The Innovative Pathways from School study was designed to address an information gap about the programmes that support “at-risk” students at low-decile secondary schools to make successful transitions from school to the workforce or further education. This research started in 2002 and tracked a sample of students from seven schools, as they completed vocational Year 12 and 13 programmes, and in the 18 months following their departure from school.

This ...

Findings from a survey conducted by NZCER for the Hutt Valley and Wellington regions of the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) have been published in a report.

A survey of 46 percent of the region's teachers showed that 12 percent of teachers reported that they often experienced severely disruptive behaviour from students.

By 1991, the pace of reform had slowed, but high workloads continued. It was now clear that professionals could work well in partnership with parents on the new boards of trustees. Teaching salaries had been kept separate from operational grants, and pay was not performance-based. Teachers continued to work co-operatively and to enjoy good relations with trustees. But there was little sign of innovation in teaching and learning. Increasingly, resourcing ...

The 1990 survey showed that hard work was required at school level to make self-managing schools a reality. There was tension between people in schools and in the newly formed government agencies. There were constant deadlines which kept changing, along with requirements. The wave of paperwork and the contentious issue of bulk-funding teachers' salaries raised doubts about the reality of school-government partnership. But partnership at school level usually worked. Few ...

This research report evaluates an initiative called The Business of Science, a Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) initiative that ran in the Waikato region in 2003. The initiative was targeted at Year 13 students who have studied science subjects at school, but intend to enter courses such as business, law, or commerce at tertiary level. The aim of the project was to encourage these students to retain some ...

This report is the second evaluation of the Books in Homes scheme, which encourages reading by giving books to school children. The scheme is an initiative to improve the literacy skills, reading habits, and general familiarity with print, of children in decile 1-3 schools.

The project was based on a stratified sample of 40 decile 1 schools. It assesses Year 5 students' reading performance and analyses responses to questionnaires from students, teachers and principals ...

This report evaluates a teaching resource called "Entering the debate on Genetic Modification by developing a critical thinking response" (also known as "Time for critical thought"). Designed for students at Year 10 level, the resource focuses on the controversy surrounding the introduction of genetically modified crops. It aims to encourage students and their teachers to engage in critical thinking, dialogue, and learning around this socio-scientific issue.

The resource ...

This report presents the findings from an evaluation carried out in 2009 of the impact of SPELD in New Zealand, and is the first phase of a larger study. This phase presents the perceptions of SPELD participants including SPELD assessors and teachers, classroom teachers of SPELD students, the students themselves, and their parents.

Report on an evaluation of how the professional development, offered on a national basis to schools over a two-year period commencing 2001, supported the initial implementation of Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum.

This included a survey of participants on their views of the issues they and their schools faced in implementing the curriculum and how they considered the professional development assisted them in addressing these issues.

Life Education is a health resource comprising 19 modules designed to support primary school teachers to address the Health and Physical Education curriculum. Life Education is delivered by an educator (a registered teacher) who visits schools in a mobile classroom to deliver modules to class groups. 

This report documents the findings from an evaluation of Life Education conducted by NZCER during 2007-2008.

The report includes information from:

• case studies of ...