhi atu ki ngā akoranga  
• whakawhanaketanga o tētahi mahere whakatairanga ā-kura mō te reo Māori, me tētahi hōtaka whakaako kua whakapoutamatia, kia tautokona ai te ahu whakamua o ngā ākonga katoa i ō rātou pūkenga me ō rātou mōhiotanga ki te reo Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu  
• whakatinana i tētahi huringa taiāwhio tupu ngaio e hāpai ana i ngā kaimahi ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā whakaritenga whakaaro huritao matua, kia mōhio ai rātou ki te whai pānga o ā rātou whakaritenga ki te whakapaitanga ake o ngā putanga ki ngā ākonga  
• whakapakari i te māramatanga o ngā kaiako ki ngā taumata marau i roto i te reo matatini me te pāngarau; a, kia whai wāhi ki tēnā, ko te whakatakoto i ngā tukanga whakaōrite pakari e āta whakatau ai i te tika me te riterite o ngā whakapae a ngā kaiako; kia āhei ai rātou ki te hāpai ake i te whakapaitanga ake o ngā putanga ki ngā ākonga katoa  
• whakapakari tonu i ngā pūkenga reo Māori o ngā kaimahi o Te Whare Mōrehu, hei hāpai tonu ake i te papai haere o ngā putanga ki ngā ākonga  
• whakawhāriki mā te poari, ko ngā hōtuku i tātarihia ai mō te taetae atu a te ākonga ki te kura, mō ngā paetae hoki, ā, kia āta tirohia hei whakamōhio i ngā whakataunga, hei kōkiri hoki i ngā whakapaitanga ki te whakaako me te ako  
• arotake te poari i ia te wā i te katoa o ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga, hei āta whakatau i te whakatutukitanga o ērā i ngā herenga ā-ture me ngā tikanga e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru o ngā kaimahi.  

5 Te Whakatau a te Poari ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga 

I mua i te aromātai, i whakatutukihia e te poari kaitiaki me te tumuaki o te kura he Tauāki Kupu Tūturu a te Poari me tētahi Rārangi Arowhai Tātari Whaiaro. I roto i aua tuhinga i oati rātou i whāia e rātou ngā huarahi whai take hei whakatutuki i ā rātou herenga ā-ture e pā ana ki: 

• ngā whakahaere a te poari 
• te marautanga 
• ngā whakahaere mō te hauora, te haumaru, me te oranga tinana 
• ngā whakahaere o ngā kaimahi 
• ngā whakahaere o te pūtea 
• ngā whakahaere o ngā rawa. 

I te wā o te aromātai, i whakamātauhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā āhuatanga i raro iho nei, i te mea he nui te pānga o ēnei ki te haumaru me te waiora o ngā ākonga:  

• te haumaru aronganui o ngā ākonga (tāpiri atu ki te ārai i ngā mahi whakawetiweti me ngā mahi whakaaito) 
• te haumaru ā-tinana o ngā ākonga  
• ngā rēhita a ngā kaiako  
• te tukanga whakatū kaimahi 
• te whakaunu, te aukati, te pana me te whakarerenga 
• te tae ā-tinana atu a ngā ākonga ki te kura. 

Ngā wāhanga kia whakatutukihia e ai ki te ture  

I tautuhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ētahi wāhanga i te kura, kāhore e whakatutuki ana i ngā herenga ā-ture. Hei whakatutuki i ngā herenga ā-ture, me tahuri te kura ki te:  

• Whakatakotohia tētahi kaupapa here e pā ana ki te ārai tamariki, ā, me āta whakatau i te tino mōhio o ngā kaimahi ki ngā aratohu  
  [Children’s Act 2014 wāhanga 2] 
• Whakatakotohia tētahi kaupapa here matawhānui e pā ana ki te whakatina tamariki, ā, me āta whakatau i te tino mōhio o ngā kaimahi, ngā ākonga, me te hapori o te kura ki te kaupapa here me ngā aratohu  
  [Education and Training Act 2020 wāhanga 99, 101] 
• Whakaoti me te tuhi i ngā tuhinga e arowhai ana i te haumaru o ngā kaimahi, tae atu ki te tohu tautuhi tangata.  
  [Children’s Act 2014 wāhanga 3] 

Kua whakatutuki kētia ēnei wāhanga herenga ā-ture i nāianei.  

6 Te Taunakitanga 

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia mahi tonu Te Kura o Irongate ki te taha o Ngāti Kahungunu ki te whakatinana i te wawata o te iwi e meatia ana, “Rangatiratanga mō ā rātou tamariki me ō rātou whānau, kia whakamanatia tā rātou whakatinana i te rangatiratanga i roto i tā rātou mātauranga” , me te whakatutuki i ngā whakaritenga matua i whakaraupapahia ai ki tēnei pūrongo kia whāia.  

Rita Walker 
Toka ā Nuku Whakakapi 
Te Uepū-a-Motu – Māori Services 

​​12 Hakihea, 2024​ 

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kura  

1 Introduction 

The Education Review Office (ERO) in partnership with Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc (NKII) has worked on a pilot with a cluster of English medium schools and one early childhood on a collective impact evaluation using a kaupapa Māori evaluation methodology.  

