Identifying partnership learning needs: What it might look like
This section includes brief stories from two of the schools that participated in the Ruia exploratory study.
Sylvia Park School
Sylvia Park School is a decile 2 suburban school with a diverse student population of 320. Around a quarter of the students are Māori, and over half are Pasifika. Ruia’s interviewer met with the principal, two teachers (the teacher in the bilingual unit and the teacher who is the project manager of the parents’ centre), and a parent.
The improvements in student achievement were made through teacher, management, and board engagement in evidence-based inquiry learning.
While the primary focus of this learning has been on literacy and numeracy, the deeper ideas have been consciously transferred across the curriculum.
Despite the gains in student achievement, the leaders and teachers at Sylvia Park School knew from their own experience and from their reading of research that they could make even greater gains through strengthening the relationship between parents and teachers so that they could work together to support student achievement.
Read the full Sylvia Park School Ruia case study »
Te Ara Whānui Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi
Te Ara Whānui is a decile 3 kura in Lower Hutt, with students in years 1 to 10. Four people were interviewed for Ruia: the tumuaki, the deputy principal, a senior teacher, and a parent.
Analysis of student achievement data, ongoing learning conversations, and the kāinga and kura books for students whose progress is of concern combine to support both whānau and kaiako to focus their attention on tamariki and their learning needs.
This careful monitoring enables the adults supporting a child’s learning to respond promptly to emerging needs, strengths, and interests, quickly identifying any areas where they themselves need to learn and change.
Read the full Te Ara Whānui Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi Ruia case study »