School takes pride in NCEA results
Academic results for Tokoroa High School are on the up – a trend it has been following for the past four years.
If the preliminary 2014 NCEA results are anything to go by then it seems as if Tokoroa High School’s recent growth is here to stay.
After receiving praise from Education Minister Hekia Parata, the Education Review Office and featuring in an Education Gazette article in 2014 for the positive direction the school was heading, principal William Ford was once again proud of the school’s academic performance for 2014.
With NCEA achievement rates above the national average a specific challenge was put to the school by the Board of Trustees to raise the levels of academic performance even more by focusing on gaining Merit and Excellence level endorsements, he said.
The number of subject/ course endorsements range from 14 in 2011 to 67 in 2013. Last year the school received 102.
‘‘ The great majority of these required students to gain at least one external examination at Merit or Excellence level, Ford said.
He puts the success down to a shift in attitude by teachers, students and parents.
‘‘Examinations are important at Tokoroa High School as they show our students can prepare and perform under pressure.
‘‘My staff are as excited about the students’ exam results as the students are.’’
Even more pleasing was the massive increase in the number of students gaining their NCEA certificates with overall Merit or Excellence endorsements.
That number went from five in 2012, when the new initiatives and shift in attitudes came in, to 20 in 2013 and 36 in 2014.
Ford said 18 students were able to gain their certificates at Excellence level which required them to have gained at least 50 excellence credits.
Board of Trustees Staff representative Dean Tereu said it was ‘‘incredibly pleasing’’.
‘‘ It shows that given the right learning environment, hardworking teachers and a fully staffed timetable, our students are capable of aiming high and achieving accordingly. This culture of excellence is a joy to be a part of.’’
He said the challenge is there to keep on improving.