Episode 28: Working with your ERO evaluation partner

The new process for ERO reviews means tumuaki work more closely with their ERO evaluation partner over the three-year cycle. In this episode, we talk about getting the most out of that relationship, and the process when ERO finds something that’s not going so well in a school.   My guests are: Shane Morrow, Manager Review and Improvement Services, ERO Sharee Hemingway, Director Ākonga Māori, ERO Stephen Lethbridge, principal of Point Chevalier School Rangi-mata-rau Nick Leith, tumuaki of Te Raekura Redcliffs School.   This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.   You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz   Show notes Episode themes: Board assurance statements – useful for tumuaki to use it as a living document for ongoing internal audit. Ensuring you’re using data. Important to build an effective relationship with your evaluation partner and engaging with them well – good idea to make their email address a VIP contact so their emails come to the top of your list each time. Nick re: evaluation partner/tumuaki relationship: “One thing I've learned about this job is there are an absolute million plates spinning and quite a few of them are wobbling. And I guess if you can turn your attention to some of those wobbles for a period of time, you can get back to the things that are spinning great. But that's a supportive process rather than one that's only there for three days to catch the plates as they fall.” Preparation for an ERO visit is important. Helping staff manage their nerves when ERO is on site – it’s important to talk them through the process so they know what to expect. What happens if an evaluation partner finds something concerning in a school. How new tumuaki can understand where their new kura is in an ERO review cycle. How to find who your evaluation partner is.   Additional information ERO website www.ero.govt.nz  School Improvement Framework (SIF) https://ero.govt.nz/how-ero-reviews/how-ero-reviews-schoolskura-english-medium/te-ara-huarau-the-new-approach-to-evaluation/school-improvement-framework Board assurance statement and self-audit checklists https://ero.govt.nz/how-ero-reviews/how-ero-reviews-schoolskura-english-medium/Te-Ara-Huarau/The-Board-Assurance-Statement-and-Self-Audit-Checklists   Questions 00:45 [Stephen] What do you do to prepare for an ERO visit?   1:17 [Stephen and Shane] Can you talk me through what that board assurance statement covers?   5:07 [Nick] You mentioned that you used your first review as a way of getting to know your kura and the way everything works. How will you prepare next time?   7:55 [Shane and Sharee] Would you add anything to the preparation for an ERO visit?   9:45 [Stephen and Nick] How do you manage staff nerves about having ERO in the school?   13:41 [Shane] What happens if the evaluation partner finds that there's something not quite going so well in a school? How does that process work?   16:35 [Sharee] How does it work in the rumaki bilingual space?   18:52 [Shane] Does ERO help set up support where it's needed or is it a referral process to the Ministry?   20:16 [Shane and Sharee] When a new tumuaki steps in the building, how can they get their head around where a school is in that review cycle or where they are in the improvement journey?   22:11[Shane and Sharee] How can they find out who their evaluation partner is?   22:34 [All] What’s your advice to a new tumuaki approaching an ERO review?