Haumia Way, Otara, Auckland
View on mapTangaroa College
Tangaroa College - 28/11/2016
Findings
Tangaroa College has developed good systems for improving educational outcomes for students particularly at the senior levels of the school. Increased monitoring and building capacity of staff has begun to show positive achievement outcomes. The school is aware that this framework now needs to be applied to the junior school.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
1 Context
What are the important features of this school that have an impact on student learning?
Tangaroa College is a multicultural secondary school located in the South Auckland suburb of Otara. The school has students from predominantly Pacific backgrounds, as well as a number of Māori students. The school values and celebrates its diverse Pacific and Māori cultures, and has maintained strong links with the school community.
Over the last three years the school has participated in professional development to improve student achievement through a variety of providers.
A significant feature of Tangaroa College that enhances student outcomes and opportunities for future pathways is the provision of three academies, the Teen Parent Unit (TPU), and the Alternative Education Centre. These initiatives all play an important role in creating meaningful pathways and lifelong learning opportunities for students.
2 Learning
How well does this school use achievement information to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement?
The school uses achievement information very well in Years 11 to 13 to make positive changes to learners’ engagement.
There have been significant shifts in achievement in the National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA), particularly in the past two years. These include:
- merit and excellence endorsements at Level 3 have increased since 2014
- there have been very positive shifts at Level 1 since 2015
- boys’ achievement at Level 3 is similar to girls’ achievement
- NCEA student achievement generally exceeds that of similar schools at Levels 1 to 3
- the school’s NCEA achievement particularly at Levels 2 and 3, is better than the national averages.
The school’s focus is on improving outcomes for priority students, particularly in Years 11 to 13, has resulted in significant progress for these students.
There has been a deliberate and well considered approach to developing school systems. The organisational focus on using data is enhancing thinking and teaching practices, particularly at the senior levels of the school.
Senior leaders are using very good systems to evaluate the impact of programmes and initiatives to bring about positive changes for learners. This has resulted in the heads of learning and deans implementing worthwhile strategies to improve the monitoring of teaching practices and of student progress.
The school continues to promote a caring, collaborative, and inclusive learning community. There are high levels of pastoral care in place. Very good systems of planning, monitoring and coordination of learning support are in place. Teachers’ close knowledge of students and their connections with students’ families across the school reflect the importance of partnership and community engagement in the school. This supportive culture has helped students to improve their attitudes to learning and so provides better student achievement outcomes. The next step is to report more regularly to the board of trustees on the impact of pastoral care systems in the school.
Senior leaders should now apply the successful approaches they are using with the senior students to focus on improving student achievement for Year 9 and 10. They should also closely monitor student progress and teaching practices at these levels. Their commitment to working in closer partnerships in learning with the contributing schools in the community is an important step.
3 Curriculum
How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote and support student learning?
The school’s senior curriculum is effective. Positive outcomes for learners are evident.
The senior curriculum focuses on programmes that offer a wide range of opportunities and career pathways. These include:
- three academy programmes: Services, Construction and Health Sciences
- good links with tertiary institutions for academic, vocational pathways and apprenticeships
- promoting equity and excellence in learning particularly at the senior level.
There has been a significant focus in 2016 on literacy development across all junior learning areas. The emphasis in Year 9 is to enable students to improve their literacy levels in order to support their progress and achievement. The school has identified the need to review the junior curriculum to improve achievement and promote more successful outcomes at the senior level.
The appraisal system is supporting teachers to develop culturally responsive pedagogy that promotes and supports student learning.
Senior leaders have identified that their next steps for Years 9 and 10 are to implement similar approaches to those that have occurred at senior levels. These are to:
- collate and report achievement data against The New Zealand Curriculum levels and learning areas
- report more clearly and specifically on student progress and achievement to parents and to the board
- build student capability to articulate their learning, including their next steps
- continue to build consistency and understanding in teachers’ use of achievement information.
