Edgewater College

Education institution number:

School type:

Secondary (Year 9-15)

School gender:

Co-Educational

Definition:

Not Applicable

Total roll:

667

Website:

http://www.edgewater.school.nz

Telephone:

09 576 9039

Address:

32 Edgewater Drive, Pakuranga, Auckland

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Edgewater College - 20/02/2020

20 Feb 2020

School Context

Edgewater College in Pakuranga caters for students from Years 9 to 13. Students are from diverse cultures and those of Pacific descent make up almost half the roll. Māori students comprise over 20 percent of the roll.

The school’s educational vision is set by its charter statement, ‘to be a dynamic and exciting school that serves its students and community exceptionally well’, and its motto ‘Whaia te ara o Tainui (strive to follow the path of Tainui)’. The school’s valued outcomes for learners are to reach personal excellence and attain skills and dispositions for life-long learning. The desired skills and dispositions, outlined in a graduate profile based on the school’s values, are Care|Manaakitanga, Courage|Māia, and Curiosity|Manawa Reka.

Other features of the school are its close association with Te Tahawai Marae, a community governed marae sited on the schoolgrounds, and the inclusion on-site of satellite classes for Somerville Special School.

The board’s strategic plan has five key goals for school development over the next few years. These relate to shared leadership for equity and excellence, a high-quality teaching and learning community, safe and inclusive environments, effective stewardship, and systems to support innovation and change. The board’s goal is for students to be courageous, caring and curious learners in a safe, inclusive environment.

The board has set student achievement targets for National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) attainment based on yearly incremental increases of five percent at each NCEA level and for qualification endorsements levels. Specific targets for Māori and Pacific learners are the same as whole school targets for the NCEA certificate levels. The school also has student engagement targets.

Since the 2016 ERO review, changes include the appointment of a new principal, a new board chair and some restructuring of senior leadership roles.

The board is undertaking ongoing redevelopment of the school buildings to provide a modern learning environment. Schoolwide professional learning and development (PLD) is focused on teaching and learning approaches that increase student engagement and agency for their learning, including culturally responsive practices.

Leaders and teachers regularly report to the board schoolwide information about outcomes for students in the following areas:

Years 11 to 13 student progress and achievement in NCEA qualifications
Years 9 and 10 student achievement
student ownership of learning
patterns and trends in areas related to student engagement and wellbeing
participation and success in co-curricular areas, including sport, culture and the arts.

The school is part of the Pakuranga West Community of Learning | Kāhui Ako (CoL).

Evaluation Findings

1 Equity and excellence – achievement of valued outcomes for students

1.1 How well is the school achieving equitable and excellent outcomes for all its students?

The school is successful in achieving increasingly excellent outcomes for students and is making good progress towards more equitable outcomes for students in Years 9 to 11. Achieving equitable outcomes for all groups of students is an ongoing priority for the college.

Student achievement in NCEA has generally increased since the 2016 ERO review, with the most significant increase at Level 3. Attainment of University Entrance (UE) has trended upward since 2016. The school is currently targeting improved gender parity at NCEA Levels 2 and 3, as well as in UE. While there has been some recent improvement for Māori in NCEA Level 3 and UE, parity at these levels also remains a target for the school.

Data show that most school leavers attain at least Levels 1 and 2 qualifications. Achievement at Level 2 is increasing. There is greater parity in achievement for ethnic groups at these levels. There are lower retention rates for boys, particularly Māori, and this may be a contributing factor in a continuing disparity in boys’ achievement.

The achievement of Pacific students in NCEA is generally at or above the overall school achievement levels.

School data show that students’ reading and mathematics achievement improves significantly through Years 9 and 10. In 2018, by the end of Year 10 almost all students were at or above expectations in reading, and most students were at or above in mathematics.

1.2 How well is the school accelerating learning for those Māori and other students who need this?

The school is successfully accelerating the learning of most students who need this. Most students who begin Year 9 below expected literacy and numeracy levels have attained at least the expected level by the end of Year 10. School information for 2018 shows accelerated progress in reading for Year 9 Māori learners.

Students with high learning needs are catered for through effective learning support programmes. Junior students in the learning support groups make accelerated progress, and longitudinal cohort tracking shows that most of these learners access meaningful qualification pathways and achieve at least Level 2 NCEA.

