Primary award recipients 2013
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Alderson, Deidre
Willowbank School Howick
Investigate how to improve the engagement of Asian families in the Willowbank School learning community and other similar communities.
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Alexander, Owen
Takapuna Normal Intermediate
To study the research around effective mentoring, the constraints, the role of an "educative mentor," and what it looks like in practice.
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Alexander, Raewyn
Sara Cohen School
To investigate the options available in the greater Dunedin/Otago area for ORRS funded students with diverse learning needs on leaving school.
Download: Full report (PDF 214 kB)
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Anderson, Richard
Ngaere School
To undertake reading and research into restorative justice, investigate restorative justice in school, train as a facilitator and develop and implement the findings into Ngaere School's Behaviour Management Programme.
Download: Full report (PDF 155 kB)
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Anderson, Timothy
St Matthew's Primary School (Hastings)
To explore the area of Faith Development in primary age children by visiting a number of Anglican Schools in Australia and the UK, attending professional development training in both countries.
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Armstrong, John
Henley School (Nelson)
To develop Henley School as an Asia Aware school by visiting Asian educational institutes and implementing and increasing cultural awareness in the school.
Download: Full report (PDF 338 kB)
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Baker, Helena
Takaro School
To explore what makes a difference for Māori student learners, examining and reflecting on what constitutes a culturally responsive school and classroom where Māori learners can be successful and reach their full potential, experiencing academic success and live confidently and proudly as Māori.
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Bangma, John
Mairehau School
To investigate how schools are structuring their programmes to enhance the acquisition of a second language, to ensure the learning is relevant to and engaging for learners and flexible enough to meet diverse needs within their communities.
Download: Full report (PDF 484 kB)
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Barratt, Mark
Papatoetoe South School
To increase his personal knowledge of bilingual education, enabling him to lead the school community more effectively in implementing the school strategic plan. One of the outcomes will be the development of guidelines for state primary schools to consider when establishing bilingual classrooms.
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Blair, Yvonne
Kumara School
Investigate and see in action good teaching and learning strategies and management practices in successful small schools, and how small schools achieve positive relationships with the community.
Download: Full report (PDF 103 kB)
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Brebner, Tristan
Edgecumbe School
To reflect on a school Learning Journey to understand better how our knowledge and awareness of Emotional Intelligences with pupils and teachers promoted the level of learning achieved, and to research the effectiveness of a range of other established Emotional Quotient programmes.
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Bruce, Linley
Royal Oak School
A study of cost-effective provisions for environmental science programmes in primary schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Butcher, Vivienne
Lincoln Primary School
To investigate best practice for identification and extension of gifted and talented students, to develop programmes which will engage underachieving gifted students, and to implement initiatives across the three education sectors which will allow information transfer relating to gifted students.
Download: Full report (PDF 219 kB)
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Callaghan, Christine
St Paul's School (Dallington)
The role of professional leaders in creating and maintaining school cultures in times of change.
Download: Full report (PDF 139 kB)
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Chadwick, Christine
Ashgrove School
Research theories to improve leadership capability and build on new knowledge to implement focused policies and practises that will improve Māori akonga success with learning.
Download: Full report (PDF 363 kB)
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Chalmers, Neil
Mapua School
To explore and implement tools, systems and processes that allow principals to focus on teaching and learning, rather than a complete focus on data-driven administration.
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Chapman, Eden
Horohoro School
To research successful programmes of learning making a difference for low-achieving students.
Download: Full report (PDF 349 kB)
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Choromanski, Kevin
Pomaria Road School
To deepen knowledge and understanding of the Curriculum Mapping process and the impact that the Curriculum Mapping process has had on developing a framework for curriculum design, in relation to the NZC, that is relevant, connected, aligned and data driven.
Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)
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Cleverley, Elizabeth
Silverstream (South) Primary School
To compare the tasks and roles of teacher aides that lead to successful support of children and learning, and the skills and dispositions most needed in a teacher aide.
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Cochrane, Jennifer
Waikino School
To investigate primary schools that have developed an effective environmental education programme, which is authentic and engages students in learning, and to look at setting up and implementing a quality eco-school model which will integrate the local Māori perspective and enhance the well-being of individuals, whānau and the community.
Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)
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Collins, Steven
Whangaparaoa School
To study and report on process and outcomes in schools introducing the 'Building Learning Power' programme, and to gather knowledge and skills to introduce and embed it into own schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Collins, Vivienne
Silverdale School
Study and report on process and outcomes in schools introducing the Building Learning Power programme; gather knowledge and skills to introduce it into own schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Cooper, Paul
Whitiora School
Primary school leadership in modern learning environments.
