EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE REPORTS ON CAREY COLLEGE

The Education Review Office (ERO) is a government agency responsible to the Minister of Education for reviewing and reporting on the compliance of schools to the requirements of the Education Act.

The ERO inspects Carey College once every three years and reports to the Minister as to whether or not the school is meeting those requirements. An ERO Review of a Private School is strictly limited to a very narrow range of criteria and a final finding as to whether or not the school should continue to be registered. By law, the ERO is not permitted to make statements about many of the issues it reports on in state schools. In particular, reports on schools such as Carey College are not meant to include evaluations of how well the school is functioning – the report is meant to simply state if the criteria are met, if the school is "satisfactory" and what (if any) actions are required for compliance.

Our report demonstrate our full and satisfactory compliance with the Act with no "Actions Required for Compliance." Separate Reports are given for the Primary and Secondary departments of the school:

You can read the latest report here. Its conclusion reads:

The following are extracts from the report :

A settled learning environment characterises the teaching and learning programmes. Teachers deliver the curriculum effectively in ways that encourage each student to extend their knowledge and skills. As students progress through the school, the curriculum is increasingly enriched so that students develop independence in work habits and have diverse learning opportunities according to their individual strengths and interests. The school staff work with parents and students in monitoring student progress and achievement. Teachers regularly mark student work. Older students especially, are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, progress and time management.

A stable core of registered teachers staff the school, as well as various part-time tutors whose specialist knowledge and skills enable the diversity of student learning needs to be met. The commitment of the principal and staff to achieving high standards is evident in the constant review and development of the curriculum and involvement in professional development.

The school has suitable premises to support the delivery of the curriculum and to provide a safe environment for students and staff. The well maintained gardens and grounds, together with nearby community sports and recreation facilities provide an attractive learning environment for the students.

International students report that they are happy at the college. They enjoy the college's strong focus on learning. Several of the students have attended the school for up to five years. Students find other students friendly and teachers kind and approachable.

REVIEW PROTOCOL

The following protocol has been used by the Education review Office since 1992 with various Private Schools that have chosen work within the legal framework of the

Education Act.. It is a simple procedure that meets the requirements of the Act, satisfies the requirements of the ERO who proposed it, and minimises the intrusion by the ERO into the school.

Efficient

The Act requires that a Private School be "efficient". Three criteria are relevant:

• Premises, Staffing, Equipment, Curriculum, must each be suitable;
• The standard of tuition given must be at least as good as in an equivalent state school;
• The school must teach patriotism.

Presumption of Efficiency

A Registered School met the requirement of "Efficiency" when last Reviewed or Inspected. In determining its continuing efficiency therefore the ERO works from the assumption that the school was efficient when it last Reviewed the school.

The Review
With this presumption in view, the ERO have advised that they will examine changes made in Premises, Staffing, Equipment, Curriculum, the standard of tuition and the teaching of patriotism.

The school will facilitate the conduct of the Review by providing the ERO with such documents as the current Prospectus, Syllabus Statement, Staff Handbook etc. as are normally publicly available.

A state school is by definition an efficient school. The standard of tuition will be measured by outcomes not process. A description of the standard of tuition for state schools follows, but it should be noted that the emphasis is placed on a broad evaluation of outcomes.

The standard of tuition of a State Primary School is not clearly defined, but is presumed to be such that children are able to engage in secondary schooling after leaving primary school.

The standard of tuition of a State Secondary School is defined in relation to the Secondary Instruction Regulations. These regulations specify an allocation of times for State Secondary Schools. The basis of the ERO approach is however to outcomes not times.

State School Charters, which are the reference point for State School Audits, require:

• The provision of a balanced curriculum which enables all learners to acquire existing knowledge and skills, while at the same time developing capabilities to create knowledge [sic] and practise new skills;
• Basic skills to be learnt;
• Physical and aesthetic abilities will be enhanced;
• Realistic standards of achievement will be set;
• Scholarship will be valued and encouraged at every level;
• Conformity to National Curriculum Guidelines.

Determination of Efficiency
The Review will therefore determine

• the standard of tuition as having maintained or failed to maintain:
  1. the teaching of basic skills, the enhancing of physical and aesthetic abilities, the setting of realistic standards of achievement and the encouragement of scholarship; in
  2. the broad curriculum areas of English; Elementary Mathematics; Science and Technology; Social Studies, Culture and Heritage; Music, Art and Crafts; Physical Health, Care and Well-being.
• the suitability of premises, staffing, equipment and curriculum as having been maintained or not maintained.

Should, in the view of the ERO, any aspect not have been maintained, that in itself would not determine lack of efficiency: it would still be necessary to demonstrate that the standard had fallen below the requirements for Registration. As the Act now requires that only Registered Teachers be employed, evidence of the registration of all teachers should be produced.

Report
The report written will be a simple statement of the determination as to continued efficiency in terms of the standard of tuition and suitability of premises, staffing, equipment and curriculum.