Two
issues have been recurring themes in the ERO review reports
for the Paerangi schools since 1996:
the physical and emotional safety in the schools or their associated
boarding hostels, and
the quality of curriculum delivery and teaching.
In most of the schools, the hostels have been under the control
of a trust board, and their management has been separate from
that of the school.
While ERO’s mandate has been to review the school, it
has repeatedly found that concerns about student safety out
of hours had constituted a major barrier to learning for some
students.
Often in response to parent or community concerns, ERO investigated
the physical and emotional safety of students in the schools
and the hostels. ERO recommended greater alignment between the
management of the schools and the management of the hostels,
and more formalisation of the policies and procedures governing
the operation of the hostels.
The ERO reports now indicate that, in general, and with only
a few exceptions, most of the schools had addressed these issues.
The challenges of delivering a broad curriculum in a small secondary
school have been apparent for all of the schools.
In the early to mid nineties, ERO reported that curriculum planning
and delivery was variable, teaching programmes in a number of
the schools were of variable |
quality,
and that there was a need for a wider range of teaching and
learning strategies. Some showed limited ability to monitor
and assess student programmes in a way that could effectively
inform the development of teaching programmes. Performance management
systems and professional development programmes did not always
provide teachers with the support they needed.
By 2003 most schools had made progress towards strengthening
curriculum delivery.
Evidence of these improvements includes:
Improved academic performance; and
renewed confidence within the Māori community - as reflected
in the roll growth and the demand surveys.
FOR ERO REPORTS OF EACH SCHOOL, GO TO:
http://www.ero.govt.nz
ERO REPORTING
ERO reports up until the end of 2003 identified that almost
all the schools had addressed the key hostel issues.
Furthermore, by 2003 most schools had made progress towards
strengthening their curriculum delivery.
Evidence of the improvements includes:
- Improved academic performance; and,
- renewed confidence within the Māori community - as reflected
in roll growth and potential demand surveys.
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