132 Liverpool Street , Whanganui
View on mapOn the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that St George’s Preparatory School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.
St George’s School is an independent Years 2 to 8 Anglican preparatory school founded on Christian values. The St George’s Committee (the committee) oversees the operation of the school. It is a standing committee of the Wanganui Collegiate School board of trustees, the governors.
The premises and equipment are suitable.
In 2012, the school moved onto the site of Wanganui Collegiate School (collegiate). New buildings are almost complete and planned to open at the beginning of 2017 to cater for roll growth.
The classrooms sufficiently cater for the small class sizes. Teachers have created positive learning environments.
Students have timetabled access to a wide range of specialist teaching spaces and areas within the wider campus. These include science and technology laboratories, library, music suite, sports fields and the swimming pool.
Suitable equipment is provided to support curriculum delivery. The school is well resourced. Appropriate digital technologies are available and actively used by both students and teachers for learning.
The spacious grounds offer students opportunities to practise and participate in a range of sports. The school regularly accesses local recreational facilities.
The committee has developed a sound health and safety policy and carefully monitors potential hazards.
The new facility should provide modern premises and continued, timetabled access to senior specialist classrooms.
The school is suitably staffed and provides suitable tuition standards.
All teachers have current Practising Teacher Certificates. The appraisal process is well understood and meets the Education Council expectations.
Teachers regularly focus on their practice through an inquiry process which usually explores strategies to enhance the learning of students at risk of not achieving the National Standards. They research and regularly share approaches to meeting individual students’ needs. The next step is continuing to more clearly focus on developing and evaluating the impact of student education achievement.
The school provides a range of appropriate professional development at both school and individual level.
The curriculum is suitable for teaching, learning and assessment
The curriculum is based on The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). It is supported by statements that cover the range of learning areas. The principal, staff and community have collaboratively developed the local curriculum that is consistent with the school’s values and special character. The motto: Faithful and Daring, was set when the school was established in 1927 and continues to be relevant in today’s curriculum. The recently reviewed curriculum embraces this concept.
The curriculum has a strong values driven approach and links with a set of six competencies which align with the key competencies of NZC.
All students participate fully in a range of academic, cultural, social, spiritual and sporting experiences. Success is celebrated.
Teachers use appropriate assessment strategies to inform their overall judgements about students' achievement in relation to the National Standards. Teachers moderate and discuss their judgements to support schoolwide consistency. The next step, especially for writing, is to confirm the accuracy of judgements by moderating with other schools.
National Standards are clearly reported to parents along with student achievement in a wide range of learning areas. Parents are involved and supportive of the range of opportunities to meet and discuss their child’s learning.
Students are active learners. They are eager participants in classroom activities. The positive learning atmosphere is evident in the way students respectfully interact and are supportive of others. Students are well supported through a strong pastoral care programme. The special character is evident in all aspects of school life.
Relationships between students and staff are positive and friendly. Opportunities for students to work cooperatively and to share their learning with others are provided. Students at risk of not achieving well in relation to the National Standards are suitably supported through specialist teaching programmes.
Students benefit from the strong community links. Volunteers help students set life goals as part of the business club meetings and other aspects of the curriculum such as electronics and performance.
The school has strong links with Putiki Marae where noho marae are held. All students learn te reo Māori and timetabled kapahaka enhances students' knowledge of tikanga Māori.
There are good systems in place for the school’s managing body to be assured that its other statutory obligations are met.
The committee has recently developed a strategic plan for 2016-2019 to focus on a set of priorities for ongoing development. The achievement of the strategic goals is monitored as part of the self review programme.
There is ongoing development and review of policies and procedures and where relevant these are consistent with collegiate expectations.
The school’s manager and committee members appointed by the collegiate board have attested that they comply with the provisions of section 35G as being fit and proper persons to manage the school.
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that St George’s Preparatory School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
Joyce Gebbie
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central
10 November 2016
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Location |
Whanganui |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
4130 |
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School type |
Full Primary (Years 1 to 8) |
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School roll |
88 |
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Gender composition |
Male 45, Female 43 |
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Ethnic composition |
Pākehā Māori Other ethnic groups |
63 15 10 |
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Special features |
Private Anglican |
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Review team on site |
October 2016 |
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Date of this report |
10 November 2016 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Private School Review Private School Review Private School Review |
November 2012 May 2008 May 2005 |
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that St George's Preparatory School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.
Section 35I of the Education Act 1989, requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review fully registered private schools, and to report to the Ministry of Education on whether each school continues to meet the criteria for full registration.
St George’s School is an independent Year 4 to 8 Anglican preparatory school founded on Christian values. It previously catered for Year 1 to 8 students but has, since the May 2008 ERO review, disestablished Year 1 to 3. The Wanganui Collegiate Board governs St George’s School. Parents are committed to the continuation of the school.
In 2011, Years 7 and 8 students relocated to the Wanganui Collegiate School site and were successfully integrated into the middle school programme. Early in 2012, Year 4 to 6 students transferred to this site and became a separate Year 4 to 8 school.
