Our research

Ā Mātou Rangahau

In this section of our website you'll find our education system evaluations, effective practice reports, resources and guides. These are produced by Te Ihuwaka | Education Evaluation Centre and Te Pou Mataaho | Evaluation and Research Māori.

Read more about Te Ihuwaka | Education Evaluation Centre.

Read more about Te Pou Mataaho | Evaluation and Research Māori.

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There are 14 research articles.
  • Topics: Assessment information, Children's Villages, Enterprise learning, National Administrative Guidelines (NAGs), Quality
  • Published: 01 Sep 2016

    An evaluation of Stand Children's Services: Children's Villages

    Until recently children with behavioural and social needs were referred to and attended one of six health camps situated across New Zealand. Each of the six health camps had an associated school attached. In 2008 ERO evaluated the quality of provisions for children at the health camps and identified significant areas that needed to improve. ERO recommended that the Ministry of Education examine the role of health camps and their schools within the wider network provision of services for students with moderate to severe behaviour difficulties. 

  • Published: 07 May 2015

    Careers education and guidance: Good practice

    The report focuses on good practice and showcases 10 secondary schools with high quality careers education. It identifies factors that contribute to high quality careers education and guidance in New Zealand secondary schools.

  • Published: 11 Sep 2012

    Reporting to Parents: National Standards Years 4 to 8

    This ERO report is part of a series of reports being published over three years about aspects of the implementation of the National Standards in English-medium schools, with students in Years 1 to 8. The report focuses on schools’ progress with reporting to parents in relation to the National Standards.

  • Published: 03 Jul 2012

    Literacy and Mathematics in Years 9 and 10: Using Achievement Information to Promote Success

    This evaluation looked at how effectively schools use literacy and mathematics achievement information to improve learning for Years 9 and 10 students. The evaluation found that improvements are needed in most secondary schools’ practice with these students. It identifies the actions which school leaders, boards of trustees and teachers can take to help Years 9 and 10 students to be engaged, active and successful learners.

  • Published: 18 Jun 2012

    Working with National Standards: Good practice

    ERO has released a series of reports about the National Standards since their introduction in 2010. This latest report focuses on eight schools that are working well with the standards. 

  • Published: 20 Oct 2011

    Enterprise in The New Zealand Curriculum

    This ERO report has been written to help schools develop enterprise learning. Seven case studies present the challenges and benefits of enterprise as authentic teaching and learning. Each of these studies show what students have achieved in different enterprise activities. They discuss what leaders and teachers have done; both those who have been supportive of an enterprise learning approach and those who have been hesitant in adapting the way they teach.

  • Published: 01 Aug 2010

    Quality in Early Childhood Services

    Early childhood education has been an important focus for the Education Review Office for over 20 years. This report uses findings from ERO's national evaluations of early childhood education and individual services' education reviews to highlight the factors that contribute to high quality early childhood education and care, as well as those that contribute to poor quality. The report provides a good starting point for further discussion for anyone involved in early childhood education including education providers, policy makers and teachers.

  • Published: 02 Dec 2009

    Reading and Writing in Years 1 and 2

    This Education Review Office (ERO) evaluation focused on how effectively reading and writing was taught in the first two years of schooling, and on how well teachers used assessment information to plan and evaluate their teaching.

  • Published: 01 Jun 2008

    Schools' Provision for Gifted and Talented Students: Good Practice

    In 2008 the Education Review Office evaluated schools’ provision for gifted and talented students.

    School boards of trustees, through their principals and staff, are required to use good quality assessment information to identify students who have special needs (including gifted and talented), and to develop and implement teaching and learning strategies to meet the needs of these students.

    A group of schools was particularly effective in providing for gifted and talented students and ERO has set out their good practice in this report.

  • Published: 01 Mar 2007

    The Collection and Use of Assessment Information in Schools

    Knowing what students know and can do is fundamental to effective teaching and students’ learning. Teachers need to assess student achievement to know whether or not their teaching is meeting the learning needs of their students.

    In 2006, ERO evaluated how effectively schools collected and used assessment information. This report details the findings of that evaluation and recommends what can be done to make assessment practices in schools more effective.