In November 2015, 469 submissions posted to a select committee inquiry into identification and support for students with the significant challenges of dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism spectrum disorders in primary and secondary schools were downloaded. This article includes comments selected from a group of submissions from 141 direct family members ...

The term assessment capable was introduced in New Zealand to distinguish between the more formulaic use of assessment-for-learning practices, and those that empower students to become self-regulated learners. This article explores the concept of assessment capability. It considers what it means to be an assessment-capable teacher in New Zealand, the ...

Victoria University Associate Professor Liz Jones is passionate about helping a range of professionals harness the potential of portfolios to improve their practice. Teacher portfolios are especially dear to her heart given Liz’s long career in education as a primary school teacher, principal, educational psychologist, teacher educator, and university academic ...

This article supports teachers to think about their students’ acts of learning, as well as their own as teachers. It draws on research about young adults’ most profound learning during their apprenticeships, cadetships, and vocational immersion programmes. The experiences of GP registrars, carpentry apprentices, and engineering technician cadets, and the ...

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 ...