Nelson College For Girls Prep School

Findings

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Nelson College For Girls Prep School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.

1 Background

The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.

ERO reviews of private schools are significantly different in process and more limited in scope and reporting than those for state and state-integrated schools, focusing as they do on the Criteria for Registration set out in section 35C of the Education Act.

Section 35I of the Education Act 1989 requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools and to report to the Ministry of Education on whether each school continues to meet the criteria for registration. The schools are privately owned and the legislative requirements are significantly different to those for state and state-integrated schools. Private schools are not required to follow the National Education Goals or National Administration Guidelines.

What does apply in place of the legislation imposed upon state schools by the Education Act is the contract between the persons paying for the tuition of the child at the school – the parents – and the school authority. Those are matters between the parent and the school’s governing body. More information about ERO reviews of private schools can be found on ERO’s website www.ero.govt.nz/Reviews-Process.

The criteria for registration are that the school —

a) has premises that are suitable, as described in section 35D; and

b) usually provides tuition for 9 or more students who are of or over the age of 5 years but are under the age of 16 years; and

c) has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school; and

d) has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school; and

e) has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and

f) has suitable tuition standards, as described in section 35F; and

g) has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in section 35G) to be managers of a private school.

2 Criteria for Registration

Nelson College for Girls Prep School caters for girls in Years 7 and 8 and has been part of Nelson College for Girls since 1902 and is governed by this board of trustees. The college principal and a head teacher provide effective and consistent school leadership, with the head teacher overseeing the day-to-day management of the school.

The premises and equipment are suitable. Girls learn in spacious, well presented and equipped classrooms. They regularly use resources in the wider college environment such as the gymnasium, library and swimming pool. Girls access specialist curriculum resources at the college. There are sound systems in place for property management and ongoing maintenance and improvement.

The school has suitable staffing. Classroom teachers deliver the core curriculum with a focus on literacy and mathematics. Teachers from the college provide specialist programmes to enrich and extend the girls’ learning opportunities.

The curriculum is aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum. Since the 2016 ERO report, the school and college’s shared vision and values have been revised. The new vision statement is ‘To educate, empower and nurture each student so they can confidently succeed in their world’. Teachers are working collaboratively with college staff to continue to revise the curriculum.

Teachers at the Prep School focus on fostering the skills, knowledge and dispositions that enable and support each girl to ‘be a successful learner’. Teachers have high expectations for students and know them well.

Students talk confidently about their learning. They work collaboratively and are actively engaged learners. Their input and feedback is sought and valued by teachers. Interactions and relationships are positive and respectful. Teachers support student wellbeing in a range of ways.

Deliberate teaching, appropriate assessment and ongoing monitoring is supporting students to make good progress. Teacher planning is appropriate and student focused. Recent teacher professional development in mathematics has led to improved student achievement.

Clearly documented expectations for effective teaching practice are in place. A sound appraisal process supports teachers’ ongoing development. The integration of digital platforms to support teaching and learning is an area of focus in 2019.

Positive behaviour for learning (PB4L) is a shared student wellbeing emphasis with the college. Teachers collaboratively evaluate the effectiveness and progress towards annual goals and student achievement targets.

Communication and consultation with families is regular and focused on the learning and wellbeing of each child.

The school’s managers have attested that they comply with the provisions of section 35G in respect to their being fit and proper persons to manage the school.

3 Other Obligations

There are good systems in place for the school’s managing body to be assured that its other statutory obligations are met.

Provision for students in the school hostel

The school hostel, Clarice Johnston House, is owned by the Nelson College for Girls’ board of trustees and provides accommodation for students from the college and prep school. At the time of this ERO review, there are no students from the prep school boarding at the hostel. The hostel owner has attested that all the requirements of the hostel regulations are met.

4 Conclusion

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Nelson College For Girls Prep School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services Te Tai Tini

Southern Region

29 November 2019

About the School

1 Background

The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.

ERO reviews of private schools are significantly different in process and more limited in scope and reporting than those for state and state-integrated schools, focusing as they do on the Criteria for Registration set out in section 35C of the Education Act.

Section 35I of the Education Act 1989 requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools and to report to the Ministry of Education on whether each school continues to meet the criteria for registration. The schools are privately owned and the legislative requirements are significantly different to those for state and state-integrated schools. Private schools are not required to follow the National Education Goals or National Administration Guidelines.

What does apply in place of the legislation imposed upon state schools by the Education Act is the contract between the persons paying for the tuition of the child at the school – the parents – and the school authority. Those are matters between the parent and the school’s governing body. More information about ERO reviews of private schools can be found on ERO’s website www.ero.govt.nz/Reviews-Process.

The criteria for registration are that the school —

a)has premises that are suitable, as described in section 35D
b)usually provides tuition for nine or more students who are of or over the age of five years but are under the age of 16 years
c)has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school
d)has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school
e)has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents
f)has suitable tuition standards, as described in section 35F
g)has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in section 35G) to be managers of a private school.

2 Criteria for Registration

Nelson College for Girls Preparatory School provides education for girls in Years 7 and 8 and has been part of Nelson College for Girls since 1883. It is governed by the Nelson College for Girls’ Board of Trustees. The college principal and a head teacher provide effective and consistent school leadership. The head teacher oversees the day-to-day management of the school.

The school is well resourced for learning and provides many on-site facilities. The girls learn in spacious, well presented, well-resourced class environments. Good use is made of the wider college resources, including access to specialist equipment such as science laboratories and technology workshops to extend students’ learning experiences. The girls have increasing use of digital technologies to support their learning.

Suitably trained teachers deliver the core programme. The use of specialist teachers from the college extends students' learning experiences. There are clear expectations for effective teaching practices and a useful appraisal process. Teachers take part in regular professional development both with the college staff, and specific to their own school, to promote school improvement.

Teachers know the girls as individuals and take a well-rounded approach to supporting their learning and wellbeing. There is a strong focus on raising student achievement through college-wide approaches and preparatory-school specific targeted actions. Appropriate assessment and ongoing monitoring is supporting students' learning, progress and achievement.

A significant review of the curriculum and school’s vision and values has been undertaken in conjunction with Nelson College for Girls’ staff. The curriculum remains closely linked to The New Zealand Curriculum.

Learners benefit from a curriculum that:

• places an increasing emphasis on students' ownership and management of their learning
• provides a broad range of learning experiences and leadership opportunities, such as sports, cultural and environmental activities
• fosters positive relationships among students, including with older girls from the college
• has well-developed pastoral care systems to support students as they transition from the preparatory school to the college.

There is regular communication and useful consultation with parents to foster partnerships that support students' learning.

The next steps for the school leaders and teachers are to continue to embed the developments that are occurring as a result of the extensive curriculum review and to improve some aspects of evaluation.

The board is capable and aware of its legislative obligations. The school’s managers have attested that they comply with the provisions of section 35G in respect to their being fit and proper persons to manage the school.

3 Other Obligations

There are good systems in place for the school’s managing body to be assured that its other statutory obligations are met.

4 Other Matters

Provision for students in the school hostel

The school hostel, Clarice Johnston House, is owned by the Nelson College for Girls' Board of Trustees and provides accommodation for students from both schools. At the time of this ERO review, there were no students from the preparatory school boarding at the hostel. The hostel owner has attested that all the requirements of the Hostel Regulations are met.

5 Conclusion

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Nelson College for Girls Prep School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989. 

Chris Rowe

Deputy Chief Review Officer Southern (Acting)

12 May 2016

About the School