Sally Boyd

Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher

Sally Boyd is a senior researcher at NZCER. She has a keen interest in school and curriculum innovation, and student agency and wellbeing.

Sally is an experienced researcher/evaluator who mostly works on studies that span the education and health sectors. She is a member of the team that develops evaluation approaches and methodologies at NZCER. She is experienced in working with a diverse range of stakeholders to design mixed-method evaluations that provide clients with timely data to improve approaches.

The most recent project Sally is leading is an evaluation of the Play.sport initiative for Sport New Zealand. Over 2013-15 she led an evaluation of the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) School-Wide initiative for the Ministry of Education.  Sally was the lead researcher for the teams which developed the Wellbeing@School and Inclusive Practices self-review tools for schools. Over the last few years, Sally has also been involved in a number of projects that explore how schools are approaching the key competencies and other aspects of the revised New Zealand Curriculum.

Sally has a BSc in Psychology, and a MA (Applied) in Social Science Research.

Publications

Hei whakaarotanga: Engaging with models of health and wellbeing that draw on mātauranga Māori Research publication 2024
Poipoia kia puāwai: How schools support ākonga Māori and Pacific students to attain University Entrance Research publication 2024
Working towards wellbeing rests on whanaungatanga and partnerships Journal article 2023
Supporting early career teachers and kaiako: Experiences of mentoring, induction, and PLD Research publication 2022
National Survey Research Brief 2—PLD and school wide wellbeing as predictors of teacher morale and workload Research publication 2022
Manaakitia ngā tamariki kia ora ai - Supporting children's wellbeing Research publication 2021
Learnings and outcomes from the second year of Tūturu Research publication 2020
Assessing and building wellbeing Journal article 2019
Making a difference to student wellbeing—a data exploration Research publication 2018
Reviewing the game plan: What can be learnt from the first year of Play.sport? Research publication 2017
Finding a balance—fostering student wellbeing, positive behaviour, and learning: Findings from the NZCER national survey of primary and intermediate schools 2016 Research publication 2017
"It's who we are" Stories of practice and change from PB4L School-Wide Schools Research publication 2015
Year 2 Evaluation - Getting Runs on the Board Research publication 2015
"A positive culture of support" Final report from the evaluation of PB4L School-Wide Research publication 2015
PB4L School-wide Evaluation: Preliminary findings Research publication 2014
Student inquiry and curriculum integration: Ways of learning for the 21st century? (Part B) Journal article 2013
Evaluation of Skylight's Travellers programme Research publication 2012
Supporting future-oriented learning and teaching - a New Zealand perspective Research publication 2012
Student inquiry and curriculum integration: Shared origins and points of difference (Part A) Journal article 2012
Key messages about change in schools: A literature scan for Sport New Zealand Research publication 2012