The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.
Section 35I of the Education Act 1989, requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review fully registered private schools, and to report to the Ministry of Education on whether each school continues to meet the criteria for full registration.
This review report was prepared in accordance with standard procedures approved by the Chief Review Officer.
Curriculum: The school’s philosophy, values and ethos are the basis of all curriculum planning and delivery with the goal of developing within their students a Christian world view. Governors and school leaders consulted widely in the recent development of the vision and values document that is shared and accepted by their community. While The New Zealand Curriculum is the current basis for teaching programmes school wide, in Years 1 to 13, management and staff are beginning to integrate aspects of the International Cambridge Primary Curriculum for Years 1 to 8. As part of the ongoing review of curriculum, it would be beneficial to develop a cohesive, school-wide plan for teaching and learning.
Staffing and tuition standards: The quality of instruction is sound with teachers consistently using a range of common strategies to encourage and engage students in their learning. Staff model the school vision and values. They are supportive, caring and affirming, respect their students and know families well. Individual student progress and achievement is closely monitored. Teachers and syndicate leaders have access to an extensive range of nationally referenced and school-based data. This is used to inform planning that is responsive to identified needs and special abilities. Consistently high levels of students’ oral and written language were evident in classrooms visited.
There are high expectations for student behaviour and for their contribution to the school community. Students are respectful of themselves, others and their teachers. ERO observed high levels of student engagement and enthusiastic commitment to their learning, which contribute to settled classes and high levels of progress and achievement. Students are encouraged to realise their academic potential in a safe and supportive learning environment.
Premises and equipment: The board of Hamilton Christian School continue to provide and maintain buildings and facilities appropriate to support school programmes and operations. Classes are suitably resourced. Students and teachers have access to good quality resources and equipment that enables the efficient delivery of the school’s curriculum.
The school’s managers have attested that they comply with the provisions of section 35G in respect to their being fit and proper person(s) to manage the school.
There are good systems in place for the school’s managing body to be assured that its other statutory obligations are met.
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. At the time of this review there were seven international students attending 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. International students benefit from the holistic Christian curriculum and high levels of empathetic pastoral care.
Hamilton Christian School does not have a school hostel.
On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that Hamilton Christian School meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.
Richard Thornton
National Manager Review Services Northern Region
27 June 2011
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Location |
Hamilton |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
451 |
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School type |
Composite (Years 1 to 13) |
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Decile1 |
9 |
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School roll |
323 |
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Number of international students |
7 |
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Gender composition |
Girls 55% Boys 45% |
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Ethnic composition |
New Zealand European/Pākehā Other European Other Asian New Zealand Māori Indian Other |
65% 20% 7% 2% 2% 4% |
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Review team on site |
May 2011 |
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Date of this report |
27 June 2011 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Private School Review Private School Review Accountability Review |
October 2007 September 2004 June 2001 |
1 School deciles range from 1 to 10. Decile 1 schools draw their students from low socio-economic communities and at the other end of the range, decile 10 schools draw their students from high socio-economic communities. Deciles are used to provide funding to state and state integrate schools. The lower the school’s decile the more funding it receives. A school’s decile is in no way linked to the quality of education it provides