Herekino kids keen to learn

Herekino School has received some less than glowing ERO reports over recent years, but the latest review team found much to be pleased with.

The school environment was well ordered and well resourced, the pupils related to each other and their teachers in co-operative and supportive ways, and their eagerness to achieve was evident in their willingness to learn and their performance of waiata and haka.

There were indications that some pupils were progressing and achieving well in English literacy and numeracy, judging by the national tests used by the school, but staff had yet to develop ways of systematically evaluating and reporting to the board of trustees and community on student progress and achievement.

Since the ERO review in 2006 the principal and trustees had had to deal with challenging issues relating to community relationships, personnel management and financial matters. The board of trustees sought Ministry of Education assistance in 2008, and the issues have been resolved, but dealing with those issues had delayed school development and slowed preparations for implementing the national curriculum in 2010.

"The board of trustees is determined to progress school development, and is keen to improve the quality of teaching so that every student achieves," the review continued.

"Accordingly, it expects to continue to use consultants to help the board develop the school's next strategic plan and to appraise the principal's performance.

"The board should ensure that it works in partnership with its community, and could seek advice about developing a self-review programme that enables the board to be kept well informed about school developments.

"The principal and teaching staff are enthusiastic about providing good learning opportunities for students. They have increased their own knowledge and skills so they can extend students' use of computers to support their learning. They widen student horizons by arranging many school trips and visitors to the school.

"It is important that they now seek help to improve their programme planning, teaching practice, assessment and evaluation of student learning so that Herekino School has a well developed curriculum founded on achieving success for Maori."

 ERO would conduct another review in two years to evaluate the extent to which improvements begun have been sustained and those planned have been implemented.