2 School conditions for equity and excellence – processes and practices

2.1 What school processes and practices are effective in enabling achievement of equity and excellence, and acceleration of learning?

A collaborative, improvement-focused partnership between the board and school leaders supports school development. Trustees receive useful information from leaders to inform their decision making. Board processes show a good balance between improvement and accountability functions. Internal evaluation at this level includes staff, student and community contributions, and informs plans to build collective capability.

School leaders have a strong focus on providing a learning environment that effectively engages students in learning. Students’ wellbeing and learning are supported by well-developed pastoral and learning support networks. The schoolwide focus on caring (manaakitanga) and relationships (whanaungatanga) engenders an inclusive, tolerant learning community.

Curriculum innovations and teaching and learning developments have resulted in an increasingly responsive curriculum. New curriculum approaches and ongoing course review and redesign are increasing students’ active engagement in learning. Student views on curriculum changes, collected through student voice surveys and student leadership forums, contribute to curriculum reviews and teacher inquiries. There is a high level of student engagement in classroom programmes.

Teachers’ PLD is well aligned with curriculum development priorities. They are involved collaboratively in the introduction of teaching and learning innovations. These developments are centred on integrated approaches that promote future-focused capabilities, such as collaboration and creative and critical thinking. PLD that focuses on culturally responsive and relational pedagogy is a key component of this work in the school’s culturally diverse setting.

Students and staff benefit from the school’s close association and effective partnership with Te Tahawai marae. The marae provides a learning environment where te reo and tikanga Māori affirm the language culture and identity of akonga Māori. It also contributes to schoolwide understandings of te ao Māori and the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.

2.2 What further developments are needed in school processes and practices for achievement of equity and excellence, and acceleration of learning?

School internal evaluation is focused on raising student achievement. This evaluation could now have a greater focus on increasing equity for students.

Continuing to find ways to engage all parents and the community in learning partnerships is a key strategic target for the school. Building on current culturally responsive, inclusive practices across the school will help to continually strengthen learning relationships with the school’s culturally diverse students and families, particularly with whānau Māori.

Leaders also recognise that further planning and PLD with the Kāhui Ako will help teachers to implement strategies that increase student agency. This includes developing greater schoolwide consistency in the use of formative assessment practices and continuing the introduction of digital technologies that support learner agency.

3 Other Matters

Provision for international students

The school is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 (the Code) 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 the review there were 28 international students attending the school.

There is appropriate pastoral care for international students and they are very well supported to achieve educational success. They are involved in a range of co-curricular activities and participate in the wider life of the school. Systems for monitoring compliance with the Code are effective.

4 Board Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the board 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 the following:

board administration
curriculum
management of health, safety and welfare
personnel management
finance
asset management.

During the review, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student safety and wellbeing:

emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
physical safety of students
teacher registration and certification
processes for appointing staff
stand down, suspension, expulsion and exclusion of students
attendance
school policies in relation to meeting the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.

5 ERO’s Overall Judgement

On the basis of the findings of this review, ERO’s overall evaluation judgement of Edgewater College’s performance in achieving valued outcomes for its students is: Well placed.

ERO’s Framework: Overall Findings and Judgement Tool derived from School Evaluation Indicators: Effective Practice for Improvement and Learner Success is available on ERO’s website.

6 Going forward

Key strengths of the school

For sustained improvement and future learner success, the school can draw on existing strengths in:

the collaborative improvement-focused work of the board and school leaders that supports school development
the strong leadership focus on providing a learning environment that engages students in learning
well-developed pastoral and learning support networks that support students’ wellbeing and learning
curriculum programmes and teaching that are increasingly responsive to diverse learner needs.

Next steps

For sustained improvement and future learner success, priorities for further development are in:

including a stronger focus on equity of outcomes for learners in all school internal evaluation
continuing to develop and embed schoolwide cultural responsiveness
continuing to plan and implement strategies that increase student agency.

