Sunday, June 9, 2013

An Amesbury Welcome for the Education Review Office Team

The Education Review Office review team arrived at Amesbury School at 1.30pm on Tuesday last week to a resounding welcome from our students. The karanga was done very strongly by Caitlin, Maya and Aimee. A group of senior boys headed up the hakapowhiri with Toia Mai. The boys, strongly supported by the girls and staff, then performed two amazing haka.

Bishop Muru Walters, our Kaumatua, did karakia and then spoke first on behalf of the Tangata Whenua (school) followed by year 5 student, Tom Pavan, who did a wonderful whaikorero (speech) on behalf of the students. Principal, Lesley, finished the whaikorero for the tangata whenua. This was followed by a lovely rendition of waiata - He Honore, by the students and staff.

Having been warmly welcomed, Ruth Nicholas spoke on behalf of ERO. Referring to the whakatauki that Lesley shared in her whaikorero - He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata. He tangata. He tangata. (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people. It is people. It is people.) - Ruth told the students that the Education Review Office whakatauki is "Ko te tamaiti te Putaki o te Kaupapa" - "The child - the Heart of the Matter."

A school tour team offered refreshments and then escorted the reviewers through the school as children shared their learning.

It was a wonderful beginning to a successful review. The ERO team reported back to the Board of Trustees at midday Thursday, 6 June. Although there are a range of processes the initial report will still have to go through, the outcome was a very positive review. We found it to be a very helpful process.

The draft report will be sent to us within a month and we will have an opportunity to challenge any matters of fact. The final report will then come out and be published online.




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