ERO Praises One Tree Hill College
13 May 2009
One Tree Hill College, Auckland, has received a glowing report from the
Education Review Office (ERO), reflecting strong governance and leadership,
effective teaching, a "safe" college culture, high staff and student morale and
improved academic results.
The office praised progress at the college, formerly known as Penrose High
School, noting that staff and students were proud of their campus and had a
strong sense of belonging. It identified improvements in the teaching of Maori
and Pacific Island students as contributing to the college's turnaround.
ERO said the restorative justice system dealing with student behaviour, the
reintroduction of the whanau (house) system and the Pathways career induction
programme contributed to the settled and positive college climate.
ERO also acknowledged the strength of the Board of Trustees which, it said, had
established a collaborative and co-operative climate at the college that
supported continuous change.
It said students acknowledged the improvement in the college culture brought
about by the property development at the college. (The $15 million property
project, which has transformed the college and is virtually complete, was
offically opened by Prime Minister John Key in March. It coincided with a
rehanging and rededication of the college's world-class art collection.)
Principal Iva Ropati said the ERO report was a fitting endorsement of a policy
of continuous improvement over the past five years.
"Management systems and teaching practices have grealy improved and, with the
strong support and governance from the Board of Trustees, the college has
entered and important phase of renewal in its 54-year history."
Mr Ropati said for the first time in five years the college roll had incresased
sharply - up by more than 100 students since 2008 - reflecting achievements
across the board.
"The One Tree Hill College community embraced last year's name-change from
Penrose High School as signalling the start of a new and positve era for the
college.
"The new buildings and revamp of the college are the physical signs of change.
But the most important changes have been the improvement in teaching practices
and the recruitment of key staff.
"We believe students should be at the centre of college education. My staff
understand this and have adapted their teaching plans and practices
accordingly. This approach, in keeping with the philosophy of the New Zealand
Curriculum, has also lead to a vast improvement in college discipline.
"Students now take more responsibility for their actions than they did when I
came to the college five years ago and also have a clearer understanding of the
boundaries of good and had behaviour. The college has been helped in this
regard by the strict enforcement of discipline by the Board of Trustees.
"We expect students to behave well and our pastoral care programme is well
tuned to assist those with learning and behavioural problems. But students who
persistently break the rules - not many, I'm pleased to say - are not welcome
at One Tree Hill College."
Board of Trustees chair Garth Biggs said the ERO review gave trustees and staff
great heart and boded well for the future.
"The challenge for the board and senior leadership team is to lift the
standards even higher and make One Tree Hill College the school of choice for
parents and students in the local community.
"We have an excellent, well-appointed campus, strategically placed to deliver
first-class education on the Auckland isthmus. The future could not be
brighter."
Board of Trustees deputy chair Graeme Hunt, who led the college's name-change
project last year, praised the support of alumni in the rejuvenation of the
college.
"Changing the name of Penrose High School to One Tree Hill College was a big
event but it won the backing of the local community and a strong majority of
past students. The timing could not have been better.
"The positive ERO report underscores the foresight of the Board of Trustees and
senior leadership team and, in my view, heralds a new dawn in quality secondary
education in Auckland."
Full report: see ERO Report section on this
website
