Area

Responsiveness objectives

Key questions

School governance

Māori are fully represented and involved in school governance.

Does your school encourage Māori people with appropriate skills and experience to:

• participate in school governance?
• monitor and report on school performance with respect to its effectiveness for Māori?

Does your school:

• ask Māori parents how they wish to be involved in governance?
• provide for Māori to appoint one or more members to the board of trustees where appropriate?

Planning and policy

Planning and policy:

clearly set the school's direction for education for Māori students.

Does your school's planning process:

• take account of the Treaty of Waitangi?
• consider how the school can give effect to the National Education Guidelines with respect to Māori?
• include objectives in relation to Māori?
• assess progress towards positive outcomes for Māori?
• review and improve outcomes for Māori?
• involve kaumātua, parents, whānau, and local leaders in planning?

include explicit statements regarding Māori cultural values and integrate those values in the school's operation.

Does your school's policy development process:

• take account of the Treaty of Waitangi?
• draw on research to identify and analyse educational disparities between Māori and other groups?
• identify and analyse reasons for adverse outcomes for Māori students?
• involve kaumātua, parents, whānau, and local leaders in policy development?

Setting strategies for development

Strategies are established for the development of Māori participation and the development of more effective teaching programmes.

Does your school have:

• a strategy for developing and maintaining Māori participation in governance?
• a strategy for developing school property in a way that reflects Māori needs and values?
• a strategy for improving the achievement of Māori students?

Curriculum and programme development and delivery

Curricula and programmes incorporate Māori cultural knowledge and skills.

Teachers:

incorporate local Māori knowledge into the curriculum.

use preferred Māori learning styles and settings.

adapt their teaching styles to better suit the way Māori children prefer to learn.

Does your school:

• recognise the validity and integrity of traditional Māori knowledge systems?
• recognise cultural differences as positive attributes for developing appropriate educational experiences?
• use kaumātua expertise?
• provide for Māori input into curriculum and programme planning and design?
• reflect Māori needs and differences in the design of programmes and curricula?
• provide opportunities for students to learn in settings where Māori cultural knowledge and skills are relevant?
• provide opportunities for learning about local Māori history and cultural traditions?
• use a broad range of culturally appropriate performance standards to assess students' learning?

Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori

Māori students have opportunities to learn in and about their language and culture.

Students are culturally knowledgeable and able to build on their skills to achieve personal and academic success.

Does your school:

• provide opportunities for students who wish to learn in Māori?
• offer courses that acquaint all students with te reo Māori?
• make available reading materials and resources in te reo Māori?
• have guidelines for the use of tikanga Māori?
• have guidelines for the use of te reo Māori?
• provide opportunities for teachers to become familiar with te reo Māori and tikanga Māori and promote their use in teaching?
• promote knowledge of local Māori history and traditions?

Human resources

Staff have relevant skills and experience in providing education that is appropriate to Māori.

Does your school:

• have an appropriate level of Māori teachers in relation to the needs of Māori students?
• have a strategy to retain Māori staff?
• provide support and professional development to Māori staff?
• in all staff, develop relevant skills and competencies, such as understanding Māori social structures, cultural practices, and values?
• provide opportunities for all staff to learn te reo Māori?
• acquire external expertise where it is needed to support staff?
• encourage and support the professional development of Māori in the community so that they can take on teaching and administrative roles?
• foster opportunities for teachers to participate in professional activities that expand their cultural knowledge and pedagogical skills?
• link human resource development to planning goals?

School environment

The school has facilities and practices that are compatible with the local Māori community environment.

Does your school:

• demonstrate corporate values that are consistent with the values and needs of Māori?
• present a positive school image to Māori?
• provide a physical environment that is inviting and accessible for Māori parents and whānau?
• provide opportunities for local Māori to provide decoration and displays?

Linking home, community, and school

Teachers work closely with parents to achieve a high level of complementary educational expectations between home and school.

There is extensive communication and co-operation between the school and the Māori community.

Does your school:

• hold regular events to bring together students, parents, teachers, and community members to consider Māori educational needs?
• sponsor activities and events that provide opportunities for students to display their knowledge of the Māori culture in the community?
• encourage teacher involvement in activities with the local Māori community?
• make appropriate use of the cultural and professional expertise of local Māori people?
• promote parental and whānau involvement in all aspects of their children's education?