The primary objective of this pilot is for Ngati Kahungunu and ERO to work together to co-design a bespoke evaluation approach that aligns with the aspirations of the iwi for their tamariki and rangatahi.  

Mā te taiao ka tauihi te maroro - the environment gives power for the maroro to soar.  

Schools and the early childhood centre involved in the pilot were selected by Ngati Kahungunu due to their established relationship with the iwi. The pilot was gifted the name “Tiro Maroro” by NKII and refers to the observation of the flying fish across two mediums – the air and water, symbolizing the kaupapa Māori evaluation approach in English medium schools and the early childhood centre. 

ERO, Ngāti Kahungunu, and the pilot schools and ECE leaders co-designed Ngā Paearu o Tiro Maroro: Learner Outcomes for Success Indicators based on the priorities outlined in the Ngati Kahungunu Mātauranga Strategy. These indicators are the basis for ERO's evaluation. For more information about Tiro Maroro please click here Irongate School | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz). 

2 Context  

Irongate School is a Kura Auraki (English Medium School) with a Te Reo Māori bilingual unit. The kura caters for predominantly Māori and Pacific tamariki in Years 1 to 8 and is located in Pā Harakeke/Flaxmere, Heretaunga/Hastings. The vision is to be a community of learners who embrace Te Ara Whakamanawa to support and grow tamariki and whānau. Te Whare Mōrehu rūmaki provides Māori immersion education for a third of the school Years 1 to 8. The school is undergoing a significant re-build with 80% of its buildings being replaced. Irongate school continues to host another school that has been displaced since Cyclone Gabrielle.  

3 Iwi Evaluation Focus 

How effectively do leaders in your school restore ākonga and whānau ability to exercise their authority and agency in their education?​ 

Irongate School leaders and teachers are working towards “Rangatiratanga - for ākonga and whānau to exercise authority and agency in their education”. 

4 Findings 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

Kura wide priorities increasingly reflect those set out by the iwi and whānau aspirations demonstrating a clear understanding of partnership as advocated in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

• School leaders increasingly prioritise staff knowledge building opportunities that deepen their understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and inform learning programmes to better support learners to be future advocates of tino rangatiratanga.  
• Through wānanga with Ngāti Kahungunu Rangatira, staff are building their knowledge of the impact of colonisation on their hapū. This has enabled kaiako to strengthen learning programmes that support tamariki to advocate for the aspirations of Ngāti Kahungunu, and of all iwi they affiliate to.  
• Whānau and learner aspirations are increasingly being sought by school leaders and kaiako, to inform learning programmes and the educational pathways of their tamariki. 

Te Reo Māori 

Through schoolwide tikanga and kawa, staff increasingly provide a variety of opportunities for learners to be immersed in te reo Māori, te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu. 

• Professional learning opportunities support kaiako to increasingly use te reo Māori in the everyday life of the kura, building the language skills and cultural connectedness of tamariki. 
• School leaders are developing a schoolwide te reo Māori strategy focused on all learners having the opportunity to grow their ability to communicate effectively in both Māori and English. 
• Leadership is working towards providing opportunities for whānau to attend te reo Māori wānanga at the kura, exercising their mana motuhake to participate, so they can support language growth with tamariki in the home setting.  

Mātauranga 

Tamariki learn in an environment that highly values and increasingly supports them to learn in ways that strengthens their identity as Māori and Ngāti Kahungunu. 

• The curriculum increasingly reflects local contexts in a way that learners can see themselves, their identity and culture, supporting their engagement with kura life.  
• Consistent practices and learning programmes increasingly support learners to be able to identify and acknowledge Kahungunu reo, tikanga, whakatauki, whakapapa, pūrākau and those of their own whakapapa, supporting them to know who they are as Māori and Ngāti Kahungunu. 
• School wide practices and learning programmes enable tamariki to know the importance of Māori concepts and values and of those relevant to Ngāti Kahungunu - understanding and enacting these daily at school - further strengthening their identity and cultural connectedness.  

Whanaungatanga 

Learners are increasingly more grounded and knowledgeable of the roles and responsibilities within whānau, hapū and iwi. 

• Through school wide practices tamariki are increasingly confident and knowledgeable of their tangata whenua role with manuhiri. 
• Kura tikanga and kawa support building learner confidence and knowledge in participating and leading marae protocols and practices of Ngāti Kahungunu and that of their own hapū/iwi. 
• School leaders have been strengthening their relationship with marae in Heretaunga, through whole school kaupapa visits, supporting learner and whānau connectedness and the confidence to participate in te ao Māori spaces outside of the kura setting.  

Rangatiratanga 

School leaders increasingly support learner and whānau participation in decision-making across the school. 

• Whānau and learner aspirations are increasingly gathered to inform learning programmes, support learner higher levels of engagement and successful outcomes.   
• Through improved assessment practices kaiako are working towards providing learners and their whānau with progress and achievement information so they can exercise rangatiratanga over their learning pathways. This is an ongoing priority for improvement. 
• School leaders and kaiako increasingly provide relevant and useful support and resources to whānau so they can assist the learning, progress and pathways of their tamaiti, within the kura and at home. 