Areas for improved compliance practice

To improve current practice, the board of trustees should:

include the required good employer assurance statement in the annual report.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services Northern

Northern Region

20 February 2020

About the school

Location	Pakuranga
Ministry of Education profile number	79
School type	Secondary (Years 9-15)
School roll	563
Gender composition	Boys 51% Girls 49%
Ethnic composition	Māori 24% NZ European/Pākehā 7% Samoan 17% Asian 16% Tongan 15% Cook Island Māori 6% Niuean 5% other ethnic groups 10%
Students with Ongoing Resourcing Funding (ORS)	Yes
Provision of Māori medium education	No
Review team on site	September 2019
Date of this report	20 February 2020
Most recent ERO report(s)	Education Review June 2016 Education Review December 2011 Education Review August 2008

Edgewater College - 30/06/2016

30 Jun 2016

Findings

Edgewater College provides a positive school tone and culture for staff, students and their families. The school’s leadership is strong and promotes ongoing improvements for students. NCEA achievement levels are very good for many students, and the school is now developing a plan to accelerate achievement and successes for Māori students.

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?

Edgewater College in Pakuranga provides secondary education for students from Years 9 to 15. The board recognises the importance of acknowledging biculturalism in an increasingly multi-ethnic community. Te Tahawai marae provides a place for the school to recognise and value local Māori history. Its tukutuku panels, carvings and artwork reflects significant events and people in the local and wider area. The importance of the area’s Māori heritage is also recognised in the school’s motto Whaia Te Ara o Tainui: follow the way of Tainui.

Many staff are long-serving employees of the school, including the principal, teachers and senior leaders. Many staff and parents have strong intergenerational connections to the school and most students travel to the school from a wide geographical area. These aspects, alongside the smaller school size, provide a family-focused environment where students and families are well known to staff and to each other. Students from Somerville Special School who learn in the three satellite classrooms are an important part of the Edgewater College community.

The school has a positive ERO reporting history. The 2013 ERO report commented on the strong relationships that exist between students, staff and families, and on the positive learning environments throughout the school. The school is an attractive and well maintained facility for students and the community.

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 well to make positive changes to learners’ engagement, progress and achievement. The school’s cohesive and capable team of wellbeing specialists also use information about student safety and welfare very well to cater for students’ pastoral care needs. The caring and kind ethos that permeates the school is central to the school’s learning model.

School leaders use achievement information to place Years 9 and 10 students into classes that meet their specific learning strengths and needs. Students who require further support to make progress towards expected levels of achievement are deliberately placed in classes with low student numbers and with teachers who understand and cater well to their learning needs. This equitable approach provides this group of priority learners with increased opportunity for individualised support and attention.

Teachers meet regularly to discuss students’ achievement information, reflect on their teaching practices and share useful strategies to support students’ learning. These professional inquiries are appropriately aligned to teachers’ appraisal, professional learning and the school’s strategic goals. Along with other useful professional learning, this process is having a positive impact on improving student engagement and achievement.

Also improving junior students’ motivation and engagement in learning is the school-designed junior diploma, modelled on a credit-based system similar to National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA). The school’s data shows that this assessment approach is contributing to the high levels of achievement at Level 1 NCEA. Ninety-five percent of students achieved this foundation qualification in 2015.

Students with Pacific and Asian heritages continue to achieve very well in NCEA qualifications. Results in NCEA Level 2 are also very good overall, and are similar to or better than students’ results nationally. The school continues to encourage students to achieve merit or excellence endorsed certificates. Leaders identify that one of its achievement challenges is for more students to attain University Entrance. They also recognises that another key challenge is to reduce the disparity between the achievement of Māori students and other students in the school.

Senior leaders and the board of trustees agree that a useful first step would be to work in partnership with Māori staff, trustees and whānau to develop a Māori achievement plan. This plan would ideally identify specific achievement targets that align to teachers’ appraisal and professional learning goals, and that aim to accelerate the learning and achievement of Māori students who are at risk of not achieving. Progress students make towards meeting achievement targets could then be reported regularly to the board.

3 Curriculum

How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote and support student learning?

The school’s curriculum promotes and supports student learning effectively.

School leaders and teachers have found effective ways to maintain a curriculum that is broad and interesting. As a result, the school’s curriculum provides students with good course choices, and gives them access to varied experiences and opportunities for success.

Teachers design learning programmes that are increasingly responsive to students’ needs, preferences and interests. These programmes, which include varied co-curricular opportunities and events, promote authentic and relevant learning for students. Many of the senior learning programmes are purposefully aligned to vocational pathways, and the mentoring initiative is having a positive impact on students throughout the school.

