Creating the conditions for effective teacher collaboration has been seen as a critical component of the work that leaders have been engaged in at Stonefields School since it opened in 2011. Acknowledgement that collaboration can be an opportunity, but also be challenging at times, has informed elements of ongoing professional ...

A performance-appraisal system is often fraught with tensions between the dual purposes of accountability and development. In practice, the nominated appraiser is responsible for evaluating the performance of a colleague and at the same time building a relationship that fosters development. Appraisal systems in New Zealand schools have been criticised ...

We describe new PAT: Mathematics assessment items that focus on students’ maths self-efficacy (students’ belief in their ability to correctly solve particular maths problems). In 2017, schools using PAT: Mathematics online will be able to give their students an opportunity to respond to these items to help build a picture ...

Recent moves within New Zealand and internationally have called for the inclusion of computational learning through activities such as coding, in school curricula. However, including activities such as coding in school curricula is a bold move, and one that will require significant support if it is to successfully achieve its ...

This article is the second of two describing findings of a pilot case study designed to explore learning about science through drama. This article describes students’ responses to opportunities that were provided through the guided drama–science inquiry process to gather, interpret and use data as evidence. Findings indicate that a ...

This article stems from a professional inquiry carried out by two secondary science curriculum and learning facilitators, as part of a continual strengthening of their facilitating practice. The article describes the reflections of several secondary science teachers as they progress their understanding of the science capabilities, and make changes in ...

This article reports an empirical study that investigated the effects of embedding teacher inquiry as an everyday practice within one primary school. After describing how the school implemented and sustained inquiry as part of teachers’ everyday work, the article outlines the impact undertaking such projects had on the teachers at ...

Research suggests that engaging with student voice is desirable, worthwhile, and effective. This article explores these claims by describing how two secondary school teachers engage with students’ voices as they inquire into their teaching practice. In doing so, it supports a conversation about the practicalities of engaging with student voice ...

What happens when you take 15 years of teaching and leading at four different fairly traditional, fairly engaging, high-performing secondary schools, add 3 years of innovation incubation as part of the establishment senior leadership team at Hobsonville Point Secondary School, and throw in a bit of Most Likely to Succeed ...