Download: Full report (PDF 537 kB)
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Cornwell, Paul
Motu School
To refine Motu School's 'Learning to Learn' approach (based on Inquiry Learning) in a manner that engages Māori students more, embeds e-Learning, and produces better results in terms of intended skill and attitudinal outcomes for students.
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Cuming, Mary
Apiti School
Investigate best practice in reading to effectively raise student engagement and achievement; research coherent school-wide reading programmes to allow students to own their own progress and develop stronger, more responsive home-school partnerships.
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De Gouveia, Susan
St Teresa's School (Riccarton)
To research and reflect on the development of middle leaders in schools through mentoring, to determine best practice and to prepare a development programme using new knowledge.
Download: Full report (PDF 143 kB)
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Dent, Gary
Waitara East School
To investigate the use of 'Functional Behaviour Assessments' for tier 2 and 3 children to enhance the school's Positive Behaviour Support Programme.
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Dewar, Gail
Makara Model School
To research and explore the impact of multi-age range groupings within classes or syndicates for students with diverse needs, those identified as gifted, special needs or low achievers, and in particular looking for current thinking on the most effective structures for supporting Māori and Pasifika students.
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Dewar, Ian
Tawa School
To research what environmental and curriculum changes schools need to make to cater for the seemingly increasing numbers of 5 year old students starting school at developmental stages that are closer to the pre-school level than to the Year 1 curriculum level.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Dobbin, Margaret
Rahotu School
Investigate and improve procedures to improve the 'learning pathways' of children, from early childhood education to the end of the first year at primary school.
Download: Full report (PDF 312 kB)
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Dunning, Jeanette
Verran Primary School
To research the change management that schools have undertaken in order for teaching pedagogy to adjust to developments in integrating ICT and inquiry learning into the school curriculum.
Download: Full report (PDF 556 kB)
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Ellis, Graham
Havelock North Intermediate
To explore how intermediate and middle schools are utilising specialist teaching positions by reviewing current literature, visiting other schools, interviewing school and technology leaders and attending the MYSA conference.
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Facer, Wayne
Beaconsfield School
Investigate how schools are developing a rigorous evidence-based quality charter and strategic plan system demonstrating knowledge and understanding of their strengths; and how this could benefit the school's teacher practice and student achievement.
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Field, Brian
Bethlehem School
To explore the rationale and the way schools deal with children entering school at the age of five to begin their formal education, and how children are transitioned into primary school.
Download: Full report (PDF 136 kB)
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Fisher, Tracey
Turua Primary School
To investigate the most effective support programmes and use of innovation for accelerating student achievement at years 1-8 in Reading and Writing, with the aim of implementing the most effective programmes for Turua School.
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Gallagher, Jillian
West Eyreton School
To investigate the processes that schools implement when allocating fixed term management units which encourage distributed leadership practises, and how they identify, monitor, and measure the impact and effectiveness that the allocated management units are making.
Download: Full report (PDF 155 kB)
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Gielen, Shawn
Otorohanga South School
To build greater rigour into the school's current performance management and appraisal system, with particular emphasis on leadership growth involving team to team 'cross pollination' as an aspect of distributive leadership.
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Good, Shelly
Elstow-Waihou Combined School
To undertake research into the role of principal, school community and parents in supporting a successful reading recovery intervention and what what forms of leadership and parental support make a difference to the successful achievement of the reading recovery student.
Download: Full report (PDF 301 kB)
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Goodson, Mark
Rotokauri School
To investigate whether a well planned school fitness programme can improve children's physical performance in the five critical areas and whether a balanced health and fitness programme can improve a child's self esteem, confidence and ability to achieve.
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Gordon, Neill
Clifton School (Bulls)
Advance knowledge and understanding of the Circle Time behaviour management system and how the school and class delivery could be improved by visiting schools who are using the programme successfully, and by researching recent background information and sharing it with staff.
Download: Full report (PDF 126 kB)
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Gulbransen, Janice
Nayland Primary School
To research and develop a teacher mentoring programme to enhance the development of effective practice for the leadership team, enabling them to enhance Māori student achievement.
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Hardie, Karen
Owhiro Bay School
Increase knowledge and understanding of learning and teaching models and leadership elements used in some New Zealand and Australian schools to increase student engagement.
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Hastings, Celeste
Holy Cross School (Miramar)
Investigate successful ESOL and refugee support programmes in New Zealand schools with similar ethnic and socio-economic profiles where achievement of these students has been raised.
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Hastings, Ross
Christchurch South Intermediate
Conduct an enquiry into where modern flexible learning environments and effective 21st-century teaching and learning pedagogy successfully meet.
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Healey, Mary
Oamaru Intermediate
Engaging the challenging, disengaged and underachieving students.
Download: Full report (PDF 252 kB)
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Hodgkinson, Edward
Lakeview School
Investigate how low-decile schools attract and retain middle-to-high-income families and ensure that their school profile reflects the community the school is located in.
