EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICETo the Parents and Community of Liberton Christian SchoolThis supplementary review evaluates the quality of education received by students and the performance of the Board of Trustees in relation to specific terms of reference. The Education Review Office [ERO] evaluation of Liberton Christian School follows. The June 2002 ERO report stated that the board and principal of Liberton Christian School had worked hard to meet the requirements for an integrated school. Further development was necessary in strategic planning, curriculum management, teacher performance appraisal, Maori education, and in student safety. Following the last review the board, in consultation with ERO, developed an action plan and revised its strategic planning for 2003 to address recent legislation on strategic planning and student achievement. The principal and staff undertook to develop the curriculum further, particularly in technology and in the arts. In spite of various initiatives, the trustees and principal have been unable to make satisfactory progress in meeting important governance and management requirements. The principal has not provided the teachers with satisfactory guidelines for programme planning, delivery, assessment, evaluation and record keeping. There are still inadequate planning and assessment procedures for monitoring and evaluating student achievement. Without valid and reliable assessment and reporting systems, the board and principal are unable to monitor and evaluate effectively the school’s performance in fostering student achievement. The board and principal have focused on an out-of-date set of National Administration Guidelines. While the board has set useful goals that focus on ensuring programme coverage and quality, the systems for ensuring that the goals are met are not effective. The principal said that, for various reasons and in spite of working hard, she has been unable to develop the necessary curriculum management guidelines for teachers. Staff changes and an increased student roll have made adjustments to management necessary. The board now needs to take effective action to ensure that high quality practices are in place to foster student achievement. Trustees understand their governance and management roles and have asked for more information about student achievement. The board should reconsider its curriculum and self-review goals, particularly those stated in its 2002 annual plan. Trustees will need to strengthen procedures for ensuring that their expectations for curriculum management and achievement information are met. There are high quality teaching practices and programme guidelines in all of the classrooms. The board and staff are determined to do their best for students. The board and teachers are open to receiving significant practical help to improve curriculum management and the board’s capacity to support student achievement in each of the seven essential learning areas. The board has improved student safety but has still to modify its policy on reporting suspected child abuse. Although the number of Maori students is small and their learning is catered for, the board has yet to formalise policies, plans and targets to foster the achievement of Maori students. The board has approved a teachers’ performance management system that meets most requirements. It now needs to link the system more closely to its strategic and annual plans. Because the board has still to make significant improvements, particularly to curriculum management, ERO will continue to monitor the performance of the board. The board and principal have agreed to seek help with curriculum management. A further review will be scheduled within 12 months of the confirmation of this report. When ERO has reviewed a school we ask the board of trustees to let us know how they intend to manage any difficulties set out in their report (copies of which are available from the school or ERO). We also encourage boards to inform their community of any follow up action plan. You should talk to the board or principal if you have any questions about this evaluation, the full ERO report or their future intentions. Isabell Sinclair Irwin June 2003 Back to Main Page |