Editor's Note: Schools push ahead: resuming travel, solving maths decline

Schools push ahead: resuming travel, solving maths decline

Kia ora! Welcome to the Term Two issue of School News!

As we go to print, the school sector is abuzz with news that Aotearoa New Zealand may not participate in the OECD’s upcoming batch of PISA tests. Less than 60 percent of schools invited to take part have agreed to sign up due to the ongoing COVID crisis. A Ministry Briefing Paper pointed out that if enough schools fail to participate, there will be a seven-year gap between test scores that could have long-term ramifications for the education system. Meanwhile, some academics and teachers have conversely argued the 2022 PISA scores would only reflect the disruption of COVID to learning, which is still worthy of research but would not necessarily inform future educational policy. One test score trend that has impacted educational policy has been the maths decline, so this issue we asked how school programmes are trying to solve the problem (page 28), in light of the government’s new five-year curriculum strategy. On the same topic, Dr Audrey Tan penned an insightful oped advocating for schools to build their maths programmes around student confidence (page 32). As a lifelong maths learner, she writes: “Striving for understanding does not equal high maths performance”. Don’t miss this one!

Our Special Report this issue by Industry Reporter Heather Barker Vermeer takes an in-depth look at school travel reborn (page 10), following the journey of the School Travel Collective, which has been on a revolutionary mission to safeguard school travel money in the wake of COVID cancellations. On page 18, we talk to library specialists about upgrading the most resourceful space on any school site, and on page 22 we consider what PLD options might best empower teachers in 2022. Heather also spoke exclusively with actor and former Westlake Girls’ teacher, Julie Collis as part of our spotlight on school resources for staging theatre, musicals, and productions (page 35). The value of the arts cannot be understated in terms of vocational possibilities as well as providing a wellrounded education…

Explore Rotorua! On page 36, we take you on a trip around one of the country’s most spectacular regions for schools to visit. Check out page 37 too, for your chance to win an exclusive Canopy Tour for your student group. Of course, don’t miss Principal Speaks this issue (page 6), where Belmont Primary School Principal Bruce Cunningham reflects on 42 years of school leadership and his frustration with decile labelling. Finally, our Profile this issue is the beautifully bright Sylvia Park School, which hosted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the official launch of the Aotearoa New Zealand History Curriculum. Got plans for your school in 2022? Write in and let us know so we can feature you!

Rosie Clarke, Editor, SchoolNews editor@schoolnews.co.nz

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