High praise for college's leadership

The Education Review Office has praised the principal and senior management team at Marlborough Girls' College for their high-quality professional leadership.

In their review of the school released this week, the ERO team said the college's professional leaders set high standards for learning and behaviour. The "dynamic high-quality education" described in the school's mission statement was evident during their visit.

Principal Karen Stewart passed some of the credit to the school's pupils, the community and supportive parents.

She said the school "is lucky in the support we get from families who turn up when we run parent education around topics like the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) or careers."

Informed parents and caregivers could talk knowledgeably to girls about their study and future goals such as university and polytechnic education.

The report said the college celebrated cultural diversity and supported Maori and Pacific students to maximise learning. Sixteen per cent of the school's 1075 students were Maori and 2 per cent Pacific.

Twenty-four international students attended the college and three international summer schools were held there. The ERO team said the college looked after the safety and welfare of these students.

Strengths highlighted included a well-informed board; encouragement for high and lower achievers to reach their potential, and the recently introduced junior certificate, which tracked year 9 and 10 students' progress.

Ms Stewart was pleased the review team endorsed the direction the school was taking rather than making its own recommendations.

The school is working on finding better ways of measuring year 9 and 10 students' results against national and school benchmarks. It was also looking closely at how junior classes were organised covering timetabling, curriculum and ability banding.

The report showed the college's Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) results were well above national standards and similar to other decile 7 schools. The school was working towards lifting the number of girls achieving level 3 NCEA certificates endorsed with excellence.

Ms Stewart said strategies included students spending more non-classroom time in study rooms, help with study skills, tutoring and access to on-line extension. Outside providers were being brought in and staff were being trained to help lift results.

- The Marlborough Express

Newest First

Oldest First