Lake Brunner School

Lake Brunner School

School Report

Tēnā koutou e mau manawa rahi ki te kaupapa e aro ake nei, ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa. Mā wai rā e kawe, mā tātau katoa. 

We acknowledge the collective effort, responsibility and commitment by all to ensure that the child remains at the heart of the matter. 

About the School 

​Lake Brunner School provides education for students in Years 1 to 8 in Moana, Lake Brunner and surrounding districts. A new principal was appointed in Term 4 2023 as well as significant changes in teaching staff in 2024. The revised school values of ‘We choose to do the right thing, we’re respectful and kind. We are curious, self-disciplined, we always aim high’ are known and used by all staff, students and whānau in decision making across the school. The school’s roll is 65, with 15% of students who are Māori.​ 

Part A: Parent Summary 

How well placed is the school to promote educational success and wellbeing? 

How well are learners succeeding? ​Success and progress for all learners is increasing.​
What is the quality of teaching and learning? Learners benefit from ​high quality​ teaching practice that improves progress and achievement in ​reading, writing and mathematics​. 
How well does the school curriculum respond to all learners needs? 

Learners have ​rich​ opportunities to learn across the breadth and depth of the curriculum. 

There is ​a consistent​ focus on supporting learners to gain skills in literacy and mathematics. 

Learners with complex needs ​are well supported​ to achieve their education goals. 

How well does school planning and conditions support ongoing improvement? ​School planning and conditions to support ongoing improvement to the quality of education for learners are well established.​ 
How well does the school include all learners and promote their engagement and wellbeing? ​The school successfully promotes learners’ engagement, wellbeing and inclusion.​ 
How well does the school partner with parents, whānau and its community for the benefit of learners? 

The school ​is improving its reporting​ to parents / whānau about their child’s learning, achievement and progress. 

​The school responds well to a wide range of information gathered through community consultation, to inform strategic planning and curriculum decisions.​ 

Student Health and Safety ​The school board is taking reasonable steps to ensure student health and safety.​ 

Achievement in Years 0 to 8 

This table outlines how well students across the school meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. 

Foundation Skills 

 
Reading 

​Most​ learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. 

Results are ​becoming more equitable​ for all groups of learners. 

Writing 

​A large majority of​ learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. 

Results are ​becoming more equitable​ for all groups of learners. 

Mathematics 

​A large majority of​ learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. 

Results are ​becoming more equitable​ for all groups of learners. 

Attendance 

The school is ​behind​ the target of 80% regular attendance. 

The school ​has​ a suitable plan in place to improve attendance. 

Regular attendance ​is​ improving towards or beyond the target. 

Assessment 

​The school uses an appropriate approach and reliable practices to find out about achievement against the curriculum.​ 

​Assessment information is used well to adjust teaching practices to ensure ongoing improvement in teaching and student progress.​

Progress 

The school ​has​ good quality planning to increase the rate of progress for all groups of students. 

The school ​has to some extent​ improved achievement and progress for those learners most at risk of not achieving since the previous review. 

The school ​has to some extent​ extended achievement and progress for learners working at or above curriculum levels since the previous review. 

The school is making progress towards Government reading, writing and mathematics and/or pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau targets and is likely to meet them by 2030. 

An explanation of the terms used in the Parent Summary can be found here: Guide to ERO school reports 

Part B - Findings for the school  

This section of the report provides more detail for the school to include in strategic and annual planning for ongoing improvement across the school. 

Areas of Strength 

​Students increasingly understand and can confidently discuss their progress and learning in literacy and mathematics; the school has embedded structured literacy and mathematics approaches over time. 

​The principal has set clear expectations and vision for the school through meaningful strategic and annual plans. 

​The local curriculum, developed with student feedback and ideas, provides a rich and broad curriculum that is engaging for teaching and learning. 

​The board and principal are strategic in school resourcing and decision making; they use comprehensive information well to prioritise responding to learning needs. 

