Primary award recipients 2019
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Anderson, Lee
Te Kopuru School
Investigate the impact of a play based or discovery learning curriculum on student learning and achievement.
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Anderson, Richard
Kaimata School
Study the impact of principal hauora on the acceleration of wellbeing and achievement of teachers and students in Aotearoa, particularly for priority learners (Māori, Pasifika, and students with additional learning needs).
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Armstrong, David
Sacred Heart School (Timaru)
Clarify the factors that are negatively impacting on principals' performance and hauora and potentially reducing their capacity to act as learning leaders in their schools.
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Baker, Helena
Takaro School
Examine relevant studies and research that support the development of leadership principles that enhance student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 954 kB)
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Bamford, Wendy
Wanaka Primary School
Investigate new pedagogies for deep learning and participate in our cluster schools' 'deep dive' approach.
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Bangma, John
Mairehau Primary School
With a current curriculum focus taking us back towards broadening what we teach and away from just literacy and numeracy, we can again celebrate the diversity it provides. To help us refocus on the breadth, how are schools balancing their school day, week, and term to reflect this opportunity? How broad are primary schools taking this?
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Barker, Emma
Strath Taieri School
Investigate how integration of digital technologies and STEM can help support and motivate student learning.
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Barker, Paul
Kaeo School
Undertake professional reading and correspond with schools overseas who are leaders in relationship-based teaching and learning.
Download: Full report (PDF 631 kB)
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Barton-Redgrave, Linda
Long Bay School
Reviewing and evaluating current research around play-based and discovery learning approaches, networking with teachers and related educational groups including online connections and attending workshops.
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Bascand, Chris
Lower Moutere School
Investigate how, after 2 years, kāhui ako have made a difference to achievement for priority and all students across schools where kāhui ako have been established; and how kāhui ako have planned for sustainability for the future.
Download: Full report (PDF 599 kB)
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Bevis, Carol
Bledisloe School
Examine the use of the Growth Coaching model with particular reference to enhancing teachers' ability to participate in relationships with whānau which have the intent of mana ōrite.
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Brown, Mark
Newtown School
Inquire into the research, development, innovations and impacts of the Education Council and Ministry of Education's new Leadership Strategy for the teaching profession of Aotearoa NZ.
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Burnside, Toni
Banks Avenue School
Build on my knowledge of coaching and mentoring and see how other schools have implemented and resourced coaching and mentoring in their schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Cavanagh, Lisa
Silverstream School
Research effective strategies for building strong partnerships with parents and caregivers.
Download: Full report (PDF 229 kB)
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Cheer, Tristan
Eskdale School
Research play-based learning with a specific focus on how to link play to the NZC.
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Christophers, Moya
St Joseph's School (Waitara)
Investigate the effectiveness of digital technologies and how they can accelerate and change student and staff learning connected to whānau engagement that can happen 'anywhere at any time'.
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Cochrane, Tom
Matatoki School
Research proven teaching practice, programmes and activities that make a real difference in raising achievement levels for boys in writing.
View report – Google document
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Collins, Sherie
Kea Street Specialist School
Investigate and research autism in females, many of whom are being misdiagnosed and missing out on the support they require.
Download: Full report (PDF 382 kB)
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Cooper, Paul
Whitiora School
Investigate whānau and school relationships, by visiting schools, attending a conference, and meeting with other principals.
Download: Full report (PDF 955 kB)
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Cronin, Kevin
Whangaparaoa School (Auckland)
How do differing school communities both nationally and internationally promote teacher and principal hauora?
Download: Full report (PDF 647 kB)
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Culhane, Jane
Waimataitai School
Investigate how schools and providers foster resilience in children and support this development with family and whānau.
Download: Full report (PDF 611 kB)
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de Thierry, Garry
Rotorua Intermediate
Undertake extensive observations of Visible Learning in action in a range of schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 114 kB)
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Delaney, Kerry
Titahi Bay School
Research and develop coaching approaches and skills to enhance effective professional learning and development and grow agency for teachers and students.
