This series highlights the mahi underway in schools and kura across Aotearoa New Zealand that is having a positive effect on attendance and engagement in a local context.
Malfroy School in Rotorua are doing whatever it takes to give students such as Riana, Joe and Lavinia the best opportunities for learning.
We would love to hear about what you’re doing with your ākonga. Please get in touch with reporter@edgazette.govt.nz.
“It takes a village to raise a child”, the well-known proverb reminds us. Putting the principle into practice in 21st century New Zealand is another matter – but the final evaluation of the three-year Te Tupu – Managed Moves pilot programme to support at-risk children indicates the network’s initiative succeeds in doing just that.
A school in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has trialled a robust gym programme for a group of physically active ākonga to prioritise wellbeing and re-engage them in learning.
Manawatū College has been on a journey of self-reflection and internal evaluation reviewing their practice over the last two years – as part of this they have developed an alternative approach to re-engaging students with their learning in mainstream education.
Mariah Scott may have only just finished her social work degree, but she is no stranger to field work. The last two terms she has been working as a re-engagement officer for Tawa Kāhui Ako.
A collection of stories about Te Tai Tokerau tūpuna is showcasing inspirational role models to accelerate ākonga Māori cultural pride, academic success and engagement at school and kura.
Schools in Northland have long battled with low attendance and when Covid-19 hit, it became even more challenging to navigate. A strong desire to get their tamariki back to school brought primary and secondary school principals together. Now they have launched a campaign – Let’s Get to School Tai Tokerau – in the hopes of rallying communities to help students get to school.
Two schools in Ōtautahi Christchurch are seeing a positive shift in attendance and engagement after a concerted effort to strengthen relationships both within school, and with whānau and the wider community.
Paeroa College is working hard to boost attendance and engagement by removing barriers wherever possible, providing rich learning opportunities, and really listening to students and families.
Faced with challenging behaviours and a dramatic dip in attendance levels after Covid-19, Tāneatua School turned to its community to try something a bit different.
Whakatāne schools are working together to address attendance and engagement across their community, with a firm emphasis on putting relationships front and centre.
An internal model of Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches at Porirua College is providing benefits go beyond a full belly, including improved attendance. After noticing students streaming into school for lunch at 12.45pm each day, the school decided to re-arrange their timetable.
Leaders at Greymouth High School and Tai Poutini Polytechnic are always exploring ways to drive engagement and achievement and struck gold when they trialled a new partnership – an excellent example of how collaboration can lower the barriers to education.
Many schools in Rotorua, including Malfroy School, are doing whatever it takes to give children the best opportunities for learning – from providing transport and food, to delivering culturally responsive learning programmes, to supporting smooth transitions between schools, to engaging closely with whānau.
A focus on students’ strengths and cultural connections at a Northland teen parent unit is transforming lives and prospects for vulnerable rangatahi and their tamariki.
In June 2021, the Government released its Attendance and Engagement Strategy, called All in for learning | Kia kotahi te ū ki te ako, which sets expectations to turn around years of declining attendance rates.
To support this, the Ministry of Education launched a national creative campaign to raise awareness in our communities about the importance of regularly attending school. The campaign, Every School Day is a Big Day, celebrates the little moments – the learning, sporting, cultural, connection moments – that make a day at school too big to miss. It is designed to serve as a positive reminder of the educational and life value of school, to get people to pause and think and make it a priority, specifically parents and whānau, ākonga and communities.
Every School Day is a Big Day was launched at Rangikura School in Porirua on Monday 22 August 2021. Ākonga from Rangikura School were particularly excited, as Rangikura was one of nine schools around Aotearoa involved in the creation of the campaign.
With the campaign as a backdrop, the focus is on supporting the efforts of regions and local communities to increase attendance and engagement. While there are many common factors behind this issue, every community has their own needs and circumstances that are shaping their response. Te Mahau is playing a key role in working with schools and kura in this area.
More information about All in for learning | Kia kotahi te ū ki te ako can be found at allinforlearning.co.nz(external link). Here, schools and kura can find downloadable packs to tailor communications with their communities about the campaign.
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 2:16 pm, 28 June 2022
8 March 2023
Civics education is not just about learning the electoral system, it’s also about engaging ākonga in how to interact with government, and how they can create ch
8 March 2023
The Ministry of Education school transport service helps over 100,000 ākonga get to and from school. Bus controllers play an important part in enabling this ser
8 March 2023
The Government has launched a plan to get young people back into the classroom with more attendance officers in schools and more support for the Attendance Serv