​Research-based and well-planned professional development for all staff have resulted in building professional networks and collaborative approaches that strengthen learning and teaching across the school. 

​The principal and staff are highly reflective and have embedded useful evaluation and assessment practices; this is strengthening the information that is shared with their community, parents and the board.​ 

Key priorities and actions for improvement  

The agreed next steps for the school are to: 

  • integrate the new literacy and mathematics requirements for ongoing improvement in student engagement, progress and achievement
  • strengthen assessment for learning to inform classroom practice and raise achievement in reading, writing mathematics
  • continue to develop te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori learning for teachers so that learners are confident in their knowledge and understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • continue to review and modify initiatives to increase the regular attendance of all students. 

The agreed actions for the next improvement cycle and timeframes are as follows. 

Every six months: 

  • undertake professional learning opportunities that prioritise enhancing teachers understanding and use of highly effective teaching, learning and assessment practices
  • monitor rates of regular attendance and adapt strategies to bring about further improvements. 

Annually:  

  • review and report to the board on strategic goals, student attendance, progress and achievement to support ongoing strategic decision making for improvement
  • reflect on the impact of the professional development to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and assessment practices on learners' engagement, progress and achievement
  • report to the board and community progress towards annual and strategic goals and identify areas for ongoing improvements that are aligned to outcomes for learners. 

Actions taken against these next steps are expected to result in: 

  • students attending school regularly
  • sustained high levels of achievement in reading, writing and mathematics
  • a curriculum that engages all learners for equitable and excellent outcomes. 

Part C: Regulatory and Legislative Requirements 

Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements 

All schools are required to promote student health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements. 

During this review the Board has attested to some regulatory and legislative requirements in the following areas: 

Board Administration 

​Yes​ 

Curriculum 

​Yes​ 

Management of Health, Safety and Welfare 

​Yes​ 

Personnel Management 

​Yes​

ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a School Report and is due within three years. 

Me mahi tahi tonu tātau, kia whai oranga a tātau tamariki 
Let’s continue to work together for the greater good of all children 

Sharon Kelly 
Director of Schools (Acting) 

​17 April 2025​ 

Education Counts 

This website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home 

Lake Brunner School - 12/06/2019

School Context

Lake Brunner School is a rural school in the small settlement of Moana, overlooking Lake Brunner. The school has a roll of 52 children in Years 1 to 8, 11% of whom identify as Māori.

The school’s vision is to develop successful learners who are confident and connected to the curriculum, themselves and others. There are seven values which include integrity, respect and kindness. To support these valued outcomes, the school’s recently-updated strategic aims cover the areas of curriculum, wellbeing and the provision of a positive learning environment.

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

  • achievement in reading, writing and mathematics
  • wellbeing and behaviour.

Since the 2015 ERO review, there has been significant change in personnel, including a new first‑time principal, teaching team of three staff, board chair and board members. There continue to be a number of students who move into and out of the school community each year.

The school is a member of the Māwhera Kāhui Ako|Community of Learning.

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 working towards achieving equity and excellence for all its students. Most children achieve at or above expected curriculum levels in reading, writing and mathematics. The proportion of children achieving at expected curriculum levels has improved over time. A smaller proportion of Māori children achieve at expected levels in reading, writing and mathematics. Children report positive wellbeing outcomes.

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

It is unclear how effective the school is in accelerating learning for Māori and other students who need this.

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?

An improvement-focused board, leadership and staff work together to foster a culture of care which supports positive outcomes for children. The leadership team is building relational trust and collaborative practice. The board, principal and staff are working collaboratively to strengthen community partnerships. This includes actively seeking ways to engage and communicate with parents and whānau about the school curriculum and student achievement.

Leaders and teachers demonstrate a strong commitment to the shared vision and values of the school, which creates a positive learning culture. Children are engaged and enthusiastic about their learning. The flexible and adaptive curriculum promotes student agency, independence and leadership opportunities. Curriculum design and enactment is responsive to the aspirations of students, parents and whānau, and keeps children at the centre of decision making and learning. There is intentional alignment of key school documentation to the culture, vision and values of the school.