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Dimond, Tamae
Waitomo Caves School
Inquire into staff wellbeing by communicating with other New Zealand schools and having discussions with fellow principals.
Download: Full report (PDF 142 kB)
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Duynhoven, Margaret
St Joseph's School (Opunake)
Investigate successful art practices that celebrate cultural diversity, increase student engagement, and benefit achievement of Māori and Filipino learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 109 kB)
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Earl, Jo
St Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Further investigate project-based learning by engaging in professional reading and visiting schools that are using this approach.
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Engles, Paul
Kohimarama School
Build my understanding about learner agency and how this is used to engage, deepen and transform learners and learning, and as a result improve achievement.
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Friar, Phil
Papamoa Primary School
Further my knowledge of leadership theory and practice to develop a coaching and mentoring model that will support staff to lead "organic change" that extends innovation and collaborative teaching.
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Gianelly, Sonia
Dovedale School
Research the effects that poor mental health and trauma have on a child's education. Use this research to develop teaching and leadership practices to support children to participate successfully in the school system with the goal to improve their educational and life outcomes.
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Gillard, Maria
Ngakonui Valley School
Investigate visible learning pedagogy, tools and processes so that I can continue to grow and embed assessment-capable learners.
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Hancock, Kathy
Kaingaroa School (Kaitaia)
Inquire into whānau understanding of current school reporting, by identifying relevant research and meeting with school leaders, teachers and whānau in Northland and schools in our kāhui ako, to determine best practice.
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Harrod, Debra
Aorangi School (Rotorua)
Investigate three aspects of transition to school from early childhood education, including the philosophical differences between the Te Whāriki curriculum and the expectations of primary school new entrants teachers.
Download: Full report (PDF 219 kB)
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Harvie, Linda
Farm Cove Intermediate
Research what a wellbeing curriculum could look like for year 7 and 8 students, by examining professional readings, conducting interviews with researchers, visiting schools and attending a relevant conference.
Download: Full report (PDF 466 kB)
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Hastings, Sandy
Beckenham Te Kura o Puroto
How can I ensure our school is inclusive of gender-diverse people, particularly gender-diverse students and their whānau, and also gender-diverse staff, whānau and wider community?
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Heath, Simon
Renwick School
Gather the views of principals and educational leaders in three jurisdictions on leadership in their system context. Explore key questions of instructional and professional leadership, collaboration and knowing the impact of leadership on teaching capability and student outcomes.
Download: Full report (PDF 215 kB)
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Henderson, Brendon
Tawa Intermediate
Examine governance models of kāhui ako across New Zealand.
Download: Full report (PDF 462 kB)
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Holden, Cynthia
Warkworth School
Investigate models of best practice where culturally responsive and relational pedagogy combined with the affordances of innovative learning environments have been maximised to activate deep learning among self-regulating learners and promote equity of learning outcomes for all learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 193 kB)
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Holley, Viki
Onehunga Primary School
Investigate wellbeing programmes and initiatives in schools, with the aim of increasing wellbeing of students and staff, enhancing kāhui ako and school programmes, and better student achievement outcomes for all learners, particularly priority learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 215 kB)
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Hookham, Martin
Korokoro School
Investigate the quality of transition for students from our small primary context to a large secondary context.
Download: Full report (PDF 198 kB)
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Huddleston, Lynne
Pahiatua School
Inquire into the critical success factors required for strengthening collective teacher efficacy and collaborative practice, to enhance learner and teacher success and wellbeing.
Download: Full report (PDF 89 kB)
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Isaacson, Robyn
Flaxmere Primary School
Research the relationship between principals and boards of low-decile schools, the role of the principal as the educational adviser to the board, the ways boards are trained, and the role of the principal in this training.
