This evaluation report about good practice in supporting and engaging senior secondary students draws on the work of nine New Zealand secondary schools and identifies principles and practice tha are working effectively.
The good practice found in these secondary schools reflects the importance of: well led and effective teaching practice; good quality decision making about the organisation and structure of the curriculum; planned opportunities to explore learning options and pathways; and active student involvement in relevant and useful courses of study.
These factors are discussed in this report under six key themes that emerged from ERO's findings.
- School culture;
- Leadership and responsibility;
- integrated systems;
- Planning, analysis, monitoring and evaluation;
- Curriculum, pedagogy and course opportunities; and
- Communities and families
The themes overlap and complement one another. They provide a framework for discussing the various effective practices undertaken by the schools in this evaluation. They also allow for a discussion about the differences between these schools.
This evaluation found that effective schools have robust administrative, pastoral and academic systems to support senior students, and that these work together to provide a cohesive framework for meeting student needs. The findings acknowledge the importance of schools ensuring that there are suitable pathways and courses available for students, that students' individual needs are personalised and being met, and that there are ample opportunities for students to develop into responsible adults