E.R.O. Report 2008
To the Parents and Community of St Thomas's School. These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on St Thomas's School.St Thomas’s School is located in Kohimarama, Auckland, and caters for students from Year 1-8. The school community has continued to diversify and increasing numbers of students speak at least two languages. The school has a history of positive ERO reports and continues to provide high quality learning opportunities for children. A capable board and an experienced, knowledgeable principal govern and lead the school. The learning environment is attractively presented and well maintained.
Children are confident, settled and highly motivated in an environment in which the focus is on learning. They have a strong sense of their own identity and enjoy friendships with children from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Many children are performing at or above national achievement levels in literacy and in aspects of mathematics. Good quality learning and behaviour support programmes are provided for those children who require learning extension or additional support. Children have respectful interactions with their peers and teachers. Senior students are provided with a range of leadership opportunities and a wide variety of cultural, sporting, academic and arts opportunities are available to all students.
The principal and senior managers are a cohesive and supportive team. They focus on high quality educational outcomes for students, within a culture of professionalism and effective leadership. Strategic staff appointments have been made to help facilitate the provision of an integrated curriculum. An information technology director has been appointed to support the embedding of research skills into the integrated curriculum. Staff professional development is closely linked to performance management, which is used to support and enhance teachers’ classroom practice.
Teachers are enthusiastic, effective and well prepared classroom managers. They have established inclusive classrooms in which children are motivated to learn. Interactions between staff are collegial and collaborative. Teachers work and plan cooperatively in teams and appreciate opportunities to reflect on, extend and consolidate their teaching practice.
Board members bring a range of complementary skills to their governance roles. Trustees are supportive of the principal and staff, and value the student achievement data that is reported to them by the senior managers. Achievement targets in literacy, mathematics and inquiry-based learning have been appropriately identified from student achievement data. The board has ensured that the school is well resourced to support learning and curriculum development.
The focus area of this report is an evaluation of the quality of teaching and learning. Progress towards promoting Māori and Pacific student achievement, the quality of professional learning and development, and the school’s provision for international students are also evaluated. Areas that impact on student health and safety were checked during the course of the review. ERO recommends that senior managers continue to support teachers to embed high quality teaching and learning practices that support students’ development as independent learners.
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 is likely to 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.
If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the school or see the ERO website
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