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Jennison, Susan
Westburn School
Visit schools that employ bilingual support workers, in Auckland and Southland, to discuss ways they've been able to connect families from different ethnic backgrounds to their school community.
Download: Full report (PDF 204 kB)
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Jones, Phil
Maraekakaho School
Visit kāhui ako that have strengthened transitions from early childhood to school and from primary to secondary, with a focus on culturally responsive practices that support transitions for students who identify as Māori, to be successful as Māori.
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Joyce, Andrea
Tisbury School
Document the impact of undertaking an 18 month e-learning programme that promoted accelerated pathways of change towards equity, excellence and belonging for learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)
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Kaiser, Peter
Tirimoana School
Research perceived successes and challenges in establishing and sustaining communities of learning, with particular reference to early adopter kāhui ako.
Download: Full report (PDF 227 kB)
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Kemp, Andrew
Broomfield School
Look at the extent of, success, and participation in learning languages in schools in the region.
Download: Full report (PDF 424 kB)
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Kenny, Simon
Fergusson Intermediate (Trentham)
Collect, compare, and analyse a variety of school curricula, charters and strategic plans to explore how different schools strategically lay out and work through learner pathways and how their school vision and values, alongside the key competencies and cultural competencies, are reflected in these documents.
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King, Pam
Wairau Valley Special School
Investigate how students in the mainstream with special learning and behavioural challenges can have their learning needs supported in an Innovative Learning Environment.
Download: Full report (PDF 322 kB)
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Kinley, Scot
Bromley School
What are the ways that school leaders grow a culture of learning that develops children's and staff competencies to thrive in a rapidly changing digital world?
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Knell, Vicki
Omokoroa Point School
Investigate a positive psychology in schools, teacher and student wellbeing, and the development of Healthy Schools.
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Livingstone, Sharon
Otatara School
Engage in professional learning in relation to the development of ecological identity and literacy as a means to support and enhance culturally sustainable practices in our school.
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Luckin, Dee
St John Bosco School (New Plymouth)
Find out what makes true collaboration, and better understand how professional collaboration can make a difference to student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 226 kB)
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Mackintosh, Anne
Greerton Village School
Research elements of bilingual education, with a view to establishing a bilingual class at our school.
Download: Full report (PDF 705 kB)
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Macnee, Kaylene
Pinehaven School
Research the use of learner profiles in schools and how these can be used for self, peer, teacher assessment and to support transitions between classes and to intermediate.
Download: Full report (PDF 244 kB)
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Malones, Lisa
Mangaroa School
Explore how schools are engaging with parents to increase both parent and student resilience around education, particularly in the junior school.
Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)
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Marshall, Debbie
Dairy Flat School
Visit other schools that may use programmes around trauma informed education practices.
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Marshall, Karleen
Te Wainui a Rua
Investigate the impact our localised curriculum Te Marautanga o Te Kura o Te Wainui-a Rua on past, present and future akonga.
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McCallum, Mark
Taonui School
Research the possible methods of adopting a Growth Mindset pedagogical approach to leaching and learning in order to reduce curriculum anxiety.
Download: Full report (PDF 195 kB)
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McCambridge, Elaine
New River Primary
Research relating to transitioning children with learning support needs from early childhood education to the school environment.
Download: Full report (PDF 206 kB)
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McIntyre, Vicki
Hinds School
A research-based change project, relating to a Master of Contemporary Education, to develop pedagogical practice to create an environment that encourages students to be agentic through cognitive engagement, to move from being passive to active learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 503 kB)
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McKay, Jo
Holy Family School (Wanaka)
How do I, as a school leader, best provide specialist teaching and provisions for students identified with Specific Learning Disorders in our school?
Download: Full report (PDF 505 kB)
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McMurray, Karen
Randwick Park School
Read relevant texts from the Reggio Emilia philosophy for learning, and attend the conference in Melbourne.
