Sacred Heart School (Dunedin)
Contributing · State : Integrated
- Year levels
- 1–6
- Total roll
- 57
- Enrolment zone
- No
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- 63 North Road, North East Valley, Dunedin
- Territorial authority
- Dunedin City
- Phone
- 03-4738362
- office@sacredheartdn.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Dunedin · schools in Otago
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
It is expected that the full uniform will be worn each day to and from school, including footwear.
- Required
- Getting there
- Walking School Bus, run by a parent every Thursday morning from the Quarry Store along North Road
Every Thursday morning, a parent runs our Walking School Bus from the Quarry Store along North Road. It runs throughout the year along a designated route.
- Walking School Bus, run by a parent every Thursday morning from the Quarry Store along North Road
What does the school say about itself?
Quoted, not summarised. Every school describes itself well, so this is here to be read as the school’s own case rather than as a finding — and a school that states nothing simply has no row.
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.
- In their words
- Our three Core Values are grounded in the pursuit of TRUTH within a Dominican context:
- Respect – Whakaute
- Resilience – Manawaroa
- Relationships – Whanaungatanga
- ‘Building a future through Faith, Learning and Community’.
- Special character
- The Dominican charism is based on truth, learning, discovery,
- thinking, excellence, prayer, community and service or mission.
- We live by the Domincan motto of “Veritas” – meaning truth.
- The Dominican pillars of prayer, learning, community and service
- are evident in our school and our learning.
- International students
- Accepted, as stated
We are excited to offer international students a study experience in Aotearoa.
- Accepted, as stated
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 16
- Māori
- 5
- Pacific
- 6
- Asian
- 36
- MELAA
- 3
- Other
- 1
- International
- 1
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 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| Year 02 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Year 03 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Year 04 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
| Year 05 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| Year 06 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| Year 07 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 5 | 8 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 69 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 05 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| Age 06 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Age 07 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Age 08 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Age 09 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| Age 10 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| Age 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 5 | 8 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 69 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Otago Region | 36.8% |
| Contributing | 35.6% |
| State : Integrated | 16.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
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
0%
| Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Otago Region | 4.6% |
| Contributing | 3.5% |
| State : Integrated | 1.6% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
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
0%
| Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Otago Region | 2% |
| Contributing | 1.5% |
| State : Integrated | 0.5% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 427
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Major urban area
- Date opened
- 16 October 1895
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
- 3
- Last reviewed
- 13 March 2024
- Latest report
- Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
- Report type
- Profile report
- Board assurance
- The board attested to all areas (13 March 2024)
A board assurance statement is the board’s own account of whether it took all reasonable steps to meet its legal obligations, on the date shown. It is not ERO’s finding. ERO reports separately, in the same report, on any non-compliance it identified during that process.
The board assurance report of 13 March 2024 carries no actions-for-compliance section — the section ERO uses when it names non-compliance it identified. That is what this report contains; it is not ERO saying it found none. Other reports ERO holds for this school may say something different.
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 57 — 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.
July 2019
37
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 11 October 2019
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 13 March 2024 — “Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.
Background
This Profile Report was written within 12 months of the Education Review Office and Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) working in Te Ara Huarau , an improvement evaluation approach used in most English Medium State and State Integrated Schools. For more information about Te Ara Huarau see ERO’s website. www.ero.govt.nz
Context
Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) is a Catholic School situated in North East Valley, Dunedin. The school caters for students from year 1 to 6. The school aims to support children to develop their full potential spiritually, academically, physically, culturally and socially in a community environment which respects the special needs and gifts of all.
Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) ’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are:
strengthen practice and pedagogy for improved outcomes for learners
develop a culturally responsive and inclusive localised curriculum
recognise the intrinsic dignity and individuality of each child and build on their natural desire to inquire and learn within a special character lens.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on Sacred Heart School (Dunedin) ’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally responsive practice across the curriculum to improve engagement and outcomes for all learners.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
the principal, board of trustees and staff recognise the need to improve student attendance
2024 – 2025 strategic goals are focused on raising achievement for those learners who have not yet met curriculum levels
the school is developing their localised curriculum and wants to ensure that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is woven through learning contexts
The principal is working within Dunedin Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako to utilise support and resources for learners who are not regularly at school.
The school expects to see:
improved outcomes in wellbeing and achievement for all learners.
higher levels of attendance for all learners
the development and use of a localised curriculum that engages ākonga and wider community in reciprocal learning partnerships
a strengthening of teacher capabilities and confidence in the use of te reo and tikanga practices.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally responsive practice across the curriculum to improve engagement and outcomes for all learners.
A strong pastoral care focus for all ākonga and wider community.
Strong learning centred and caring relationships between staff and ākonga which are evident in day-to- day interactions.
Strong connections with Dunedin Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako which supports the school in professional learning for teachers and leadership.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
strengthening communication with families of learners who are not attending school regularly to support understanding of attendance expectations in Aotearoa New Zealand
strengthening teacher pedagogical knowledge in all aspects of culturally responsive practice so that teachers grow their confidence in teaching and learning across the diversity of the school culture.
professional learning to deepen staff understanding of a te ao Māori world view.
ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. ERO will support the school in reporting their progress to the community. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report and is due within three years.
Shelley Booysen Director of Schools
13 March 2024
About the School
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 3 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).