1 Context
What are the important features of this school that have an impact on student learning?
Riverdale School is a contributing Years 1 to 6 school in Gisborne city, with a roll of 145, 96% of whom identify as Māori. A special needs unit supports students in mainstream classes and within the unit in specialist class spaces. In 2013, a transition class further enhances access to learning for students with special needs.
The belief that all students are capable of learning and succeeding is well embedded across the school. Diversity is valued. Students and staff celebrate their culture and identity with families and the community.
Progress in using achievement data at board, classroom and leadership level, identified in the April 2010 ERO report as an area for development, is evident.
2 Learning
How well does this school use achievement information to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement?
Achievement data is effectively used to identify students requiring support or extension. School leaders report that in February 2012, most students were achieving below the National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics. By the end of the year most students had made good progress, with a greater number of students at and above the National Standards. Some students made accelerated progress.
Students are active learners. They understand what and why they are learning. High levels of engagement are evident in the successful student-led conferences, students actively supporting each other in and outside the class and students setting meaningful, realistic goals. Students who identify as Māori are involved in learning that respects them as individuals and as groups of learners.
Schoolwide programmes focus on learning. Student behaviour is effectively managed.
Every student has an Individual Learning Plan or an Individual Education Plan. Families regularly collaborate with the teacher and their child to assess ongoing progress. All students' progress is well tracked and monitored. These practices impact favourably on decisions about resourcing, staffing and areas to prioritise support. Students with special needs are well supported to meet their learning goals.
Pacific students identify with more than one cultural background. However their Pacific identity and achievement are well known. They are fairly distributed in support and extension programmes. Cultural contexts are well considered in schoolwide planning.
ERO and the principal agree it is timely for leaders and teachers to review and refine their assessment, analysis and moderation practices, especially in the junior school. Already in 2013, staff have strengthened their practices of using assessment for learning.
3 Curriculum
How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote and support student learning?
Riverdale School’s curriculum is effective in promoting and supporting students learning. Curriculum values, content for learning and the contexts used are well aligned to the principles of The New Zealand Curriculum. Whānau aspirations for students who are Māori are appropriately considered when making curriculum decisions. Implementation of the curriculum is collaborative, with students participating in decision making. A strong sense of team work is evident.
Students' views and opinions are appropriately encouraged, fostered, and acted upon by the staff. The use of te reo me ngā tikanga Māori are well incorporated and valued.
The quality of teaching is responsive to the learning of Māori students and all students. Teachers expect students to succeed and achieve. They make deliberate teaching decisions and use a wide range of strategies to encourage students’ progress.
Recently, a strong focus on teachers’ understanding of student engagement resulted in some changes in teaching practice, greater collaboration and professional discussion about how to teach. Students work in calm, respectful environments where they are valued. High levels of student interest and motivation are evident across all groups.
The 2013 schoolwide focus for professional development and learning is the teaching of writing. This is a substantial resourcing commitment to build teacher capability. Teachers talk about the strategies they are learning and how these can be transferred to other learning areas.
Students from the special needs unit are nurtured and welcomed when they work in mainstream classes. An inclusive culture permeates school activity.
Students with specific strengths and abilities are well integrated across a wide range of activities, both inside and outside the school. Some students are highly successful and show leadership in activities across local schools.
The agreed next step is for teachers to develop the school’s model for teaching as inquiry. This should redirect reflection into a review of teaching and learning.
How effectively does the school promote educational success for Māori, as Māori?
Riverdale School is effective in promoting education success for Māori, as Māori.
Students achieve and succeed in a wide range of educational, academic, cultural and sporting settings. School leaders make concerted efforts to engage students in learning about their own identity and the school’s location in Gisborne. Identity, language and culture are infused in how and what is taught.
Through the experiences at kapa haka, discipline and values are observed by teachers. These are transferred into the classroom within a culture of respect and trust. Whānau and community are highly visible and active in school life.
4 Sustainable Performance
How well placed is the school to sustain and improve its performance?
The school is well placed to sustain and improve its performance.
Students and staff are immersed in a schoolwide culture where improvement for all is well managed. Māori students’ potential and success underpins their experiences at school.
The responsive and cooperative board understand their role in improving student achievement. The annual plan identifies the most urgent learning considerations for students. This is well aligned to the strategic plan. The board expects and receives timely reports about students' progress and achievement. This assists them to make decisions about resourcing.
The principal has high expectations of success for all. She developed and now refines a shared vision for students’ engagement, progress and achievement.
The senior management team shows effective leadership. A commitment to building leadership capacity across a wide range of initiatives is evident in the responsibilities many teachers undertake. Collaboration between the leaders supports the implementation of new school initiatives.
Families spoken with during the ERO review value opportunities to know about their child’s learning through a wide range of formal and informal experiences. Teachers, staff, principal, families and trustees clearly appreciate the cooperative approach taken to deciding programmes that are important for students learning.
ERO and school leaders agree that the next step is to further develop teachers' capability through a strengthened performance management system that clearly links appraisal and student achievement.
School leaders have yet to implement a robust evaluative review process to measure how effective programmes and initiatives are on raising student achievement.
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.
ERO noted that when the board goes in-committee to exclude the public from all or part of its meetings, it does not follow the procedures set out in the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
In order to improve practice the board should:
- record all discussions held in committees that exclude the public, within in-committee minutes.
ERO noted that the board and senior leaders are not properly following effective policy and procedures when responding to complaints from the school community.
In order to improve practice the board should:
- revise and strengthen the complaints policy and procedures, make these well known to the school community and ensure that implementation follows the stated policy.
ERO identified the following area of non-compliance. In order to address this, the board must:
- police vet every person who is appointed to a position in the school, who is not a registered teacher and works at the school during normal school hours, every three years.[Education Act 1989 Sections 78C to 78CD].
When is ERO likely to review the school again?
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Joyce Gebbie
National Manager Review Services
Central Region (Acting)
17 May 2013
About the School
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Location
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Gisborne
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Ministry of Education profile number
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2667
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School type
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Contributing (Years 1 to 6)
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School roll
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145
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Gender composition
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Male 53%
Female 47%
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Ethnic composition
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Māori
NZ European/Pākehā
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96%
4%
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Special Features
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Special Education Unit
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Review team on site
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March 2013
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Date of this report
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17 May 2013
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Most recent ERO report(s)
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Education Review
Education Review
Education Review
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April 2010
November 2006
September 2005
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