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Mill, Michele
Monte Cecilia Catholic School
Investigate successful interventions, authentic experiential learning environments, and cultural settings that could have an impact on educational outcomes for English language learners, predominantly Pacific.
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Mirams, Sarah
East Tamaki School
Investigate how to shift the school from a predominant focus on student voice to developing a culture of student agency, where students will be leaders of change and have an authentic partnership role in strategic decision making.
Download: Full report (PDF 982 kB)
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Mitchell-Bain, Melissa
Bradford School
Further research theories and best practice in trauma-sensitive, wrap-around and growth mindset approaches, to examine how this pedagogy can contribute to the development needs of our students who exhibit severe behaviours that impact on their own and other's learning.
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Mulcahy, Peter
Browns Bay School
Investigate the design options that best suit our school context, in particular our pedagogical beliefs and practices, to ensure even better outcomes for student learning.
Download: Full report (PDF 714 kB)
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Nicholson, Andrea
Katikati Primary School
Visit other schools, talk to local RTLBs, and look at current research regarding provisions for special needs education.
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Nikora, Kim
Thames South School
Engage with all our schools to gather data on progress made to date in relation to our kāhui ako high-level plan actions and the shifts in teacher practices. Identify the driving forces that supported our progress towards our expected outcomes and ways we were able to overcome the restraining forces along the way.
Download: Full report (PDF 603 kB)
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Nolian, Andrew
Wainui Beach School
Research whether the transition to school and formal learning is enhanced by a period of the day being play-based learning (PBL), what other schools' programmes consist of and what aspects work best for students.
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Owers, Maria
Rosehill Intermediate
Research the concept of hauora for staff and students and investigate evidence-based programmes in schools that support student and staff hauora.
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Parsons, Dave
Riverlands School
Undertake further study on effective leadership practices, with the goal of developing my own leadership skills.
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Patterson, Karen
Inglewood School
Undertake collaborative action research on developing collaborative leadership across multiple education sites and how to best support collaborative leadership.
Undertaken with Kim Waite. View report here.
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Pauling, Dave
Richmond View School
Explore best practice for our new area school, looking specifically at years 7-13 curriculum, with an emphasis on personalised learning.
Download: Full report (PDF 82 kB)
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Payne, Anneta Maree
Kaitangata School
Visit a number of New Zealand rural schools to explore how student agency can be enhanced in single-cell classrooms.
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Peck, Debra
Riverdale School (P North)
Inquire into the critical success factors required for strengthening collective teacher efficacy and collaborative practice, to enhance learner and teacher success and wellbeing.
Download: Full report (PDF 89 kB)
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Peterson, Brigid
Ardmore School
Investigate a range of successful pedagogical approaches to teaching mathematic in years 1-8, with a focus on the development of mathematical inquiry.
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Plowright, Trish
Elm Park School
Develop my understanding of how to continue to encourage my staff to reconstruct the learning environment to better serve the interests of those in the classroom, where a diverse group of students and their teacher form a community of learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 577 kB)
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Preddy, Mark
Romahapa School
Investigate and visit schools to help update our vision and practices to reflect a growth mindset and student agency, and help ensure students experience future-focused, authentic learning.
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Rate, Nick
Russell Street School
Look at innovative ways to assess and report on learning and achievement, and how this process can embrace our school vision: Empowering agency, innovation and leadership.
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Riceman, Gregory
Raureka School
Investigate how culturally responsive learning approaches and changing pedagogies are catering for the wellbeing of students and improving achievement and outcomes for priority learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 691 kB)
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Roebuck, Gregory
New Lynn School
Research how principals lead the pedagogy required for teachers to meet the learning needs for priority learners in Innovative Learning Environments.
Download: Full report (PDF 376 kB)
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Rowan, Clare
Hawera Christian School
Investigate modern teaching and pedagogy and physical aspects of innovative learning spaces, with reference to how they can be adopted in a two-teacher rural school and how children with particular learning needs are catered for.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Sampson, Dave
Ranzau School
Research and develop shared understanding of the questions: What is agency? What could it look like in our context and curriculum? What could it look like a different ages or stages of learning?, to design a local curriculum that reflects students' needs.