The school’s values, based on the concept of caring, support the positive relationships that exist between students and staff. Many teachers throughout the school are enthusiastic and skilled practitioners. Elements of teachers’ best practice that could be shared more widely throughout the school include encouraging students to think critically and to make meaningful use of digital devices, adopting the role of facilitator, and promoting opportunities for students to lead their own learning. In classrooms where these practices are especially evident, students are very well engaged and focused on learning.

Pacific cultures are reflected and respected in many ways through the school’s curriculum. Some teachers are particularly skilled in designing programmes that affirm Māori and Pacific languages, cultures and identities. Pacific students are proud to have represented the school for the first time at the 2016 regional Polyfest competition.

Senior leaders are now considering how they can further enhance the school’s curriculum with key next steps that include:

evaluating the extent to which the Treaty of Waitangi principle from The New Zealand Curriculum is understood and enacted throughout the school
exploring how the school might offer Pacific languages as part of its curriculum design.

How effectively does the school promote educational success for Māori, as Māori?

The school is promoting educational success for Māori, as Māori, increasingly well.

The school has 136 Māori students making up 21 percent of the school’s total number. Students and their whānau affiliate to numerous iwi throughout the country. Māori students are well represented in the school’s top achievement statistics and in key leadership roles. The new head of te reo Māori is building student numbers in kapa haka and in junior te reo Māori classes.

The board, principal and senior leaders agree that all Year 9 students should access and learn te reo and te ao Māori, and learn within and about Te Tahawai marae. This approach would support Māori students to learn about their own cultural heritage. It would also enhance the mana of Māori language, culture and identity throughout the school and honour the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.

4 Sustainable Performance

How well placed is the school to sustain and improve its performance?

The school is well placed to sustain and further improve its performance.

The principal continues to provide strong, effective leadership. He is supported by a capable leadership team and is building leadership capacity throughout the school. School leaders actively promote the positive school tone and culture that supports staff and students to be innovative in their work and learning. Leaders are reflective and responsive to internal and external evaluation.

The board is well led and many trustees are experienced in their governance role. They access useful training, including exploration of Hautū: Māori Cultural Responsiveness Self Review tool for Board of Trustees, a self-review tool issued by New Zealand School Trustees Association. They receive good information about student outcomes and other aspects of school operations, and work collaboratively with the principal to promote the school’s strategic direction. Trustees scrutinise information they receive and ask good questions as part of their assurance role.

School leaders, staff and the board value Te Tahawai marae as a taonga for the school and the community. The board has a long-standing relationship with Te Tahawai marae committee. This relationship includes involving marae committee members in some decision making, such as the appointment of the current principal, and having committee representation on the school’s board of trustees. Currently, two elected parent trustees also sit on the marae committee.

The board and principal agree that a useful next step would be to construct a strategic policy and/or memorandum of understanding with Te Tahawai marae to formalise the existing partnership. The board understand that consulting with mana whenua is an integral part of this process to ensure the future sustainability of the school-marae partnership.

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.

At the time of this review there were 30 international students attending the school, including 9 exchange students. International students come from various Asian countries, European nations and Brazil.

International students are well integrated into the life of the school. They access varied and interesting learning programmes, and have good opportunities to experience and learn about different parts of life in New Zealand. Students particularly appreciate the value placed on New Zealand’s bicultural partnership by the international faculty. They enjoy the rich learning about Māori and Pacific cultures and languages at the school. Staff provide high levels of pastoral support and care for international students, including regular meetings with students and visits to home-stay families.

The international student faculty reports regularly to the principal on all aspects of international student outcomes, including progress and achievement for long-stay students.

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.

Conclusion

ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

30 June 2016

About the School

Location	Pakuranga, Auckland
Ministry of Education profile number	79
School type	Secondary (Years 9 to 15)
School roll	640
Number of international students	30
Gender composition	Boys 50% Girls 50%
Ethnic composition	Māori Pākehā Samoan Tongan Cook Island Māori Asian Filipino Indian Middle Eastern other Pacific other	21% 11% 18% 17% 7% 5% 5% 5% 3% 4% 4%
Special Features	Three Sommerville Special School satellite classes
Review team on site	May 2016
Date of this report	30 June 2016
Most recent ERO report(s)	Education Review Education Review Supplementary Review	December 2011 August 2008 December 2005