ERO Reviews Explained: What Parents Need to Know
What the Education Review Office does, how school reviews work, and how to read and interpret ERO reports when choosing a school.
What Is ERO?
The Education Review Office (ERO) is the New Zealand government agency responsible for evaluating and reporting on the quality of education in schools and early childhood services. ERO is independent from the Ministry of Education and acts as an external check on how well schools are performing.
ERO reviews are an important source of information for parents. They provide an independent, professional assessment of a school's strengths and areas for improvement.
How ERO Reviews Work
ERO reviews involve a team of trained reviewers visiting a school over several days. During the visit, reviewers:
- Observe teaching and learning in classrooms
- Talk to students, teachers, school leaders, parents, and board members
- Examine school documentation, including achievement data, policies, and strategic plans
- Assess how well the school supports all learners, including Maori and Pacific students, students with disabilities, and English language learners
After the review, ERO publishes a report on its website. The school also receives the report and is expected to act on any recommendations.
The New ERO Report Format
ERO has moved to a new reporting framework that focuses on how well schools achieve equity and excellence for all learners. The new reports assess schools against key evaluation indicators, including:
- Learning outcomes: How well students are achieving, with particular attention to groups that have historically been underserved.
- Teaching quality: Whether teaching is responsive, culturally sustaining, and evidence-based.
- School conditions: Whether the school environment supports learning, including leadership, governance, and community partnerships.
- Wellbeing: How well the school supports the hauora (wellbeing) of students and staff.
Reports now provide clearer judgements about school performance, making them more useful for parents. ERO may describe a school's practice as "strong," "developing," or "needs improvement" in specific areas.
How Often Are Schools Reviewed?
The frequency of ERO reviews depends on the school's performance. Schools that are performing well may be reviewed every three to four years. Schools where concerns have been identified may be reviewed more frequently, with follow-up visits to check on progress.
If a school is found to have serious issues, ERO can recommend intervention by the Ministry of Education. In extreme cases, this can lead to the appointment of a commissioner to replace the school's board of trustees.
Where to Find ERO Reports
All ERO reports are publicly available on the ERO website (ero.govt.nz). You can search for any school by name or location and read the most recent review report. Many schools also provide a link to their ERO report on their own website.
How to Read an ERO Report
When reading an ERO report, pay attention to:
- Key findings: What is the school doing well, and where are the gaps?
- Equity focus: How well does the school serve Maori, Pacific, and other priority learner groups?
- Recommendations: What has ERO asked the school to improve? Look at previous reports to see whether the school has acted on past recommendations.
- Student voice: What did students say about their experience at the school?
- Next steps: When is the next review scheduled? A shorter return time may indicate that ERO has concerns.
ERO Reports in Context
While ERO reports are a valuable resource, they are a snapshot in time. A school may have changed significantly since its last review. Use ERO reports alongside other information — your own visit to the school, conversations with parents and staff, and the school's publicly available achievement data — to build a complete picture.
ERO reviews are one piece of the puzzle. A school with a mixed ERO report that is actively working on improvements may be a better choice than a school that received a glowing report three years ago but has since lost key staff. Always look at the whole picture.