Eltham School
Full Primary · State
- Year levels
- 1–8
- Total roll
- 136
- Enrolment zone
- No
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- Conway Road, Eltham
- Territorial authority
- South Taranaki District
- Phone
- 06-7648099
- office@eltham.school.nz
- Website
- http://www.eltham.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Taranaki
What would the day look like?
The practical things this school states on its own website — the hours, the uniform, the term dates, and how children get there. These are the school’s own words, not the Ministry’s record and not ERO’s.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- Uniform
- Required
Our school Uniform is a printed polo shirt and a black fleece.
- Required
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 96
- Māori
- 62
- Pacific
- 10
- Asian
- 12
- MELAA
- 1
- Other
- 0
- International
- 0
Roll by year level and age
Shown as context, not ranked, not compared to any average. As at 30 June 2026, from the same annual return as the roll count above.
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 01 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
| Year 02 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 16 |
| Year 03 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
| Year 04 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 14 |
| Year 05 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 17 |
| Year 06 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 18 |
| Year 07 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 21 |
| Year 08 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 14 |
| Total | 59 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 0 | 130 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 05 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
| Age 06 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 14 |
| Age 07 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
| Age 08 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 14 |
| Age 09 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 15 |
| Age 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| Age 11 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 20 |
| Age 12 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 14 |
| Age 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 59 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 0 | 130 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
89.4%
| Eltham School | 89.4% |
|---|---|
| Taranaki Region | 41.7% |
| Full Primary | 35.6% |
| State | 40.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 212.5% |
| Māori | 186.5% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 112.4% |
| Total | 89.4% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison stand-down rates data (2024)
Age-standardised suspension rate per 1,000 students — 2024
16.4%
| Eltham School | 16.4% |
|---|---|
| Taranaki Region | 4.1% |
| Full Primary | 3.9% |
| State | 4.5% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 43.4% |
| Māori | 34% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 23.5% |
| Total | 16.4% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison suspension rates data (2024)
Age-standardised exclusion rate per 1,000 students — 2024
16.6%
| Eltham School | 16.6% |
|---|---|
| Taranaki Region | 1.6% |
| Full Primary | 1.7% |
| State | 1.9% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 43.1% |
| Māori | 34.4% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 23.7% |
| Total | 16.6% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 521
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Small urban area
- Date opened
- 25 January 1886
The Equity Index is used by the Ministry to allocate equity funding. It describes the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, not how good the school is. How the Equity Index works
What did ERO find?
The Education Review Office reviews every school and publishes what it finds in full. We quote ERO’s report here, section by section, in ERO’s own words and order, and link to it. We do not summarise a report, pick a line out of one, or turn one into a score. How ERO reviews schools
- Reports ERO holds
- 2
- Last reviewed
- 17 October 2025
- Latest report
- School Report
- Report type
- Review report
- Board assurance
- not reported
What this report states about the school
As stated in ERO’s report of 17 October 2025 — not necessarily the position now. Each line quotes the sentence it came from.
- Year levels
- Years 1 to 8
provides education for learners in Years 1 to 8
- Years 1 to 8
The roll ERO recorded, and when
ERO writes a roll into each report it publishes: a count taken for that report, on the day shown, by the review team that was there. The Ministry of Education’s current roll for this school is 136 — the figure at the top of this page, and the one to use for how big the school is now. These are a different measurement by a different body, so they will rarely agree, and a difference between them is not a change in the school.
August 2018
151
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 23 October 2018
This is one count taken for one report. It says what the roll was on that day, and nothing about how the roll has moved.
What ERO wrote in its latest report
This is ERO’s report of 17 October 2025 — “School Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.
School Report
Tēnā koutou e mau manawa rahi ki te kaupapa e aro ake nei, ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa. Mā wai rā e kawe, mā tātau katoa.
We acknowledge the collective effort, responsibility and commitment by all to ensure that the child remains at the heart of the matter.
Every New Zealand state and state integrated school has an ERO review at least once every four years to evaluate what is working well for learners and what needs to be improved.
About the School
Eltham School is in a small rural town in South Taranaki and provides education for learners in Years 1 to 8. The school’s roll is currently 133 with 43% of the students identifying as Māori , 39% as NZ European/ Pakeha ; 10% as Asian; and 6% of Pacific heritage.
The school’s vision is to create lifelong learners and provide high quality teaching in a cooperative learning environment supported by the school values; whanaungatanga, ako, manaakitanga , honesty, respect and empathy.
Education Counts provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement, school enrolments and school zones. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
An explanation of the terms and judgements used in this report can be found here: Reporting | Education Review Office
What we know about learner success
This section provides a summary of learner success and wellbeing. The judgments are based on the ERO School Improvement Framework and the evidence provided to ERO during the evaluation.
How well are learners succeeding? Success and progress for all learners is increasing.
What is the quality of teaching and learning? Learners benefit from good quality teaching practice that improves progress and achievement in reading, writing and mathematics.
How well does the school curriculum respond to all learners needs? Learners have sufficient opportunities to learn across the breadth and depth of the curriculum. There is an increasingly consistent focus on supporting learners to gain skills in literacy and mathematics. Learners with complex needs are well supported to achieve their education goals.
