ERO Chief Executive
Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti, seated third from left, with the Hillcrest High School and ERO leadership teams: Principal Kelvin Whiting is seated second from left, and ERO evaluation partner Neil Harray is seated first on the left
2021 brings a big year for the Education Review Office, and for the sector. Under our new Operating Model, ERO is delivering major changes in the way we work with schools through shifting from event-based external reviews to supporting each school in a process of continuous improvement. This is the year that the rubber hits the road – when we move from the concept of the new schools Operating Model to reality. In moving to a new way of working, we will be building longterm relationships with schools. We are responding to what the sector has long asked for, as well as the way ERO itself has been wanting to work with schools. This new approach is responsive to the needs of ALL involved in the sector, and we are keenly aware of our responsibility to make it work – for every learner in Aotearoa. It will have its challenges, but with challenge comes opportunity and I feel privileged to be part of the most exciting opportunity in ERO’s history. What is the new Operating Model? This more differentiated approach will use a developmental evaluation that reflects individual schools’ context, culture and
needs. It aims to strengthen the capability of all schools through embedding a continuous improvement approach, strengthening schools’ own engagement with and accountability to whānau. An ERO evaluation partner will work alongside each school, to build a professional relationship with each school over time. The model allows us to better align the particular strengths of our evaluation partners to each school and principal. The evaluation partner will have a focus on connecting with each school’s strategic planning and reporting cycle as part of an ongoing improvement journey. S/he will support schools to build and sustain high-quality evaluation as part of their planning for improvement focus. Consideration of a school within its wider network and community is woven throughout the new Operating Model, which will also identify an opportunity to undertake evaluations at a community level. ERO will become an evaluation partner, to support every school to be a great school and every child a success. We are listening and learning In a test and learn approach starting in Term 4 last year, we
have been piloting our new model with 75 schools from across to be a pilot school’. New Zealand. Under this new approach, Hillcrest has been partnered with We are including schools of varying sizes and types, to achieve ERO’s Neil Harray, who has made several visits. ‘It is a much a cross-section of the New Zealand school system. This is more positive way of working and developing the relationship,’ allowing us to learn as we go and gain real-time feedback from Kelvin says. ‘Previously, ERO told us what we needed to improve schools and our evaluators. on – but couldn’t tell us how to do that’. ERO’s approach to the development This is allowing us Developing the relationship and partnership of the model is iterative – if issues arise, under the new Operating Model with ERO is adjustments can be made along the way to learn as we go a lot more beneficial than ERO and a bunch during the implementation phase. Key sector and gain real-time of strangers coming in for two weeks, running stakeholder groups are working with us to a ruler over the school, then writing a report feedback from provide feedback loops. and heading off. ERO staff continue to work hard around the ‘The new Operating Model builds on our country to engage with the sector on our new schools and our annual and strategic plans, the work we’ve model, to listen and to act on the feedback evaluators. already done’. Neil has helped us to focus on received. some different ways to evaluate our annual We have encouraged principals to ask challenging questions, as plan, and prioritise our areas of focus’. For example, we have it is these questions that will help us to refine our implementation always analysed our student achievement data. As a result of the process and continue to improve. 2018 (our previous) review, we are using our data better now – we previously hadn’t used that enough to understand the children Feedback from a pilot school who were failing and why. ERO brings a different lens – it sees We began 2021 with a visit from Associate Education Minister things that the school doesn’t see, and its reporting is a mandate Jan Tinetti, and took the opportunity to take the Minister on a for us to make changes too. visit to one of the schools that is working alongside us in piloting ‘What all schools want is to do their job better. Having an the new model. Hillcrest High School Principal Kelvin Whiting evaluation partner and that longer-term relationship will help was very open in sharing with the Minister that reviews under to build trust and the partnership. It will enable both parties to ERO’s previous way of working ‘could be tough going’, took have an honest and shared conversation. We are moving from a lot of organising and extra work for staff – and that he was what was previously a one-dimensional to a now more holistic sometimes glad to see the back of us. I know that a lot of schools picture. It is the way forward.’ will agree! However, he also told us that he ‘jumped at the chance
We are in the waka together This is a new way of working that demands significant change of us all, and ERO is committed to showing schools that we’re working in a way that helps them to achieve better outcomes. Along with the Principals’ Federation, we share a commit ment to put the learner at the centre, to equity and excellence in outcomes for all learners, and an understanding that quality education is a right for every New Zealand child and young person. We are hopeful that the sector sees the opportunity, value and the potential that the new model will deliver, and we look forward to working with you. Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa: The Child – the Heart of the Matter For more information, visit: New Schools Operating Model | Education Review Of f ice (ero.govt.nz)
Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti takes a tour of Hillcrest High School in Hamilton with Principal Kelvin Whiting
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