Tokomairiro High School in Milton has been severely criticised by the Education Review Office (ERO) for failing to engage pupils in learning and its ineffectual procedures for dealing with badly behaved pupils in class.
The findings have prompted ERO to recommend the Ministry of Education step in to provide support as the school addresses the issues. However, board of trustees chairwoman Jill McIntosh said the school was well placed to deal with the issues.
The ERO report said a "significant" number of year 7-12 pupils were not well engaged in learning, and their behaviour was affecting the ability of other pupils to engage and learn.
"The significant amount of time and energy teachers and senior managers spend on behavioural issues is time they are not able to devote to the core business of teaching and learning.
"Some students in years 7-10 are frequently removed from class for disruptive behaviours, inappropriate language and failure to follow teachers' directions."
"Practices to address the poor behaviour of a number of students are not effective in reducing the nature and scale of inappropriate classroom behaviour."
The report also criticised the school because it had not finished developing its own curriculum, which should have been fully implemented by the beginning of 2010.
"Teachers do not have effective guidance to reflect the school's curriculum priorities, including the principles of the New Zealand Curriculum, within their classroom documents and practice.
"This curriculum completion should be a priority."
Despite the disruptions, levels of pupil achievement across the school were "generally satisfactory", the report showed.
The report recommended the board, principal and senior leaders develop an "action plan" to address the issues, focusing particularly on the physical and emotional safety of pupils and staff; the quality of teaching and learning; full implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum; full implementation of National Standards; gathering and responding to pupils' opinions about decisions that affect them; and rigorous and well-documented self-review practices.
ERO recommended the Ministry of Education support the board as it addressed the issues.
Ministry of Education Southern regional manager Ray Webb said the ministry met the board recently to discuss what assistance was needed and the school wanted to be included in the 2012 ministry's positive behaviour for learning professional development programme.
"We will continue to work with the board to identify what further support may be required to address the issues identified."
Mrs McIntosh said the board of trustees was well placed to deal with the recommendations, and she looked forward to implementing further initiatives in 2012 to tackle the challenging behaviour of some pupils.
Teachers now had a guidance document reflecting the school's curriculum priorities which provided the framework for the New Zealand Curriculum completion, she said.
