Saint Kentigern Girls' School

Education institution number:
60
School type:
Full Primary
School gender:
Single Sex (Girls School)
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
355
Telephone:
Address:

82 Shore Road, Remuera, Auckland

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Saint Kentigern Girls' School - 31/01/2020

Private School Review Report: Saint Kentigern Girls' 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.

The criteria for registration are that the school -

  1. has premises that are suitable, as described in section 35D; and
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school; and
  5. has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and
  6. has suitable tuition standards, as described in section 35F; and
  7. has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in section 35G) to be managers of a private school.

2 Criteria for Registration

Saint Kentigern Girls’ School is one of three schools governed by the St Kentigern Trust Board. The school provides for 199 girls from Years 1 to 8. It continues to provide suitable curriculum, premises, staffing, equipment and standards of tuition. A sound framework of policies and procedures guides the school’s operations.

The school’s values and religious education programme support the board’s Presbyterian mission and purpose. The board provides an environment that supports girls to enjoy healthy, encouraging and rewarding educational experiences.

The broad curriculum is shared with parents in a parent handbook, publications and the online learning environment. There is a strong focus on integrating the school values of respect, integrity, service, excellence and love. The curriculum is based on the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC), with an appropriate schoolwide focus on literacy and numeracy. There is an increasing emphasis on practices that reflect the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. Service to others is an important part of the curriculum.

Specialist teachers offer a wide variety of high quality learning experiences. There are also many opportunities for girls to experience co-curricular activities. Years 7 and 8 girls are encouraged to develop and extend their leadership capabilities.

Most girls achieve the school’s academic expectations. Extra support is provided for those girls who are not working at expected levels. The Unique Pathways programme extends and enhances girls’ learning. Girls with English as an additional language are supported to increase their oral literacy.

The school’s premises and classroom resources support teachers to deliver the school’s curriculum effectively. The buildings and grounds continue to be well presented and maintained. All students have opportunities to enhance their learning using digital devices.

Staffing levels are generous and classes are small. Teachers are suitably qualified. Focused professional learning and development aligns closely with the school’s vision and direction.

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 international students

The school is a signatory to the Code of Pastoral Care of International Students established under section 238F of the Education Act 1989. The school has attested that it complies with all aspects of the Code. At the time of this review there were six international students attending the school.

The school’s practices and processes provide good support for pastoral care and quality of education. School leaders make appropriate provision for monitoring their work with international students. Further consideration could be given to reporting to the trust board on progress and achievement of international students.

5 Conclusion

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

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)

Northern Region - Te Tai Raki

31 January 2020

About the School

Location

Remuera, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

60

School type

Full Primary (Years 1 to 8)

School roll

199

Number of international students

6

Gender composition

Girls 100%

Ethnic composition

Māori

NZ European/Pākehā

other ethnic groups

3%

53%

44%

Review team on site

November 2019

Date of this report

31 January 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

Private School Review

Private School Review

December 2014

September 2010

 

Saint Kentigern Girls' School - 15/12/2014

Findings

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Saint Kentigern Girls' 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.

The criteria for registration are that the school:

  1. has premises that are suitable, as described in section 35D; and
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school; and
  5. has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and
  6. has suitable tuition standards, as described in section 35F; and
  7. has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in section 35G) to be managers of a private school.

2 Criteria for Registration

Saint Kentigern Girls' School provides students with a suitable curriculum, staffing, standards of tuition, equipment and premises. The school is located in the Auckland residential suburb of Remuera. It caters for girls in Years 1 to 8 and occupies the site of the former Corran School for Girls. The school was previously reviewed by ERO in 2010, soon after it was established. The school roll has doubled since over the past two years: a reflection of the community’s confidence and the school's well considered change management processes.

The school is one of the four campuses administered by the Saint Kentigern Trust Board. In 2012 the trust board opened an early childhood education centre within the grounds of the girls’ school. The close proximity and shared vision enables children from the centre to transition smoothly into the girls’ school or the nearby Saint Kentigern Boys’ School.

The school’s values and religious education programme support the Trust Board’s Presbyterian mission and purpose. The Trust has extensively renovated the school buildings and facilities, providing students with a comfortable and modern learning environment. The redeveloped grounds and gardens provide an attractive setting for students and have considerably improved access and security.

The Saint Kentigern model of “one school” supports effective administration and operational systems. As the leader of Saint Kentigern junior school education programme, the principal has overall responsibility for the girls’ and boys’ schools and the early childhood education centre. The principal works strategically with school leaders to achieve high quality outcomes for students.

Saint Kentigern Girls’ School provides a diverse and enjoyable curriculum that is based largely onThe New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). Literacy and mathematics are central to learning programmes at all levels. The curriculum also encompasses religious education and chapel services. French and Mandarin are taught as well as sport, music, art and dance.

In the junior classes, most subjects are taught by the home room teacher. As students move to the middle and senior school they enjoy specialist teachers and facilities for subjects such as science, art, physical education, and food and fabric technology. Computers are available in all classrooms and a large computer suite provides additional access to information and communication technologies.

The school provides excellent facilities to support the curriculum. The library, the swimming pool and playgrounds are well utilised. Student work is used to personalise classrooms and their art is displayed throughout the school. Older students also use facilities at Saint Kentigern College to further extend their athletic and sporting interests.

New Zealand contexts are integrated through the school’s curriculum, together with sustainability topics and global concepts. School leaders acknowledge the place of the Treaty of Waitangi and are developing ways to strengthen students’ bicultural experiences. Students are enthusiastic about marae experiences, museum visits and the newly established kapa haka.

A strong emphasis is placed on service and leadership. The student council actively seeks the views of representatives at each year level and senior girls take on responsibilities as prefects, sport, chapel, service and house leaders. Students organise fund-raising activities for selected charities and make contributions to causes that broaden their social awareness.

Students are confident and capable learners and achieve very well. Student progress is monitored carefully and learning interventions are used to support any student with additional learning needs. Teachers are developing shared understandings of desired student learning outcomes. They are making learning expectations more explicit and differentiating their practice to best meet students’ individual learning abilities.

The school management team provides effective support for teachers. The current school-wide review of teaching and learning is clearly aligned to teachers’ professional learning and development. Teachers’ planning, assessment and reporting practices are becoming more consistent. Parents receive good information through the new reporting systems, on-line newsletters and the school website.

Further developments in the school’s vision for learning are likely to emphasise independent learning and strategies that will increase students’ management of their own learning progress. School leaders are also considering a strategic e-learning plan to support the continued focus on personalised learning.

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

4 Other Matters

Provision for international students

Saint Kentigern Girls’ 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.

At the time of this review there were two international students attending the school. The school requires all international students to be living with parents. Documentation is well managed within the school and international student systems are monitored by experienced Saint Kentigern College staff.

The school provides good services for international students. Staff who are responsible for student admissions and orientation manage the needs of international students and their parents well. Tutor teachers monitor their individual progress and report regularly to parents.

International students are supported appropriately to improve their English language skills. They are encouraged to participate in school activities and in the wider life of the school.

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.

5 Conclusion

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

Dale Bailey

National Manager Review Services

Northern Region

15 December 2014

About the School

Location

Remuera, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

60

School type

Private Full Primary (Years 1 to 8)

School roll

200

Number of international students

2

Gender composition

Girls 100%

Ethnic composition

Māori

NZ European/Pākehā

Chinese

Indian

Pacific

other European

other Asian

2%

72%

5%

5%

3%

8%

5%

Special Features

On-site Early Childhood Education Centre

Review team on site

October 2014

Date of this report

15 December 2014

Most recent ERO report(s)

Private School Review

September 2010