Senior leaders should review the implementation and effectiveness of the student action plans to specifically identify what students need to improve on in their learning. This would also help to provide next steps and identify clear strategies to help students know how to improve in these curriculum areas.
Extending the Positive Behaviour for Learning strategy (PB4L) across the school for continuity and consistency would also be a useful development. It could also be useful to consider ways to gather students’ views about the school and how they can contribute most meaningfully to achieving desired outcomes.
How effectively does the school promote educational success for Māori, as Māori?
The school is effective in promoting educational success for Māori.
Eighteen percent of the school roll identify as Māori. There have been significant increases in Māori student achievement, particularly at NCEA Levels 2 and 3 in the last two years. Māori achievement in NCEA at this school is above the national averages. School leaders attribute the improved results to the increased use of achievement data, academic counselling, target setting and specific monitoring of progress at the senior level. Improving engagement with Māori whānau continues to be a goal for the school.
The next steps for senior leaders is to ensure that deeper scrutiny of achievement data occurs for Māori students in Years 9 and 10. Senior leaders should also review the support for te reo Māori to enhance adequate resourcing of this important area for Māori students.
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.
The recent board election has resulted in a mixture of new and experienced trustees. The board has sought support from the New Zealand School Trustees Association to help trustees develop their governance roles. Trustees have made good use of analysed achievement data to evaluate the impacts of programmes to improve outcomes for students. Trustees continue to promote the meaningful partnerships with families and the wider community that are an important foundation of the school’s philosophy.
School leaders show a clear commitment to improving outcomes for all students and ensuring access to educational pathways in partnership with the wider community. Strategic and broad ranging professional development has supported the school’s drive to improve educational achievement outcomes for students and reduce disparity.
Senior leaders are continuing to develop whole school knowledge of self review underpinned by a model of teacher inquiry into data. There is considerable commitment to developing the evaluative capability of school leaders at all levels. Data are increasingly well used to inform good decisions at all levels of school leadership.
The next steps for senior leaders are to:
- ensure internal evaluation focuses on outcomes for students and identifies implications for teachers’ own professional practice
- continue to grow the capability of teachers to reflect on practice and to share strategies to accelerate students’ progress and achievement.
Provision for international students
The school is a signatory to The Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students (the Code) established under section 238F of the Education Act 1989. The school has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code.
The school has not yet started to align its policies and procedures to meet the requirements for the 2016 code.
At the time of this review there are 9 international students attending the school.
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.
To improve current practice, the board of trustees should review its policies and procedures for dealing with their responsibilities as a good employer. In particular they should:
- ensure regular reporting of safety checks and teacher registration to the board
- update guidelines for appointing staff
- align performance appraisal and appointment policies with current legislative requirements
- ensuring that all staff are appraised annually
- ensure that the principal’s performance agreement is signed annually.
Conclusion
Tangaroa College has developed good systems for improving educational outcomes for students particularly at the senior levels of the school. Increased monitoring and building capacity of staff has begun to show positive achievement outcomes. The school is aware that this framework now needs to be applied to the junior school.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Graham Randell
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern
28 November 2016
About the School
Location |
Otara, Auckland |
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
58 |
|
School type |
Secondary (Years 7 to 15) |
|
School roll |
857 |
|
Number of international students |
8 |
|
Gender composition |
Boys 51% Girls 49% |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori Samoan Cook Island Māori Tongan Niue Asian other Pacific other |
18% 39% 17% 15% 5% 2% 2% 2% |
Special Features |
3 Academies, Teen Parent Unit, Alternative Education provider |
|
Review team on site |
August 2016 |
|
Date of this report |
28 November 2016 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review Education Review Education Review |
October 2013 September 2010 November 2007 |
Tangaroa College - 09/10/2013
1 Context
What are the important features of this school that have an impact on student learning?
Tangaroa College is a multicultural secondary school located in the South Auckland suburb of Otara. The school has students from predominantly Pacific cultural backgrounds, as well as a number of Māori students. The school values and celebrates the contributions made by Māori and Pacific students and staff.
