EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICETo the Parents and Community of Liberton Christian SchoolThese are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Liberton Christian School. Liberton Christian School is a full primary school that became integrated in October 1999. The special character of the school is evident in the school’s administration practices, curriculum delivery and social interactions. A strong feature of the school is the high level of support it receives from parents. As a result of this recent integration the board has been attempting to compress into a 2½ year period the development of a full range of documentation that most schools have had several years to complete. The school is currently organised into three multi-level classes. The school is generally well resourced and has well maintained buildings and grounds. The board is improving student facilities and re-establishing a staff room. The board and staff aim to foster student achievement and successful learning in each of the essential learning areas and in the essential skills. Students benefit from a broad education that includes a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy and integrates a clear Christian focus. The teachers are still in the process of the transition from a private to an integrated school. They are working towards developing a curriculum that better reflects the New Zealand Curriculum Framework and national curriculum statements. The board receives limited information about the trends and patterns of student achievement. The results of standardised tests show that many students, including Maori students, have very high levels of achievement in literacy and numeracy. Trustees and teachers are looking at ways to increase the provision of student achievement information to assure the board and community that students are effectively learning and to better inform the board’s decision making. A need for stronger curriculum leadership is preventing the board and principal from fully meeting some of the curriculum management requirements of an integrated school. There are also personnel management issues that the board needs to address so that employees are supported in meeting their professional responsibilities. The next review will be a supplementary review and will take place within twelve months of confirmation of this report. 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. Isabell Sinclair Irwin 28 June 2002 Back to Main Page |