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Sally Boyd

Job Title: 
Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher
sally.boyd@nzcer.org.nz

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.

Dingle, R., & Boyd, S. (2009). A focus on opportunities to learn and student engagement. Paper presented at the annual conference of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education/Australian Association for Research in Education (NZARE/AARE), Canberra, 29 November to 3 December.

Boyd, S. (2009). Enabling students to lead the way: Healthy lifestyles and healthy futures. set: Research Information for Teachers, 3, 37-43.

Boyd, S. (2009). Viewing schools as a health and wellbeing system: Does this fit with the revised curriculum? set: Research Information for Teachers, 3, 44-51.

Cowie, B., Hipkins, R., Boyd, S., Bull, A., Keown, P., McGee, C., with Cooper, B., Ferrier-Kerr, J., Hume, A., McKim, A., Moreland, J., Morrison, M., Bolstad, R., Spiller, L., Taylor, M., & Yates, R. (2009). New Zealand curriculum implementation exploratory studies: Final Report. Wellington: Ministry of Education.

Bolstad, R., Roberts, J., Boyd, S., & Hipkins, R. (2009). KickStarts: Key Competencies: Exploring the potential of participating and contributing. Wellington: NZCER Press.

Boyd, S. (2008). Supporting the development of a positive school culture. set: Research Information for Teachers, 3, 4-8.

Boyd, S., Fisher, J., & Brooking, K. (2008). Life Education – Making a difference. An evaluation for the Life Education Trust. Wellington: Life Education Trust.

Boyd, S. (2007). Taking the first step from school. set: Research Information for Teachers, 2, 45-49.

Boyd, S., Dingle, R., Campbell, R., King, J., & Corter, A. (2007). Taking a bite of the apple: The implementation of Fruit in Schools (Healthy Futures evaluation report to the Ministry of Health). Wellington: Ministry of Health.

Boyd, S., & Watson, V. (2006). Shifting the frame: Exploring integration of the Key Competencies at six Normal Schools. Wellington. Ministry of Education.

Boyd, S., with McDowall, S., & Ferral, H. (2006). Innovative pathways from school: Taking the first step. Final report. Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Boyd, S. (2005). Making school-driven innovations happen. set: Research Information for Teachers, 3, 31-35.

McDowall, S., Boyd, S., Hodgen, E., with van Vliet, T. (2005). Reading Recovery in New Zealand: Uptake, implementation, and outcomes, especially in relation to Mäori and Pasifika students. Wellington: Ministry of Education.

McDowall, S., & Boyd, S. (2005). Messages about reading: What do parents and teachers hear, share, do, and need when engaging in literacy partnerships? Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Vaughan, K., & Boyd, S. (2005). Pathways, junctions, and pitstops: Transition policy in New Zealand. In N. Bagnall (Ed.), Youth Transition in a Globalised Marketplace (pp. 99-118). New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Vaughan, K., & Boyd, S. (2004). An evaluation of Youth Pathways/He Ara Rangatahi. Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Research projects that I am currently leading:

Project Project leader(s) Category
Manaakitia ngā tamariki kia ora ai - Supporting Student Wellbeing Nicola Bright Sally Boyd Student health and wellbeing Māori and education
PB4L School-Wide evaluation Sally Boyd Student engagement Student health and wellbeing
Play.sport Evaluation Sally Boyd Student health and wellbeing Evaluation Families and communities