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How, Joanne
Roslyn School
To gather information and strategies to support the development of specific programmes that will enhance the skills of our students that enter our new entrant classes.
Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)
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Hyndman, Robert
Brookfield School
To focus on what school leaders in New Zealand and overseas are doing to make a difference to learning, discussing ideas, practices and systems they find successful in engaging the community and raising student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 110 kB)
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Irving, Paul
Riccarton School
To investigate what initiatives and programmes are being utilised by best practice primary schools in New Zealand to be culturally responsive to Pasifika learners and to improve Pasifika achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 920 kB)
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Jones, Mary
Pukerua Bay School
To investigate the factors that inhibit student achievement in mathematics problem solving and what teaching and learning strategies/factors are effective in raising achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 307 kB)
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Jones, Michael
Kaingaroa Forest School
To investigate teaching strategies and classroom management styles which foster academic achievement by Māori learners.
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Kedzlie, Mary
St Leo's Catholic School (Devonport)
To investigate how high decile schools with a low percentage of Māori students promote Māori student success and success as Māori.
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Kelland, Debbie
Rongotea School
Investigate the "Daily Five" literacy programme, its implementation and its impact on student achievement in schools using it.
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Kellaway, Karen
Canvastown School
To extend understanding of and investigate best practice for students and their families, when transitioning from early childhood education centres to primary school.
Download: Full report (PDF 121 kB)
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Laws, Bruce
Orewa North School
The influence of attendance on student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 70 kB)
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Leach, Ross
Dunedin North Intermediate
Explore the efficacy of the current MoE assistive technology delivery system for students experiencing learning disabilities; define the must-haves of the new approach to access the New Zealand curriculum with efficiency and confidence in today's settings.
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Leigh, Brenda
Hiwinui School
To investigate the differences in expectations and identified transition issues between primary and secondary schools, and how rural schools are successfully transitioning students and minimising the impact of difference expectations.
Download: Full report (PDF 586 kB)
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Lucic, Derek
Broadgreen Intermediate
"A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" - intermediate schooling.
Download: Full report (PDF 332 kB)
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Maihi, Shirley
Finlayson Park School
Update and further knowledge of bilingual education and strategies for gauging student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 648 kB)
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Malcolm, Michael
Leamington School
How does teacher pedagogy change through the effective use of technology and what impact does this have on student achievement?
Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)
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Manley, Elizabeth
Woodlands Park School
Research the design and implementation of the concept of "science on our doorstep", using a collaborative model that utilises opportunities provided by the local environment and the related expertise of staff and members of the local community.
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Martin, Colin
Colyton School
Explore how school leaders engage their communities, with special emphasis on the use of school websites, parent and child portals and e-learning.
Download: Full report (PDF 991 kB)
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Mauger, Brenda
St Therese School (Three Kings)
Explore how school leaders engage their communities, with special emphasis on the use of school websites, parent and child portals and e-learning.
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McKeown, John
Sunnydene Special School
Examine how several schools in Auckland and the UK deal with their students aged 15 years + with autism, severe intellectual disability and challenging and violent behaviour.
Download: Full report (PDF 218 kB)
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Milner, Malcolm
Balmoral School (Auckland)
To explore the role of principal leadership in creating a 'thinking school', and programmes that develop critical thinking across a school.
Download: Full report (PDF 68 kB)
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Moyle, Warwick
Kaharoa School
To look at modern learning environments (single cell/ open plan) in remodelled and new primary and intermediate schools to explore the use and effectiveness of these spaces.
Download: Full report (PDF 671 kB)
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Myers, Stuart
Pakuranga Intermediate
To investigate the use of Arts professionals working alongside teachers and students in rich learning situations in New Zealand, and the extent to which such programmes contribute to gains in literacy and numeracy.
Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)
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Newman, Patrick
Hora Hora School (Te Mai)
To complete a research project that includes collating and analysing information from schools to complement current academic research looking at the types of interactions between schools and whanau, to improve the Māori achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)
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Ngarimu-Goldsmith, Susan
Hiruharama School
To explore how harnessing digital technologies can enhance a culturally connected curriculum.
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O'Halloran, Kevin
Amberley School
Research, investigate and consider the various components that make for a successful professional supervision process for principals in New Zealand primary schools, and to seek evidence on how such approaches enhance both individual well-being, staff morale and student achievement.
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Panting, Giles
Lake Rotoiti School
To explore the role of the specialist teacher in the New Zealand primary school and to investigate the opportunities for accelerating children's learning through engagement with professionals other than their class teacher.
Download: Full report (PDF 170 kB)
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Parkin, Rae
Wesley School
To investigate what schools identify they are doing which results in Māori and Pasifika students achieving at and above expected National levels of achievement, and what circumstances in and outside of the school environment impact on Māori and Pasifika student achievement.