Tipuria Te Aroha 

Schoolwide practices and the enacted curriculum increasingly support learners to be confident, happy and proud to be Ngāti Kahungunu, Māori and/or Pacific. 

• The school values of kotahitanga, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and ako are at the heart of kura wide practices ensuring supporting a positive environment and learner engagement with kura life.  
• Staff are beginning to use learner progress information to support learners to know where they are at with their learning and their next steps which will support them to track and monitor their own progress and success. This is an ongoing priority for improvement. 
• Learner engagement with kura life is supported through increased opportunities for learning outside of the kura setting, furthering their knowledge of and connection to the whenua of Ngāti Kahungunu. 

Further Conditions for the Maroro to Soar 

• Hauora is well resourced by the school board; is strategically planned for to support kaiako, individual learner, their whānau and the wider community to ensure ongoing engagement with school life. 
• High levels of relational trust are strengthening professional collaboration across the staff and wider school community focused on improved practices and outcomes for all learners. 
• Consistent assessment practices and the tracking and monitoring of learner progress increasingly support staff to identify and plan to address learner needs and strengths.   
• Learners needing additional support are identified and provided with relevant and appropriate support to learn and progress at an appropriate pace for them. 

Rūmaki Hauora and Outcomes 

• Tamariki learn in an environment that is based on whanaungatanga, manaaki and aroha.  They display aroha, respect and kindness towards others. Tikanga practices and values are reflected in the curriculum and drive classroom expectations. 
• Tamariki participate in activities and learning experiences that foster their spiritual, physical and emotional development with an emphasis on iwi and hapū knowledge and stories.   
• A range of programmes and strategies are employed to support tamariki learning in te reo Māori and opportunities to interact in te reo Māori are planned for and woven throughout the curriculum.   
• Leadership and governance ensures that connections into the community with marae, iwi and hapū, contributes to the curriculum and strengthens whakapapa connections and sense of belonging for tamariki.   

Learner Hauora and Outcomes  

• The kura is increasingly achieving equitable and excellent outcomes for tamariki relating to their identity, language and culture. Hauora is a priority with the kura providing wrap-around support and removing barriers to learning for tamariki and their whānau. 
• The school continues to work towards achieving equity and excellence for all students in literacy and mathematics. From 2023 to 2024 attendance and achievement data and learner progress has been significantly impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. Consequently, half of all learners achieved at expected curriculum levels in writing and mathematics, and a small majority of students in reading.  
• Teachers have identified key strategies to accelerate the progress of students who require it. Mid-year data in 2024 for Years 1 to 8 shows 46% of students have made accelerated progress making more than a year’s progress within a year in reading. Maths and writing continue to be an ongoing priority. 
• Although regular attendance rates currently do not meet Ministry of Education targets kura leaders and the board continue to develop strategies and set targets to support improved student attendance.  

Key Next Steps 

ERO, Ngati Kahungunu and the school agrees that the immediate priorities are: 

• the further development of a coherent curriculum grounded in mātauranga o Ngāti Kahungunu and Pasifika so that learners can learn in ways that strengthens their identity and supports their engagement with learning 
• To development of a schoolwide te reo Māori improvement plan and progressive programme of instruction so all learners are well supported to progress in their skill and knowledge of te reo Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu 
• To implement a professional growth cycle to support staff in engaging in critical reflective practices so they know of the impact of their practice on improved learner outcomes  
• to strengthen kaiako understanding of curriculum levels in literacy and mathematics/ reo matatini and pāngarau; this includes putting in place robust moderation processes to ensure teacher judgements are reliable and consistent, so they are better able to support improved outcomes for all learners 
• To continue to build and strengthen staff capability in te reo Māori within Te Whare Mōrehu to further support improved outcomes for learners  
• analysed learner attendance and achievement data is reported to the board and scrutinised to inform decisions and take actions to improve teaching and learning 
• The board of trustees to regularly review all policies and procedures ensuring they meet all legislative and staff health and safety requirements. 

5 Board Assurance on Legal Requirement 

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. 

Actions for Compliance  

ERO identified areas of non-compliance onsite. To be compliant the school must:  

• Adopt a comprehensive Child Protection Policy and ensure guidelines for staff are well known  
  [Children’s Act 2014 section 2] 
• Adopt a comprehensive Physical Restraint Policy and ensure the policy and guidelines are known to staff, students and the school community 
  [Education and Training Act 2020 section 99, 101] 
• Complete and document Safety Checks on workers including proof of identification. 
  [Children’s Act 2014 section 3] 

These areas of non-compliance have since been addressed.   

6 Recommendation 

ERO recommend that Irongate School continues to work with Ngāti Kahungunu towards realising the iwi aspiration of “Rangatiratanga for their tamariki and their whānau, so they are empowered to exercise authority over their education” and the key next steps outlined in this report. 

Rita Walker  
Toka-ā-Nuku – Acting Director 
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services 

12 December 2024 

7 Information about the kura