Linton Country School ERO report
See our excellent ERO report on http://www.ero.govt.nz/Early-Childhood-School-Reports/School-Reports/Linton-Country-School-22-07-2010. The summary “Community Page” is shown below.
Linton Country School 22/07/2010
Community Page
22 July 2010
To the Parents and Community of Linton Country School
These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Linton Country School.
Linton Country School is a small, rural primary school, catering for students in Years 1 to 6 close to Palmerston North. Families are actively involved in students’ learning and in school community events.
Students are well engaged with the opportunities the school offers. Most achieve at and above levels expected for their age in numeracy and literacy. All students make progress over time. Appropriate initiatives are resourced and implemented to support those who might be at risk of underachieving and those who might benefit from extension. Students are articulate, focused and enjoy the company of their teachers and each other. The concept of tuakana teina, where older students actively support younger ones, is observable. Students exhibit a sense of belonging. They are proud of their school and their achievements. They talk enthusiastically about environmental awareness and sustainable practices and the support provided by teachers to prepare them for their future.
Staff know the students well. Teachers use analysed achievement information for multiple purposes that equip them to meet students’ learning needs. This data also informs teachers of professional development priorities. They are involved in cluster initiatives where teachers and managers from several schools come together to discuss, learn and improve their own practice. This reflection and improvement focus is led by the principal.
The board and school activities are well supported. Trustees understand their roles and responsibilities. They continue to seek aspirations and ideas from all families about what is best for their child. Trustees are undertaking a rigorous process of self review to engage a wide audience in strategic planning. The principal has identified the need to emphasise the school’s environment focus in this revised document.
It is timely for trustees, teachers, students, families and the community to share the significant work undertaken to develop the school’s curriculum. Formal written reporting to parents is being reviewed to reflect the school’s approach to implementing national standards. Student-led conferences to share progress and achievement with families are being considered.
Future Action
ERO is likely to carry out the next review within three years.
Review Coverage
This report provides an evaluation of how effectively the school’s curriculum promotes student learning – engagement, progress and achievement. ERO’s evaluation takes account of the school’s previous reporting history and is based on:
• what is known about student achievement information, including the achievement of M?ori and Pacific students;
• decisions made to improve student achievement using assessment and self review information; and
• teaching strategies and programmes implemented to give effect to the school’s curriculum.
ERO also gathers information during the review to contribute to its national reports. The national reports are published on ERO’s website.
If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the school or see the ERO website, www.ero.govt.nz.
Kathleen Atkins
National Manager Review Services
Central Region
General Information about Reviews
About ERO
ERO is an independent, external evaluation agency that undertakes reviews of schools and early childhood services throughout New Zealand.
About ERO Reviews
ERO follows a set of standard procedures to conduct reviews. The purpose of each review is to:
• improve educational achievement in schools; and
• provide information to parents, communities and the government.
Reviews are intended to focus on student achievement and build on each school’s self review.
Review Focus
ERO’s framework for reviewing and reporting integrates the following:
• school curriculum;
• national evaluation topics –contribute to the development of education policies and their effective implementation; and
• Board Assurance Statement, including student and staff health and safety.
ERO’s review is responsive to the school’s context. When ERO reviews a school, it takes into account the characteristics of the community from which it draws its students, its aspirations for its young people, and other relevant local factors.
ERO also builds on the school’s own self-review information. ERO is interested in how a school monitors the progress of its students and aspects of school life and culture, and how it uses this information to improve student learning.
This helps ERO to answer the major evaluation question for reviews:
How effectively does this school’s curriculum promote student learning – engagement, progress and achievement?
Areas for Development and Review
ERO reports include areas for development and review to support on-going improvement by identifying priorities. Often the school will have identified these matters through its own self review and already plans further development in those areas.
Disclaimer
Individual ERO school and early childhood centre reports are public information and may be copied or sent electronically. However, the Education Review Office can guarantee only the authenticity of original documents which have been obtained in hard copy directly from either the local ERO office or ERO Corporate Office in Wellington. Please consult your telephone book, or see the ERO web page, http://www.ero.govt.nz, for ERO office addresses.