The principal is establishing effective ways of building professional capability and capacity in the teaching team. Recently-introduced processes are supporting teachers to inquire systematically into their practice and consider how they can improve outcomes for students. Examples include profession development in digital fluency and the teaching of mathematics. A commitment to internal and external professional development is aligned to the strategic priorities of the school and is improving learning and wellbeing outcomes.

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

Use of school-wide achievement information to inform assessment judgements has been inconsistent. As a result, the new principal has developed improved systems to accurately track the progress of all learners, with key aims, goals and targets in place for 2019. At the onsite stage of the review, it was too early for ERO to evaluate the quality and impact of these improvements.

The school is in the process of developing systems for better identifying, monitoring and evaluating the rates of progress for individual and groups of children targeted for acceleration.

The principal has identified, and ERO agrees, that the key next steps for further development are to:

  • plan, monitor and evaluate the sufficiency of progress and achievement, particularly for priority learners and those students whose learning is targeted for acceleration
  • develop and implement strategies for learning-focused partnerships with Māori learners and their whānau
  • give prominence to tikanga and te reo Māori in all key documentation and whole-school practices
  • consolidate curriculum design to ensure consistency of teacher expectations and the incorporation of rigorous moderation processes
  • build on student agency by providing explicit instruction and learning strategies that include goal setting and self-monitoring to enable children to take meaningful control of their learning
  • strengthen internal evaluation so that it is more strategic, and ensure that the findings from internal evaluations inform decision making.

3 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 Vulnerable Children Act 2014.

4 ERO’s Overall Judgement

On the basis of the findings of this review, ERO’s overall evaluation judgement of Lake Brunner School’s performance in achieving valued outcomes for its students is: Developing.

ERO’s Framework: Overall School Performance is available on ERO’s website.

5 Going forward

Key strengths of the school

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

  • an improvement-focused team who promote the culture of care for students’ learning and wellbeing reflected in the school’s vision and values
  • a flexible and adaptive curriculum, which keeps children at the centre of decision making
  • systematic processes for teachers which promote their professional development and growth.

Next steps

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

  • assessment processes and practices to understand the sufficiency of progress of all children, particularly those priority learners and those targeted for acceleration
  • strengthening student achievement targets and their evaluation, particularly those for achieving equitable outcomes for Māori children
  • development of a culturally responsive curriculum, practices and key documents that reflect te ao Māori, and strengthening learning partnerships with Māori learners and their whānau
  • curriculum development and review for consistency of practice, student goal setting, and improved assessment and moderation processes
  • knowledge and capability building to improve internal evaluation practices that are more strategic and informed by analysed data.

Actions for compliance

During the onsite stage of the review, ERO identified areas of non-compliance regarding procedures to guide physical safety practices such as tree climbing, and processes regarding delegation of authority. Since that time the school has taken satisfactory steps to address these matters.

ERO identified non-compliance in relation to:

  • Māori whānau consultation
  • Teaching Council appraisal requirements.

In order to address this, the board of trustees must:

  • provide further opportunities for consultation with a specific focus on Māori whānau
    [National Administration Guidelines 1(e)]
  • ensure that processes for appraisal meet Teaching Council requirements
    [Part 31 Education Act 1989].

Alan Wynyard

Director Review and Improvement Services Southern

Southern Region

12 June 2019

About the school

LocationMoana
Ministry of Education profile number2123
School typeFull Primary
School roll52
Gender compositionBoys 27; Girls 25
Ethnic composition

Māori 6

NZ European/Pākehā 42

Other ethnicities 4

Students with Ongoing Resourcing Funding (ORS)No
Provision of Māori medium educationNo
Review team on siteApril 2019
Date of this report12 June 2019
Most recent ERO report(s)Education Review August 2015
Education Review May 2012