Students’ rich Pacific culture is strongly reflected throughout the environment and is highly evident in displays of student artwork, the mix of cultural performing groups, and the school’s curriculum. The Pacific heritage and cultural backgrounds of students sits comfortably alongside the school’s commitment to New Zealand’s bicultural heritage. Tikanga Māori is a key feature of school protocols, special events and welcomes for visitors.
ERO’s 2010 report commented on the school’s strategic and operational focus on raising student achievement, its effective governance and leadership and focused school-wide self review. These positive features continue to be evident. Good progress has been made in addressing the agreed priorities of the 2010 report. Initiatives to improve teaching practice, promote students’ ownership of their learning and to use achievement information to plan for individual learning has had a positive impact on school performance.
The board of trustees ensures that students are at the centre of the school’s strategic thinking and planning. Trustees promote meaningful partnerships with their parent community, including Māori and Pacific whānau and aiga, and the wider business community.
2 Learning
How well does this school use achievement information to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement?
The school makes very effective use of achievement information to make positive changes for all learners. As a result students are actively engaged in their learning and are motivated to achieve success. The increased number of students continuing to Year 13, together with improved attendance rates and reduction in the numbers of stand-downs and suspensions contribute to a positive school tone.
Student achievement in NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 has continued to improve since the last ERO review and the school is making good progress toward meeting its strategic objectives and government goals. Māori student achievement rates have improved significantly and increasingly align with those of their Pacific peers. School leaders and teachers recognise Māori progress and achievement as an ongoing priority area for development.
The school’s well developed academic mentoring programme is providing opportunities for all students to work with the guidance of a tutor teacher to set goals and plan pathways to achieve success. Students in Years 11 to 13 receive regular updates on their progress and achievement and are increasingly monitoring their own learning. Students in Years 9 and 10 have the opportunity to achieve a Junior Diploma based on their attendance, effort and achievement against key competencies.
Raising achievement in literacy and mathematics is a school-wide goal, with particular focus in Years 9 and 10 as many students enter the school performing well below expected levels in literacy and numeracy. Leaders and teachers make good use of assessment information to identify specific needs, to develop programmes and to monitor progress across all areas of the curriculum. The school’s data indicates that students make significant improvement in their literacy and mathematics learning over their first two years at the school.
Achievement information is used well to identify students who require targeted support. Learning support is well coordinated and effectively promotes teachers’ use of strategies and approaches that improve individual student’s engagement and progress. A significant number of students receive additional support, particularly those for whom English is not their first language. The ESOL programme is particularly effective. A summer school programme provides students with opportunities to complete credits for NCEA qualifications so they stay on track to achieve their pathway goals.
Senior leaders and teachers use the school’s comprehensive achievement information to make strategic decisions. This includes setting achievement targets and school goals, and prioritising teacher professional learning and development (PLD). Strategically planned PLD is further assists teachers to plan programmes that cater for students’ individual learning needs.
The board of trustees makes good use of analysed achievement information provided by school leaders. Charter targets focus on raising the achievement of all students and accelerating the progress of those students not meeting NCEA or curriculum level expectations. Trustees use student achievement information to evaluate the impacts of programmes designed to improve outcomes for students. Senior leaders and the board could now consider setting more challenging targets given the pattern of improvement shown in NCEA results over the past 3 years.
3 Curriculum
How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote and support student learning?
Students benefit from a well designed, relevant and responsive curriculum that caters for their interests and aspirations. Cultural diversity is celebrated and community spirit is fostered across the school. The use of Pacific and Māori cultural contexts promotes students’ learning.
The school’s strong commitment to students’ personal learning pathways is reflected in programmes of learning across curriculum areas. These pathways enable students to plan their learning at school and prepare for their future education, training and employment. Careers education responds to students’ interests and aspirations.