Research outputs

Year published Title Publication type Category
2021 Manaakitia ngā tamariki kia ora ai - Supporting children's wellbeing Research report Student health and wellbeing Māori and education
2019 Assessing and building wellbeing Journal article
2018 Making a difference to student wellbeing—a data exploration Research report Student health and wellbeing
2017 Finding a balance—fostering student wellbeing, positive behaviour, and learning: Findings from the NZCER national survey of primary and intermediate schools 2016 Research report Student health and wellbeing
2017 Reviewing the game plan: What can be learnt from the first year of Play.sport? Research report Student health and wellbeing Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2015 "A positive culture of support" Final report from the evaluation of PB4L School-Wide Research report Student engagement Student health and wellbeing
2015 "It's who we are" Stories of practice and change from PB4L School-Wide Schools Research report Student engagement Student health and wellbeing
2015 Year 2 Evaluation - Getting Runs on the Board Research report Student engagement Student health and wellbeing Evaluation
2014 Key Competencies for the Future Book Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2014 PB4L School-wide Evaluation: Preliminary findings Research report
2013 Student inquiry and curriculum integration: Ways of learning for the 21st century? (Part B) Journal article Curriculum and assessment
2012 Evaluation of Skylight's Travellers programme Research report Student health and wellbeing
2012 Key messages about change in schools: A literature scan for Sport New Zealand Literature review Student engagement Student health and wellbeing
2012 Student inquiry and curriculum integration: Shared origins and points of difference (Part A) Journal article Policy Professional learning Curriculum and assessment
2012 The Travellers programme: A way of supporting young people to manage their wellbeing Journal article Student health and wellbeing
2011 Curriculum Implementation Exploratory Studies 2: Final report Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 Educating healthy citizens in New Zealand schools: Students leading the way Conference paper Student health and wellbeing Curriculum and assessment
2011 The recursive elaboration of key competencies as agents of curriculum change Journal article Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 The shape of curriculum change Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 Wellbeing at School Building a safe and caring school climate that deters bullying Paper Student health and wellbeing
2011 Wellbeing at School: Building a safe and caring school climate that deters bullying Summary booklet Student health and wellbeing
2009 A focus on opportunities to learn and student engagement Conference paper Key Competencies
2009 Enabling students to lead the way: Healthy lifestyles and healthy futures Journal article Student health and wellbeing
2009 New Zealand curriculum implementation exploratory studies: Final Report Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2009 The changing face of Fruit in Schools: 2009 overview report Research report School governance and management Student health and wellbeing Curriculum and assessment
2009 The changing face of Fruit in Schools: The 2008 case studies Research report School governance and management Student health and wellbeing
2009 Viewing schools as a health and wellbeing system: Does this fit with the revised curriculum? Journal article School governance and management Student health and wellbeing Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2008 Life Education - Making a difference. An evaluation for the Life Education Trust Research report Student health and wellbeing Curriculum and assessment
2008 Supporting the development of a positive school culture Journal article Student health and wellbeing Curriculum and assessment
2008 Themes from the curriculum implementation case studies. Milestone report for November 2008 Paper Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2007 Taking a bite of the apple: The implementation of Fruit in Schools (Healthy Futures evaluation report to the Ministry of Health) Research report Student health and wellbeing
2007 Taking a bite of the apple: The implementation of Fruit in Schools. Appendices (which include the 2006 case studies) Research report
2007 Taking the first step from secondary school Journal article Careers and transition
2006 Innovative pathways from school: Taking the first step: Final report Research report
2006 Shifting the frame: Exploring integration of the Key Competencies at six Normal Schools Research report Key Competencies
2006 Unpacking the key competencies: What does it mean for primary schools? Conference paper Curriculum and assessment Key Competencies
2006 Unpacking the key competencies: What does it mean for primary schools? Conference paper
2005 Documenting learning of the key competencies: What are the issues? A discussion paper. Paper Key Competencies
2005 Making school-driven innovations happen Journal article School governance and management Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2005 Messages about reading Research report
2005 Pathways, junctions, and pitstops: Youth transition policy in New Zealand Book chapter Student engagement Careers and transition
2005 Planning and managing change: Messages from the Curriculum Innovation Projects Research report Curriculum and assessment
2005 Reading Recovery in New Zealand: Uptake, implementation, and outcomes, especially in relation to Maori and Pasifika students Research report
2005 Students as lifelong learners: Reflections on student data from the evaluation of the Curriculum Innovations Projects Conference paper Key Competencies
2005 Teachers as lifelong learners Conference paper
2004 Evaluation of Youth Pathways/He Ara Rangatahi Research report Careers and transition
2004 Innovative pathways from secondary school: Where are the young people now? Conference paper
2003 ARBs in the ASSESSMENT MIX Journal article Assessment tools Curriculum and assessment
2003 Innovative pathways from secondary school: Gaining a sense of direction Conference paper
2003 Playing the game - The impact of classroom use of the CD-ROM 'The Game and other stories' on eleven reluctant readers Research report
2002 Innovative pathways from school: The case studies: Phase 1 report, 2002 Research report
2002 Innovative pathways: The Phase 1 Case Studies Conference paper
2002 Literature review for the evaluation of the digital opportunities projects Literature review
2001 Beyond school: Final year school students' experiences of the transition to tertiary study or employment Research report Post-school learning Longitudinal projects
2001 Evaluating technology-rich ICT initiatives in schools: what does the literature tell us? Conference paper ICT
2001 Making connections: Educators' use of research to inform their practice: Final report Research report
2001 Techno magic - whizz or fizz?: The relationship between writing mode, editing process, and writing product Research report
2001 Word processors: drafting, crafting, or presentation tools? Students’ use of computers for writing in two primary schools Journal article Literacy
2000 All keyed up: The use of computers, at home and at school, by children with special needs Journal article ICT Student engagement
2000 Techno magic - whizz or fizz?: Students' use of editing tools Conference paper
1998 Computers in classrooms Research report ICT
1998 Link to learning: The use of computers by children with disabilities Research report
1998 Taking the first byte: Lessons from a classroom-based IT initiative Journal article ICT