About Our School

Rātā Street School is a large state primary contributing school, catering for Year 1 (New Entrants) to Year 6 pupils.  It is co-educational and has a pupil age range of 5 -11 years.  Our grading roll for 2018 is 370 and our socio-economic rating (decile rating) is Decile Two. We are a multicultural school with the current composition being: NZ Maori 46%, NZ Euro 21%, Pacifika 25%, African 2%, Asian 3%, Other 1% 
School History: The school opened in 1950 and was built on a single cell model.  A three classroom block was added in the mid 1990’s, and another three classrooms added in 2008 and 2009. There have been refurbishments to many areas of the school. These have included staff and student toilets, the ‘linkway’, the hall, our administration block, staff room, and a classroom block. The next phase of the refurbishment programme will be to continue the classroom refurbishment. Our facilities now include a central resource and teachers work room, library, art room, MindPlus room (gifted programme), reading recovery room, school hall, three adventure playgrounds, outdoor hard court area for netball and PE/sport, PE storeroom, caretaker’s room, boiler room, administration block, teachers’ aide rooms, medical room and a staff room.
What our School is About:  We want every student to be the best they can - in every area. We believe that learning together, with and from each other, is a critical part of becoming our best selves.

We are committed to:
  • Upholding high expectations for all and focus on excellence in all areas
  • Promoting effective pedagogy with particular emphasis on teaching as inquiry and differentiated learning for students
  • Accelerated learning for students in literacy and numeracy
  • Developing the Learning for Life traits of thinking, connecting, choice, purpose, and perseverance
  • Fostering a sense of belonging that affirms the diversity of all students
  • Hauora - supporting the social, physical, spiritual, mental and emotional wellbeing of students and staff, along with care for others and for the environment
  • Providing a range of experiences and opportunities for students to learn and thrive
Learning and Support: The school has a core focus on student achievement in Literacy and Numeracy. To complement these programmes, there are strong cultural, arts, and sport programmes. The school uses its cultural and arts programmes to celebrate its cultural diversity. A Cultural Club is a feature of our cultural programme, and songs and dance of Maori, Samoan and other Pacific cultures are experienced by the students.

Our learning for Life traits inform our approach to learning inside the classroom and beyond it. As students develop these traits, and practice the core values, they will develop their character and increasingly contribute to their community and our society.

Delivery of student support programmes is also a strength. Students needing extra help or extension because they have a special talent are catered for. Support programmes include English as a Second Language (ESOL), Reading Recovery, and MindPlus (gifted programme).  As well, there is teacher and teacher-aide support in both senior and junior areas.

To complement school programmes and to address wider community issues, Rata Street School has
  • a social worker (Social Worker in Schools scheme) and public health nurse. Students and parents are able to access these services.
  • The school is also involved in the Health Promoting Schools initiative.
  • An OSCAR before and after school care facility is also based at the school.

Outside agencies involved with Rata Street School include:
  • Health (health nurse and dental therapists),
  • Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour,
  • Speech Language Therapist,
  • Resource Teacher of Literacy, and
  • Police (Education officer).
High Expectations: Throughout the school there is an ethos of high expectations – in both achievement and behaviour. Annual achievement targets are set and the results reported to the Board of Trustees. Achievement data shows a steady improvement by pupils in Literacy and Numeracy. Professional development initiatives are aimed at improving achievement for these students.
School Development Themes: There are several school development themes – the core areas of  Literacy and Numeracy, and the area of Learning for Life
Literacy and Numeracy: 
The schools focus is on effective teaching practice – with specific attention to the specific learning needs of priority learners. The overall aim is to raise achievement levels of all students. For priority learners this means accelerating their achievement through effective targeted teaching practice. We are constantly looking at how we can do this better. This involves asking the students themselves, and their parents how they learn best.

​The Naenae Kahui Ako | Community of Learning is supporting our focus areas.
​
Learning for Life: 
​We know that our students are living in the here and now, and that we are preparing them for a future that is unknown. Because of this we view effective teaching practice through a future-focused lens. Our definition of Learning for Life was developed by our students, whanau, teachers and leaders. It involves students having more choice and managing their own learning; it involves the use of technology and other resources to gather and share information; and it involves lateral learning within the school, the community and the wider world. Learning is any time, any place, anywhere.
Where you can go for independent information about our school?
Like any service, one of your best sources of information is from other parents - talk to present parents

The Education Review Office are an independent review organisation.  Their reports on our school are available online www.ero.govt.nz

You are welcome to visit and be shown around the school.