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Kia ora koutou,
There has been quite a bit in the news lately regarding the national curriculum rollout. On August 12, both the refreshed Social Sciences and Science curricula were finalised, setting up an implementation window across 2027 and 2028. Both leading up to the draft releases and since these final documents landed, there has been plenty of rich debate from experts and educators across both fields.
Last week, I received a communication from the NZ Principals Federation (NZPF) outlining a hopeful proposal for the appointment of a National Curriculum Council. The goal is to establish a more stable, coherent, and long-term approach to curriculum and assessment across Aotearoa. If you are interested in reading more about this initiative, you can check out the NZPF update here.
In the meantime, we see it as our bread and butter to engage in the creative act of making these changes work in the absolute best interests of our children. While we certainly still have a lot to learn as we unpack the details, our core priority remains clear: keeping hands-on, experiential, real-world learning alert and breathing with a steady heart rate!
When we redeveloped our strategic direction last year, we asked what you deemed most important and sought your feedback on our local curriculum. That local flavour must stay right at the heart of everything we do. Over Term 4, our teaching team will be bringing plenty of collective brainpower to the table as we gain a full understanding of the new national documents.
To give you a window into the kind of learning that gets us buzzing, I was recently reading a piece of research published in NZCER’s SET: Research Information for Teachers, titled "Under the Wharf: Engaging primary students in marine climate-change education".
The study highlights a marine science outreach programme where primary students stepped directly into the shoes of scientists - planning their own investigations, deploying sampling equipment off local wharves, analysing real data, and presenting their findings directly to scientists and their community. Sound familiar? It's similar to work some of our students have been involved in to date - working with the same scientist!
Rose and I had a meeting just earlier this week down at the Boating Club to discuss the next steps in advancing the Education Programme for schools. There are so many fantastic ways into these refreshed curriculum areas - right in the context of our literal backyard. Watch this space!
We know our parent community holds a wealth of experience. Some of you work in scientific fields, others are well-versed in the social sciences, and many of you are simply passionate about education and keen to chew the fat! If you’d like to share ideas or chat about what's ahead in these areas we would love to set up a coffee catch-up.
For those curious to explore the new national documents, you can view them here:
Although I have only begun diving into the final documents, I feel there is plenty of energy and potential for what lies ahead for us on the hill!
Ngā mihi nui
Jude
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