Year 4 to 7 base classes are situated in what was a study area on the Wanganui Collegiate School campus. Some classrooms have limited teaching space. The board has future plans to address this situation. Year 8 students are based separately within the Wanganui Collegiate School campus in order to support a more effective transition to Year 9.
Students have timetabled access to a wide range of specialist teaching spaces and areas within the wider, senior campus. These include science and technology laboratories, library, music suite, sports fields and the swimming pool. Students appreciate opportunities to access these high quality provisions. The junior playground equipment has been relocated to the new site. The school continues to maintain substantial capacity in information and communication technologies (ICT). Year 7 and 8 students have hand-held computers to support their learning at both home and school. The St George's library and resources have been incorporated into the Wanganui Collegiate School library and all students have full access.
Many policies, including fire and evacuation procedures for the new site, have been recently reviewed.
In February 2012, the parent committee was formed to provide dedicated governance for St George's School. This committee comprises of three parents and the Vicar of the local Anglican Parish. Student achievement information is beginning to be shared with this committee. The chairperson of the St George’s School Board reports to, and is a member of, the Wanganui Collegiate School Board.
Since the previous ERO review there have been significant changes in staffing and school management. The current teaching staff ratio is one teacher for ten students. Class sizes do not exceed 22 students. All teachers are qualified and registered. An effective induction and mentoring programme supports the provisionally registered teacher.
Teachers strongly support the school’s recently reviewed mission statement based on Anglican values and skills to prepare students for 21st century learning. This document has been aligned to The New Zealand Curriculum expectations.
The school is in the early stages of implementing a schoolwide teacher appraisal system that includes the New Zealand Teachers Council's, Registered Teacher Criteria. A teaching as inquiry process has recently been introduced to support teachers to reflect on and improve their practice to further meet the needs of all students.
Professional development has been fragmented since the last review, due to staffing changes. During 2012, teachers' professional learning focused on developing understandings in relation to the successful implementation of ICT. A more planned approach, responsive to teachers’ needs and the school’s strategic direction, should support further improvements in teaching and learning.
The school previously used the International Baccalaureate as a basis for teaching, learning and assessment in Year 1 to 6. During 2011, The New Zealand Curriculum and National Standards were introduced. These are in the early stages of implementation and require further improvement. Development of a St George’s Curriculum, based on agreed understandings, has been identified by the school as a next step. Literacy and mathematics statements have been recently reviewed. Other curriculum areas require attention to align them to current practice.
Teachers provide students with an extensive range of clubs, sports, cultural and arts activities. All students learn te reo Māori and senior students have Spanish language lessons. Kapa haka is an integral part of the school curriculum. Students’ high levels of participation and enjoyment in these activities are regarded as key elements of the curriculum. Learning and sporting successes are regularly shared and celebrated.
All students have a base class with a consistent home-room teacher. Students also participate in lessons using teacher strengths across the school and wider campus. Teachers readily give their own time to support student learning.
The recently reviewed school prospectus and website reflect current changes, aspirations and provide useful information for prospective families.
Parents are well informed in relation to their child’s learning through termly written reports, regular student/teacher/parent conferences and through email contact. Reports contain grades in relation to nationally-normed assessment and provide useful information about each student's skill development and learning behaviours. Individual student cumulative records are in the early stages of implementation.
Small class sizes assist teachers to know their students well. They encourage them to be confident and independent learners. High expectations for student behaviour are well understood. Relationships between teachers and students are positive and supportive.
Standardised test data shows that many students are achieving highly compared with their peers nationally. Effective learning support is provided for identified students in literacy and mathematics. A learning support coordinator has been recently appointed to work with these students and to assist teachers to better meet their needs.
The standard of tuition is sufficient with some examples of high quality practice observed across the school. Effective questioning to extend thinking, elicits confident and thoughtful responses from learners. Differentiated teaching practice and grouping was evident.
Some teachers plan programmes collaboratively. However, planning expectations are not clear and guidelines are required to provide teachers with direction and expectations for consistency of evidencebased planning, teaching and learning. Rationalisation of assessment tools and practices should contribute to teachers’ enhanced use of analysed data to inform decisions about teaching. While the lesson purpose is generally shared with students, giving specific written feedback and assisting them to understand their next learning step is not consistent.
All staff are committed to the success and welfare of students. Most students are well engaged in learning. Pastoral care is a priority based on Anglican beliefs and traditions. Student leadership is fostered and many opportunities provided for senior students to support their younger peers. Policies related to students’ physical and emotional safety are robust.
The school’s manager and Collegiate School board members have attested that they comply with the provisions of section 35G as being fit and proper persons to manage the school.
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that St George's Preparatory School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
Joyce Gebbie
National Manager Review Services Central Region (Acting)
19 November 2012
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Location |
Whanganui |
|
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
4130 |
|
|
School type |
Primary (Year 4 to 8) |
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|
School roll |
98 |
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|
Gender composition |
Male 49, Female 49 |
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Ethnic composition |
NZ European/Pākehā Māori Other ethnic groups |
73 8 17 |
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Special features |
Private Anglican, attached to Wanganui Collegiate School |
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Review team on site |
September 2012 |
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Date of this report |
19 November 2012 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Private School Review Private School Review Private School Review |
May 2008 May 2005 February 2002 |