The Education Review Office/Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga has recently changed its approach to evaluation in schools known as Te Ara Huarau, This is a move away from event-based review to a more developmental approach to evaluation with the aim of working with schools to support their improvement over time. This means ERO will in their evaluation role connect with each school’s strategic planning and reporting cycle as part of an ongoing improvement journey.

Their aim is to by becoming an evaluation partner alongside each school they can support every school to be a great school and every child a success.

Our partnership with ERO began in 2020, as we were one of 75 schools in the initial pilot. with a focus on working alongside schools like ours to enable it to better understand its context, culture and needs in order to improve outcomes for its learners.

The decision was made to better understand how effective inclusion with a focus on strengthening whanaungatanga had on student achievement and engagement.

The following strengths were noted

• A coherent strategic approach to school improvement

• School leaders understand and use evaluation for continuous improvement

• A positive, collaborative and cohesive senior leadership team focussed on improved student outcomes

• The valuing of inclusion and diversity that supports the building of whanaungatanga

And it was agreed the school will prioritise:

• Strengthening expectations and processes to further enhance whanaungatanga

• Evaluating the effectiveness of the personalised opportunities for students’ experiences that are tailored to their interests and pathways

• Further developing curriculum and assessment practices that inform learning and teaching to improve outcomes for all students.

In addition the Compliance and Assurance Audit confirmed that the Tauranga Girls’ College Board of Trustees had attested to the following regulatory and legislative requirements: Board Administration; Curriculum; Management of health, Safety and Welfare; Personnel Management; Finance and Assets.”

An audit was also carried out on International Students with findings confirming that International students at Tauranga Girls’ College are very well resourced and are supported by a team of experienced staff. In place are strong systems and self-review processes to support the nurture and care of students including their academic and social aspirations.

Tauranga Girls’ College, have a comprehensive range of programmes and activities to support their wellbeing. This includes the support of well-equipped homestay families.

International students are integrated in school life and engage in school-based and community activities. They make good progress towards their academic and social goals and have opportunities to be part of the student leadership team. International students are an integral part of the school and contribute to the realisation of the College’s charter and annual plan goals in relation to diversity and inclusion.

The new evaluation tools that have been developed by ERO and used for this ERO visit do provide tools that can be used for internal evaluation and review each year. The next review will be in three years. Here is the link to the more comprehensive ERO Report.