Odyssey House School (Auckland)

Education institution number:

425

School type:

Secondary (Year 9-15)

School gender:

Co-Educational

Definition:

Not Applicable

Total roll:

Website:

http://www.odyssey.org.nz

Telephone:

09 828 6271

Address:

56 Bollard Avenue, Avondale, Auckland

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Odyssey House School (Auckland)

21 Nov 2022

Introduction

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 clauses 2 to 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Clause 9, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools and to report to the Secretary for Education on whether each school meets the criteria for registration.

More information about ERO reviews of private schools can be found on ERO’s website Private and independent schools | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz)

The criteria for registration are that the school:

has premises that are suitable, as described in clause 3, Schedule 7; and
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 [clause 2(b), Schedule 7); and
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 (clause 2(c), Schedule 7; and
has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school (clause 2(d) Schedule 7); and
has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and
has suitable tuition standards, as described in clauses 2(e), (f) and 5, Schedule 7; and
has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in clause 6, Schedule 7) to be managers of a private school; and
is a physically and emotionally safe place for students (clause 2(h), Schedule 7).

When an ERO report identifies an area within the criteria for registration that is not meeting the criteria at the time of the ERO review, that will be reported, the Ministry will be informed, and the Ministry will follow up the issue with the school.

ERO’s Judgement

a) The school has premises that are suitable as described in clause 3, Schedule 7

Meeting

b) The school 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

Meeting

c) The school 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

Meeting

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

Meeting

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

Meeting

f) The school has suitable tuition standards as described in clauses 2(e), (f) and 5, Schedule 7

Meeting

g) The school has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in clause 6, Schedule 7)

Meeting

The school’s manager(s) have attested that they are fit, and proper person(s) as described in clause 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020 to be manager(s) the school.

h) The school is a physically and emotionally safe place for students

A safe place is one in which risks to student safety are regularly assessed and evaluated with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, harm. A safe place is one where clear policies exist and are acted upon to eliminate or minimise harm.

ERO’s judgement is based on the quality, intent and regular review of the school’s policies and procedures.

The school has regularly reviewed policies and procedures to provide for a physically and emotionally safe place for students.

Conclusion

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Odyssey House School (Auckland) meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in clauses 2 to 6, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Filivaifale Jason Swann
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Northern Region - Te Tai Raki

21 November 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

Odyssey House School (Auckland) - 07/06/2018

07 Jun 2018

Findings

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Odyssey House School (Auckland) 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.

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 registration.

This review report was prepared in accordance with standard procedures approved by the Chief Review Officer.

Odyssey House School is a fully registered private school. It is part of the Odyssey House Youth Residential Services. Its vision is to provide a therapeutic community, aimed at strengthening students’ wellbeing and providing opportunities for them to view themselves as capable, competent and confident learners and young adults.

At the time of this ERO review, nine students were enrolled at Odyssey House School. The school has a notional roll of 26, though around 40 students are enrolled during most years.

2 Criteria for Registration

Odyssey House School continues to provide a high quality curriculum for students undergoing the Odyssey House Therapeutic Programme. Learning programmes are developed in accordance with The New Zealand Curriculum with a strong focus on literacy, numeracy and inquiry learning.

All students learn aspects of te reo Māori me ngā tikanga as part of the school’s bicultural programme. They can also select academic te reo Maori, the visual arts and physical education. Te Kura, the Correspondence School, is accessed when necessary to supplement the curriculum in learning areas such as Health and Classical Studies. Students can participate in the Odyssey House cafe work experience where they can develop confidence and skills, and achieve qualifications. Students benefit from taking part in Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) that promotes learning through wider experiences.

Students are well supported to achieve meaningful National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) standards. Individual learning programmes are developed in response to student achievement information and students’ personal interests, strengths and backgrounds. These purposeful programmes are designed to engage and challenge students, and maximise their learning and achievement.

Students engage well with their learning and respond positively to respectful, sensitive interactions with teachers. They benefit from individual teacher support and guidance to realise and develop their skills and talents.

Odyssey House School celebrates students’ progress and achievement in their learning. Student achievement reviews are shared with students, parents and whānau every six weeks. From these reviews, students collaborate with teachers to set new goals and redesign programmes to promote further learning.

Students also benefit from intensive professional therapy sessions that develop their self awareness, communication and social skills. Teachers support and integrate this well within the school’s programme to enhance students’ resilience.

The school continues to provide suitable learning environments, staffing and tuition standards. The attractive, well-maintained learning environments are well resourced, particularly in literacy. There are suitable group and individual teaching and learning spaces. Students access resources including information communication technologies that enable self-directed learning when appropriate.

Students have good access to recreational spaces and community facilities for physical activity. The management team is planning to extend student learning opportunities into the performing and the visual arts.

Teachers have the relevant and specific knowledge, qualifications and experience to support and improve students’ learning. They work as a cohesive team and show commitment to promoting meaningful learning outcomes for students. These learning outcomes are aligned with the values of love, concern, honesty, responsibility and trust that underpin the Odyssey House kaupapa.

Teachers are well led by an experienced and knowledgeable principal. They all work collaboratively with a supportive management team to develop an increasingly relevant curriculum for students. Teachers participate in appropriate professional development identified through their appraisals. School managers are beginning to align the appraisal system to the new Standards for the Teaching Profession.

The school is well managed. A strategic plan aligned to the Odyssey House community guides the school’s direction. Strategic objectives and goals that link with promoting students’ wellbeing and success have been identified and are regularly evaluated and reported on. The managers and the principal have developed good systems that provide quality assurance, and promote ongoing improvements to curriculum design, assessment processes and school operations. This has supported effective implementation of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) framework, allowing students to achieve in NCEA.

The school has good systems in place for continuing to sustain growth. 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, Goodman currently accommodates nine students. It is leased by the Odyssey House Trust. The hostel owner has attested that all requirements of the Hostel Regulations are met. The school and hostel staff collaborate well to support students’ wellbeing and learning.

4 Conclusion

Julie Foley

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern (Acting)

Te Tai Raki - Northern Region

7 June 2018

About the School

Location	Avondale, Auckland
Ministry of Education profile number	425
School type	Private Secondary (Years 9-15)
School roll	9 at the time of the review with a notional roll of 26
Gender composition	Boys 6, Girls 3
Ethnic composition	Pākehā Māori other	4 4 1
Review team on site	March 2018
Date of this report	7 June 2018
Most recent ERO report(s)	Private School Review Private School Review Private School Review	May 2013 March 2010 May 2007