18 August 2023

With sweeping change across the Education Sector, it feels like no rock has been left untouched. Hopefully these changes will result in the feeling that things are a little more 'joined up' across and down and up! Surely. 

Last week, the Principals in the Kāhui Ako (our 13 schools) attended a meeting with Ministry of Education personnel about changes to the Curriculum and getting another step towards preparedness. You will have no doubt heard a lot in the media about NCEA this and NCEA that.... so, naturally, we had a discussion about NCEA which is important for us at the Primary level to get a deeper understanding of too.

One piece of work that has potential to be transformational is the introduction of a Common Practice Model in Literacy and Numeracy across Primary, Intermediate and Secondary. The aim here is to promote best practice, primarily based on quality NZ research, to provide greater equity of expertise between class spaces and between schools. We know that this is quite an issue in our country................ and has been for many years. 

I'll throw one of my favourite change quotes around now, "You can't step in the same river twice as new waters keep flowing in". I like change. I like planning for change. I like thinking big and across. I like all of that 'stuff''. And, I also know that, for many teachers across our schools, the thought of the tidal wave of change a-coming will be unsettling. I'm thinking that, from where you sit, you may not see or feel anything is too different but... there will be... over time... quite some manoeuvring - whilst we will continue to stand strong on our rock, our foundation on which we build up and onwards.

I also think, we are in a good place for dealing with upcoming changes. Our teachers are adept at doing up their seatbelts and putting the L (Learner) sticker on the window. It's the pace we will have to be thoughtful about.

Watch this space - there will be more coming but, at the moment, it's just a mini heads up as I'm just a Size 41 shoe size ahead!