South Auckland schools collaborate on the future of education
19 July 2024
![](https://gazette-live-storagestack-17-assetstorages3bucket-1571qjbkpxwcd.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/volume-103-issue-9/web-flat-bush__FillWzM0OCwyMjRd.jpg)
Principals from Ōtara share how this year’s Ministry of Education-facilitated teacher-only days are enhancing the professional development of their teaching
Having a strong emphasis on wellbeing is one way that schools can create a more inclusive environment. A new report looks at themes and narratives from six schools on a journey to enhance the wellbeing of students.
“Caring for the whole child is first here. You can’t learn if those things are not in place.”
These were the words of a whānau member about their school, one of six unidentified primary and intermediate schools included in an NZCER report Manaakitia ngā tamariki kia ora ai - Supporting children’s wellbeing, (external link)released November 2021.
The schools were invited to take part in the study because they had high levels of student wellbeing as shown by Wellbeing@School student survey data.
The main focus area of the study was how schools promote the wellbeing of tamariki, looking particularly at how school actions foster students’ sense of belonging and identity. It also looked at how schools deal with things that impact on wellbeing, such as racism and bullying behaviour.
The study identified some common themes across the schools. All the schools were on a long journey to better support the wellbeing and learning of tamariki. Key to this journey was support from Māori champions, two-way partnerships with whānau, a commitment to long-term professional learning and development, and leadership driven by core values and a holistic view of wellbeing. Some of the common beliefs and practices that stood out included:
The report notes that the six schools have multi-dimensional approaches to nurturing the confidence, capabilities and wellbeing of tamariki so that they can take their place in an increasingly diverse world.
“These approaches are assisting tamariki to know who they are, feel a sense of belonging and connection to school and community, and develop a range of wellbeing-related capabilities.”
The publication, Manaakitia ngā tamariki kia ora ai – Supporting children’s wellbeing: Learning from the experiences of six good-practice schools was written by Sally Boyd and Nicola Bright, with Maraea Hunia and Elliot Lawes. This project was part of NZCER’s Te Pae Tawhiti Government Grant programme of research, funded through the Ministry of Education. It can be accessed here(external link).
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 9:30 am, 13 May 2022
19 July 2024
Principals from Ōtara share how this year’s Ministry of Education-facilitated teacher-only days are enhancing the professional development of their teaching
19 July 2024
At this year’s SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, Tauranga’s Te Wharekura o Mauao performed an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
19 July 2024
Each year, Greymouth High School students spend four days a week at Tai Poutini Polytechnic in a pioneering dual-enrolment programme.