Education Review Report: Ngakonui Valley School
A summary of the July 2007 Education Review Report is provided below.
A full report is also available. Click here for the full report...
To the Parents and Community of Ngakonui Valley School;
These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Ngakonui Valley School.
Ngakonui Valley School is a full primary school catering for Year 1 to 8 students and is located 12kms north east of Taumarunui. The school is situated in attractive, well-maintained expansive grounds adjacent to a community hall. Students are drawn from the surrounding district and a large number travel from Taumarunui.
Since the last review there has been considerable development including a multipurpose building, new library, and a hard court area. The recommendation from the last Education Review report related to performance management has not been met and the board needs to give some priority to addressing this area.
The school’s achievement information about writing, using national standardised tests indicates that at all Year levels, the majority of students are achieving at or above national expectations. Māori students are achieving as well as their non-Māori peers in writing. While the school uses a range of useful assessment tools to gather student achievement data, management now need to interpret this information to identify progress and achievement of groups of students.
Teachers use a range of effective strategies to motivate and challenge students’ learning in writing. They know students well and plan appropriate programmes to meet the diverse needs of students in their classrooms. Additional support is provided for students who are at risk in their learning. Students are fully engaged in writing and they demonstrate and voice their enjoyment of this curriculum area. Involving students more in the assessment process should empower them to take greater responsibility for their own learning.
Warm and effective relationships at all levels and collegiality amongst teachers are features of the school. Students participate enthusiastically and confidently in the many learning opportunities provided by the school. They are socially confident and competent, show respect and value their teachers, peers and the school environment.
The principal has maintained good relationships with the school community, staff and students. He is well supported by the relieving deputy principal and a committed teaching team who work in the best interests of the students. The involvement in quality professional development in writing has positively impacted on teaching and learning school-wide. A more long term, planned approach to sustaining the writing initiative should inform future direction and ongoing improvements to teaching and learning.
Newly elected trustees have identified their roles and responsibilities and are committed to school improvement. They value the contribution made by parents and members of the wider community. Planning and reporting requirements have been met and specific, measurable and evidence based achievement targets have been set. Action is needed to ensure performance management processes meet legal requirements and health and safety policies and procedures are regularly reviewed.
The school has a rural and family atmosphere is well supported by its community and has high levels of parent involvement.
This report focuses on the impact of professional development in written language on student achievement. The board of trustees selected this focus area in consultation with the Education Review Office. The report also includes evaluation of the achievement of Māori students, and preparation for pandemic planning.
Future Action: ERO is confident that the board of trustees can manage the school in the interests of the students and the Crown and bring about the improvements outlined in this report.
ERO will review the school again as part of the regular review cycle.
Review Coverage: ERO reviews do not cover every aspect of school performance and each ERO report may cover different issues. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to student achievement and useful to this school.
Ian Hill
Area Manager
for Chief Review Officer
July 2007