ERO gives school 'F' for fail

By STUART DYE and NICOLA BOYES


Cambridge High School had an "attractive street facade", but behind the pristine exterior lay a shabby school environment, poorly maintained and in some cases unsafe for students.

Results of the Education Review Office (ERO) inquiry into the Waikato school were given yesterday by school commissioner Dennis Finn.

The report revealed a management determined to present an immaculate appearance - belying what was going on behind the school gates.

Staff worked in a "climate of fear", professional ethics were questionable, results were manipulated and students' safety was at risk, says the scathing report, which blames principal Alison Annan and the board of trustees.

"The board and principal have not established sound systems for effective governance and management," the report says.

Mr Finn, who was appointed last month after the departure of Mrs Annan and the sacking of the board, said the school had started addressing the problems.

The appointment of a commissioner to replace the board was one of the ERO's recommendations.

Another recommendation already adopted was to reopen the school library, closed last year in favour of a proposed cybercafe.

The achievement recovery programme, in which students were able to gain "catch-up credits", had been scrapped.

Under Mrs Annan, Cambridge High became the country's top state school, with a 100 per cent pass rate for NCEA.

The school and the principal were lauded for their success.

But the school came under the spotlight when allegations of bullying of staff and manipulation of student assessments surfaced this year.

ERO officers found staff morale was low, computer and learning resources were inadequate and quality assurances for curriculum and assessment were poor.

When calculated properly the school's NCEA pass rate was 82 per cent, said the report.

The report found some positive aspects at the school.

The ERO said most students responded positively to high expectations, and senior students in particular were motivated learners.

Mr Finn said the board had to accept responsibility for what had happened. "I would liken it to a runaway train, and when they take off and start to roll they are very hard to stop."

COULD DO BETTER

What the ERO found:The board did not manage principal Alison Annan properly

Professional leadership and management systems of low quality

Unsafe working environment for staff

Staff deeply divided with low morale

Poor quality-assurance systems for curriculum and assessment

No school library

Inadequate computers - students expected to rely on internet at home

No strategy to improve Maori student performance

Unsatisfactory physical environment for staff and students