In its evaluation report, released two weeks ago, ERO commended the school for working alongside it for three years to improve, in particular, junior school literacy levels.
It was also happy disparities in learning between boys and girls — where the former lagged behind the latter — had been reduced, and there were also more "equitable outcomes" for Māori and Pacific pupils.
ERO said the biggest shift had come in teachers’ capacity and capability "to provide targeted teaching and support for literacy learning and progress throughout the school".
Principal Oded Nathan said he was very pleased with the report, and told staff "it signals some great work being done at each layer of the organisation".
In terms of support for literacy learning, he noted "with the support of the Wakatipu High School Foundation, we’ve been able to release half-a-dozen teachers to upskill their ability to teach structured literacy and to ultimately support students with their literacy achievement".
In turn, it "opens up a world of opportunities once they can read and write".
Specifically, ERO pointed out the school "increased the number and proportion of students achieving at or above curriculum level 5 in reading and writing".
Mr Nathan was also pleased the report showed "our Māori students do feel they are consistently well supported, and they do feel comfortable with the school, but this is an area we continually want to develop".
The agreed next steps included continuing to build staff and pupils’ capability in te reo Māori to support equity and excellence for all Māori learners.
Within six months, the school will host a whanau advisory group and whanau hui focused on its Māori language strategy.
Every six months it will facilitate a Māori pupil hui focused on pupils’ sense of cultural identity, and how well supported they feel.