School leaders and teachers regularly review the school curriculum. New programmes and teaching approaches are introduced in response to review findings. Collaboration between learning areas promotes cross-curricular approaches. Students and teachers benefit from the board’s support of innovation, including the development of the Health Sciences Academy.
Teaching practices are generally of a good standard and some high quality practices are evident. Students respond positively to teaching that acknowledges and values their culture and identity. School-wide PLD has enabled teachers to reflect on and share effective and innovative teaching and learning strategies, building a culture of professional learning amongst staff. An agreed school priority is to achieve more consistently high quality teaching across the school.
How effectively does the school promote educational success for Māori, as Māori?
Tangaroa College continues to promote educational success for Māori, as Māori. Māori students make up 14% of the school population. The school’s commitment to Māori student success is evident in teachers’ increased capacity to use culturally relevant contexts to enhance learning for their Māori students.
The school’s Māori academic mentoring programme, which targets Year 11 Māori learners, has been effective in improving their attendance, engagement and achievement. The students work with their tutors to develop personalised learning plans. Tuakana-teina relationships are evident, with Māori students mentoring and helping each other to be successful in following their chosen learning pathways.
The school’s kaumatua and Māori staff continue to contribute to building teacher expectations for Māori students. Te reo Māori is offered at all levels. Tikanga Māori is expressed in a variety of ways including pōwhiri, blessings of buildings, hui with whānau, kapa haka and Pou whenua carving.
The voice of whānau Māori is valued in school-wide planning and decision-making. Feedback from parents of Māori students indicates that they feel more informed about their child’s achievement as a result of their participation in learning and are able to ask better questions about their child’s progress and development areas.
4 Sustainable Performance
How well placed is the school to sustain and improve its performance?
Tangaroa College is well placed to sustain and further improve its performance. Self review is student focused and helps to ensure that school systems are effective in supporting students’ academic, social and cultural learning.
The experienced principal and her supportive senior leadership team work collaboratively to foster the relationship-focused school culture. Senior leaders and middle managers mentor and support teachers, actively working to grow leadership at all levels of the school. This is a key priority for the school and one in which they are using external expertise to facilitate leadership development.
The board and school leaders value the school’s strong and mutually beneficial relationships with the local community. They share a commitment to school improvement through the school’s strategic goals and targets set to raise student achievement. Trustees understand their governance role well. Senior leaders provide the board with comprehensive, evaluative reports on progress aligned to strategic goals, enabling trustees to make well informed decisions.
Trustees plan strategically in response to the high quality information that they receive from school leaders. The board and school leaders use self review to identify and prioritise areas for development and to monitor the progress and success of existing initiatives. Trustees value staff and provide well for their ongoing professional learning and development.
School leaders and trustees agree that to further sustain and improve current good practices they should continue to:
- grow the leadership capacity of teachers and middle managers
- foster strong partnerships with the local community.
Provision for international students
Tangaroa College is a signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students (the Code) established under Section 238F of the Education Act 1989. At the time of this review there were seven international students attending the school.
The board annually awards scholarships to students from Pacific nations to enable them to attend the school. These international students integrate readily into school life and have opportunities to succeed academically and socially. They are well supported to learn English, to study for national qualifications, and to participate in a range of sporting and cultural events.
The school has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code.
ERO’s investigations confirmed that the school’s self-review process for international students is thorough.
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.
When is ERO likely to review the school again?
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Dale Bailey
National Manager Review Services Northern Region
9 October 2013
About the School
Location |
Otara, Auckland |
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
58 |
|
School type |
Secondary (Years 9 to 15) |
|
School roll |
975 |
|
Number of international students |
7 |
|
Gender composition |
Girls 51% Boys 49% |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori NZ European/Pākehā Samoan Cook Island Māori Tongan Niue Other Pacific Other |
14% 1% 43% 23% 12% 4% 1% 2% |
Special Features |
Teen Parent Unit Alternative education centre |
|
Review team on site |
June 2013 |
|
Date of this report |
9 October 2013 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review Education Review Education Review |
September 2010 November 2007 November 2004 |