School Profiles

Pakuranga College is a large co-educational school catering for students from Year 9 to Year 13 and serving the Howick and Pakuranga area of East Auckland. The roll includes 11 percent who are Māori students and 7 percent who have Pacific heritages.

The school vision is ‘to provide an exceptional and innovative learning community that challenges and supports students to excel and develop the skills, attitudes and values they need to succeed now and in the future.’ The school culture is one where high levels of student agency are valued alongside priority on student wellbeing for learning.

The school’s strategic goals for improving students’ learning outcomes include:

• maintaining high quality innovative teaching and learning across all areas

• providing a curriculum that offers diverse opportunities and pathways for all students

• providing a safe, inclusive learning environment

• strengthening family, whānau and community relationships.

ERO Report 27/06/2018

Farm Cove Intermediate in Pakuranga has just over 600 Year 7 and 8 children on its roll. Currently, Māori children comprise 10 percent of the roll, and five percent have Pacific heritage. The community’s increasing cultural diversity is reflected in higher numbers of Chinese and Indian children and smaller numbers from other ethnic groups.

The school continues to provide an attractive and well resourced learning environment. The school’s emphasis on collaborative teaching and learning has been supported by the strategically planned development of innovative learning spaces. Specialist teaching areas also feature, including Te Whare Ako, an initiative to strengthen te reo me ōna tikanga Māori school wide.

ERO Report 10/11/2017

Sunnyhills School is a primary school located in east Auckland. The school caters for a diverse community. The roll of 511, includes students with Māori and Pacific heritage, and an increasing number of Chinese families.

The school has undergone staff and leadership changes over recent years, including a newly appointed principal. Restructuring of the school has resulted in the appointment of two new assistant principals and other teachers promoted to leadership roles. A number of teachers are new to the school.

In 2017, the school began a re-visioning process. This has resulted in the development of GEMS, the key principles of Growth, Empathy, Mana and Self-belief. The school’s stated purpose is ‘Learning for Life’. Leaders and teachers see their role as helping children ‘shine’ through genuine relationships and meaningful opportunities. They provide a rich, holistic curriculum that challenges, engages and celebrates learning for all.

ERO Report 20/06/2019

Elm Park School is a large, contributing (Year 1 to 6) primary school catering for approximately 620 students. A wide variety of ethnic groups is represented in the school. The bigger groups comprise 11 percent who are Māori, 25 percent Pākehā, 25 percent Chinese, and 12 percent who have Pacific heritages.

The board’s vision is to work together with the school’s community to provide a balanced curriculum to assist all students to maximise their potential. It provides clear expectations for learning, and emphasises promoting a stimulating and caring environment that rewards students’ efforts.

The outcome the school wants for its students is to have each learner progress and reach their personal best. This encompasses improving outcomes for all students, particularly Māori, Pacific, and children with special needs, and accelerating the progress of students performing below expectations.

ERO Report 28/06/2018

Wakaaranga School is a large, Year 1 to 6 primary school situated adjacent to Farm Cove Intermediate in Pakuranga. Since ERO's 2013 evaluation the school's staff and roll have been relatively stable. Equal numbers of Pākehā and Chinese students make up 60 percent of the roll. Māori and Pacific students make up eight percent and six percent of the roll respectively. Teachers have been involved in professional learning in literacy, maths and eLearning, and most significantly in science, together with a cluster of local schools.

The vision and valued outcomes defined by the school for all children are "to develop lifelong learners who are confident, relate well to others, have a strong sense of personal identity and are able to contribute positively to our society. They will also strive to be 'the best they can possibly be'". The school's core values are responsibility, respect and reflection. Children refer to the waka and three Norfolk Pine trees in the school's logo as a visual reminder of the values, of the history of the area, and that they are on a learning journey.

ERO Report 09/03/2017