How well does school planning and conditions support ongoing improvement? School planning and conditions to support ongoing improvement to the quality of education for learners are well established.
How well does the school include all learners and promote their engagement and wellbeing? The school reasonably promotes learners’ engagement, wellbeing and inclusion.
How well does the school partner with parents, whānau and its community for the benefit of learners? The school reports usefully and accurately to parents / whānau about their child’s learning, achievement and progress. The school responds well to a wide range of information gathered through community consultation, to inform strategic planning and curriculum decisions.
Student Health and Safety The school board is taking reasonable steps to ensure student health and safety.
Achievement in Years 0 to 8
This section is about learner achievement. It outlines how well learners across the school meet or exceed the expected curriculum level of The New Zealand Curriculum in foundational skills.
Less than a third Less than half Small majority Large majority Most Almost all
0 to 33% 34 to 49% 50 to 64% 65 to 79% 80 to 90% Over 90%
Reading A large majority of learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. Results are equitable for all groups of learners.
Writing A large majority of learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. Results are becoming more equitable for all groups of learners.
Mathematics Most learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. Results are becoming more equitable for all groups of learners.
Attendance
This section is about school attendance and the progress the school is making towards meeting the Government target of 80% regular attendance.
The small majority of learners attend school regularly.
The school is behind the target of 80% regular attendance.
The school is developing a suitable plan to improve attendance.
Regular attendance is not yet improving towards or beyond the target.
Chronic absence is reducing over time.
Assessment
This section is about how the school assesses learner progress and achievement.
The school uses an appropriate approach and reliable practices to find out about achievement against the curriculum.
Teachers are developing assessment information to adjust teaching practices to ensure ongoing improvement in teaching and student progress.
Progress
This section is about how well the school supports all learners to make sufficient progress.
The school is developing good quality planning to increase the rate of progress for all groups of students.
The school has to some extent improved achievement and progress for those learners most at risk of not achieving since the previous review.
The school has to some extent extended achievement and progress for learners working at or above curriculum levels since the previous review.
The school is making progress towards meeting Government reading, writing and mathematics targets and/or pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau targets for 2030 and agrees this will need to be a key strategic priority.
Next steps for improvement
This section provides more detail for the school to include in its strategic and annual planning for ongoing improvement across the school. It outlines what the school is doing well and identifies actions for improvement.
Areas of Strength
Leaders and staff have high expectations for all learners to succeed. Learner achievement in reading, writing and mathematics continues to show improvement, Māori learners perform well across all areas.
Learners are confident in their classrooms and active in their learning. Leaders and teachers are responsive to each child’s well-being needs.
Staff foster inclusive and respectful relationships with all learners and their families; this promotes a positive learning environment that enables meaningful learning across the curriculum.
Professional development is supporting teachers to embed a schoolwide structured literacy approach. Leaders are accessing resources and professional training to support teachers to implement the new mathematics curriculum.
School leaders and the board have successfully consulted with the community to develop clear goals to support strategic planning and guide improvement.
Key priorities
Strengthen teachers’ knowledge of strategies to differentiate learning activities.
Embed the new literacy and mathematics requirements.
Improve outcomes for all learners.
Improve regular attendance for all learners.
Actions to bring about improvement
Within six months:
leaders and teachers review the implementation of structured literacy and mathematics programmes and identify priorities for professional development
leaders and teachers review current attendance processes and develop a robust plan to improve regular attendance for all learners
Every six months:
leaders analyse and report to the School Board on the progress and achievement of all learners in literacy and mathematics to inform further professional development and resourcing, as required
teachers and leaders evaluate the effectiveness of learning support programmes to ensure that these are improving learner outcomes and adjust if necessary
leaders and teachers monitor and refine attendance strategies and planning and work with parents and whānau to improve regular attendance rates
Annually:
the School Board and leaders evaluate the progress and achievement of all learners in reading, writing and mathematics and report to the school community and identify improvement goals
leaders and staff review teaching and learning programmes; identifying the programmes that had the most success and use this information to inform future school planning
leaders and the School Board review the impact of the planned strategies on raising regular attendance for all learners and plan next steps.
Expected outcomes
School wide learning programmes effectively meet the needs of all learners.
Improved outcomes for all learners; including learners who require additional support, in literacy and mathematics.
Improved rates of regular attendance.
Regulatory and Legislative Requirements
This section of the report is about how the school meet regulatory and legislative requirements.
Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements
This section of the report reviews the school's policies, procedures, documentation, and checks that it meets all regulations, maintains a safe environment, and supports students' wellbeing.
During this review the Board has attested to some regulatory and legislative requirements in the following areas:
Board Administration
Yes
Curriculum
Yes
Management of Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Personnel Management
Yes
The next public report on ERO’s website will be a School Report and is due within four years.
Me mahi tahi tonu tātau, kia whai oranga a tātau tamariki Let’s continue to work together for the greater good of all children
Sharon Kelly Director of Schools
17 October 2025
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 2 reports ERO holds for this school
ERO reviews a school every few years — around four years between reviews is the usual cycle — so an older date here reflects where a school sits in that cycle, not how it is doing.
Source: Education Review Office, CC BY 4.0.
Roll date: 30 June 2026 (2026).