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Shepherd, Paul
Maunu School
How do schools encourage all members of the school community to be fully integrated, especially while recognising a changing ethnic diversity? How do we welcome and include families into the school and value their diverse cultures? What activities and processes do schools have to ensure full and meaningful inclusion of all ethnic groups, in particular from India and Asia?
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Simes, Geoff
Durie Hill School
Extend my knowledge about the implementation of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) school development, to strengthen my ability to lead this development within our school.
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Spittle, Natasha
Drummond Primary School
Research parent engagement initiatives in Southland schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 190 kB)
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Stechman, Dion
Glentunnel School
Collect, reflect upon, collate and share information on how to meet the needs of a future-orientated 21st Century learner in the primary education sector.
Download: Full report (PDF 789 kB)
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Stiles, Bob
Owhata School
Look at examples of successful schools that are coming together within communities to make a difference to student achievement outcomes, overseas and in NZ.
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Sutton, Brenda
Waitaria Bay School
Research sustainable leadership in rural and remote schools.
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Tawhiti, Jade
Patumahoe Primary School
Investigate tuakana-teina concepts and their correlation to reciprocal and peer learning strategies to lift the achievement of our Māori students.
Download: Full report (PDF 441 kB)
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Tyson, Ariana
Naenae Intermediate
Work closely with local schools, Māori and Pasifika ORS students and their whānau, to determine best practice for transition for Māori and Pasifika ORS students into our school.
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Vohra, Veena
Mission Heights Primary School
A privileged opportunity – lessons learnt as a foundation principal of a complex urban primary school.
Download: Full report (PDF 109 kB)
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Waite, Kim
Toko School
Undertake collaborative action research on developing collaborative leadership across multiple education sites and how to best support collaborative leadership.
Download: Full report (PDF 4 MB)
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Wallace, Vanessa
Awahono School - Grey Valley
Research the importance of student and teacher wellbeing in our schools, especially our small rural schools, and how this can have an impact on student engagement and achievement, with a focus on our priority learners.
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Wemyss, Rob
Clifton Terrace School
Inquire into the effectiveness of play-based learning and how best to implement this. Investigate effective methods that ensure children transition from the Te Whāriki curriculum to the NZ Curriculum in a seamless way that nurtures their creativity and resilience to learning and collaboration.
Download: Full report (PDF 375 kB)
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Westfield, Jan
Rawhitiroa School
Complete Masters of Education in professional learning. Look closely into why some professional learning and development is more sustainable than others.
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Weston, Paula
Dyer Street School
Visit successful tier 2 PB4L schools, locally and in the lower North Island, interviewing school leaders and teachers, and review data and available documentation.
Download: Full report (PDF 142 kB)
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Windsor, Bu
View Hill School
How can we enable learner capacity through making connections between neuroscience and our pedagogical practice?
Download: Full report (PDF 670 kB)
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Witheford, Ben
Shotover Primary School
Study the Cynefin Framework as an approach for solving problems.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Wolfgram, Lana
Totara Grove School
Further research and write up a case study of the student wellbeing and resilience building programmes that we have developed in our school over the past two years.
Download: Full report (PDF 673 kB)
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Woods, Joan
St Francis Xavier School (Tawa)
Investigate culturally sustainable pedagogical practices around collaboration, by focusing on collaborative practices that will provide the best outcomes for all learners.
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Young, Bruce
Holy Cross School (Papatoetoe)
Investigate pedagogical shifts caused by the implementation of kāhui ako, specifically approaches to increase the success of Māori and Pacific priority learners.
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Zonnevylle, Steve
Gleniti School
Investigate practical ways that will improve the overall retention rates of experienced, effective principals and to enhance my enthusiasm for school leadership.