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Paterson, Alastair
Matamata Christian School
Investigate elements of effective Bible-teaching pedagogy in Christian schools.
Download: Full report (PDF 455 kB)
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Petronelli, James
Clearview Primary
To explore the use of a coaching model to strengthen and develop the potential and performance of aspiring and current school leaders.
Download: Full report (PDF 65 kB)
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Potaka, Paul
Nelson Central School
To study 'human rights-based education' initiatives that help to develop positive student behaviour and address concerns about school bullying, by learning from officials and schools in Hampshire (UK) and the Human Rights in Education Trust (NZ).
Download: Full report (PDF 975 kB)
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Prendergast, Dianne
Lauriston School
Investigate how enterprise programmes are being designed and implemented in primary sector schools and how they are enhancing student engagement and capabilities.
Download: Full report (PDF 340 kB)
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Pringle, Tania
Seddon School
To investigate the models and programmes provided for gifted and talented students other than the core curriculum offered to students in primary schools, with the intention of developing and implementing a quality 'extension' model for Seddon School.
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Ramsay, Paul
Waipu School
To investigate whether changes we have made to delivering the curriculum in Science, Social Sciences, Environmental Science and Technology have been effective.
Download: Full report (PDF 78 kB)
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Richards, Aaron
St Patrick's School (Bryndwr)
Develop understanding of current best practice in improving teacher effectiveness and performance management; explore an alternative commercial model of performance management; investigate how school performance management practices can maintain and improve the quality of teaching.
Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)
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Ritai, Damon
Frankley School
To investigate what strategies or programmes of learning and teaching can be developed that will make integration of Te Reo Māori me ona Tikanga, in mainstream schools, more successful in everyday classroom, schooling and community life.
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Roche, Paul
Sts Peter and Paul School (L.Hutt)
Develop professional learning in the area of 'Asia-awareness'.
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Sandifer, Wendy
Torbay School
To research how current educational practices can help build e-learning capacity within the school to meet the needs of 21st century learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 125 kB)
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Schuyt, Robert
Cust School
Identify the unique needs of Year 7 and 8 children: putting suitable curriculum and extra-curricular programmes in place, growing opportunities for them to become leaders, and acknowledging their roles in the school.
Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)
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Shepherd, Paul
Glenbervie School
To explore the leadership structures that are implemented in New Zealand schools and determine the impact of such systems on student achievement, with a view to outlining best practice option.
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Sleeman, Patricia
Sacred Heart School (Christchurch)
To explore initiatives used in schools to raise the standard of comprehension skills of new English language learners.
Download: Full report (PDF 219 kB)
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Smith, Andrew
Winton School
Investigate the implementation and management of personalised learning environments through the integration of mobile learning technologies.
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Smith, Sandra
Linwood North School
Examine the effective provision of educational wellbeing responses through the development of sustainable community service hubs in low-decile primary schools.
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Stavert, Maree
Henderson Valley School
How teachers and leaders efficiently and effectively use data to support decisions that lead to improved student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 153 kB)
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Taylor, Moari
Horeke School
To reflect on my role as the teaching principal of Te Kura o Horeke (Horeke School), rejuvenate, and to investigate how environmental learning can help improve student engagement and achievement across the curriculum.
Download: Full report (PDF 241 kB)
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Tepania, Shaun
Whananaki School
Investigate enhancing opportunities for children through e-learning: what is available that aligns with the curriculum, and how effective are Te Reo and tikanga Māori interactive websites?
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Theyers, Kim
St Patrick's School (Inglewood)
To investigate school-wide planning, teaching and reporting on writing that improves student achievement.
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Thomson, Alexander
Takapau School
To explore how schools and communities develop symbiotic relationships which contribute to improving learning and teaching outcomes.
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Trembath, Stuart
Feilding Intermediate
To seek knowledge about the middle schooling system operating in New Zealand with a view to possible adapting the present Fielding Intermediate into a middle school, if the investigation clearly shows positive pupil achievement as a characteristic.
Download: Full report (PDF 71 kB)
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Trotter, Margaret
Oaklands School
Investigate the implementation of restorative practice to enhance positive relationships when dealing with behaviour in a school setting.
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Unasa, Irene
Porirua East School
Investigate understanding and implementation of "Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners" as outlined in the Tataiako document throughout a selection of New Zealand primary and intermediate schools.
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White, Maria
Rosehill Intermediate
Investigate and research the use of teacher coaching and mentoring, in a New Zealand school context, to evaluate the impact in student achievement.
Download: Full report (PDF 263 kB)
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Williams, Simon
Waiau Pa School
Practical ways that schools can personalise learning for their students.
Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)
