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Case study: Wanganui City College
Schools' professional development focus
The professional development activities at Wanganui City College focused on whole-school improvement through developing teacher capacity in:
- relationship building with students and whanau/community
- understanding tikanga Māori principles and practices
- facilitating effective classroom practices
- literacy programmes
- numeracy programmes.
Background
Wanganui City College is a decile two co-educational state secondary school, with a decreasing roll which currently totals 523 students. Approximately 60 percent of the school population are Māori and 12 percent are international students.
Twenty-two teachers of year 9 and 10 students at Wanganui City College were involved in the Te Kauhua professional development initiative including a facilitator who coordinated the project, the principal, and a core group who were active participants in the pilot. This core included four heads of department (HODs), a resource teacher of learning and behaviour (RTLB), the deputy principal, a cultural mentor, the board of trustees chairperson, and a kaumatua. Consultants with recognised expertise were also engaged to work with staff.
Intended outcomes
The focus of the Te Kauhua Pilot was upon whole school improvement across six strands of teacher development, in order to improve outcomes for Māori students:
- whakawhānaungatanga – improving relationships with the Māori community
- tuakana-teina – teacher-student relationships
- whakakaha te tikanga – improving staff awareness of tikanga Māori
- whakakaha nga karaehe – effective classrooms
- whakakaha te panui – improving literacy
- whakakaha te tatai – improving numeracy.
A range of data collection methods were used to evidence shifts in behaviour, attitudes, and student achievement. These included observations, school statistics, achievement data, personal development plans, and staff surveys.
The basis of the professional development activity at Wanganui City College centred upon the development and implementation of the six strands. The starting point was whakawhanungatanga – Māori community/stakeholder consultation involving a Māori support group, kaumatua, cultural mentor, and local politician.
Staff and student hui were also held with a three-fold purpose: to enhance relationships – tuakana teina; to raise the profile of Te Kauhua in the school; and to enhance understanding of the purpose of the pilot.
Following initial consultation, a programme of professional development for teachers of year 9 and 10 students was developed. The overarching goal of this initiative was to develop effective classrooms – whakakaha a nga karaehe.
This included visiting experts providing information on culturally inclusive teaching styles, hakakaha te tikanga, understanding the Treaty of Waitangi, and working with whānau. A reading adviser also worked closely with all staff.
A school-wide literacy plan was developed and information to assist teachers plan for effective literacy outcomes – whakakaha te panui – for Māori students was disseminated. The literacy plan has been embedded school-wide into personal development plans, departmental plans, and the school annual plan.
An action research project is to be coordinated by a team of external researchers, to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the literacy initiative. A similar plan has also been developed to improve numeracy outcomes for Māori students – whakakaha te tatai.
Key results
Eight broad outcomes have been achieved at Wanganui City College as a result of the Te Kauhua Pilot:
- Embedding the principles of Te Kauhua in policy and the school strategic plan.
- Staff acknowledgement of the importance of Māori culture in school, classroom, and individual student life.
- The introduction of staff personal professional development plans and associated feedback mechanisms for staff performance.
- A staff focus upon effective, cooperative teaching and learning versus negative behaviour management and "transmission" curriculum delivery.
- Enhanced collegial/team relationships amongst staff, teachers with whānau, teachers with students, and increased school-wide communication.
- Fostering of Māori community partnerships.
- Significantly reduced suspension figures – 40 percent less in 2002 than in 2001.
- Improved attendance rates and increasing year 9 enrolments.
Lessons for ongoing practice
There are clear implications for teachers and school communities from this pilot.
Firstly, the success of any initiative to enhance Māori student achievement rests upon the support and commitment of the principal and wide educational networks. The utilisation of outside consultants where necessary, also benefits such a project.
Secondly, full staff involvement in this type of project is advantageous in terms of greater gains being realised. To achieve such gains however, adequate resourcing is necessary.
Thirdly, professional development initiatives need to be conducted over a sustained period of time, and regular, effective, and transparent monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of interventions must be conducted.
Finally, the embedding of agreed processes and procedures into school-wide policy is fundamental to effecting sustainable change that is consistent with the underpinning principles of Te Kauhua. The implementation of personal professional development plans at Wanganui City College highlights the usefulness of such an initiative.
Conclusion
The Te Kauhua Pilot has afforded Wanganui City College the opportunity to engage in a number of professional development activities that have resulted in innovative change that is now embedded in school-wide structural systems.
Professional development activity has fostered heightened cultural recognition and understanding for some staff. For others, more interactional classroom pedagogy, coupled with reflection, has resulted in a broadened understanding of culturally inclusive teaching and learning practices.
Regular and detailed measurement/evaluation of changes in teacher strategy is now needed to assess the ongoing impact of pedagogical interventions. This is an ongoing challenge for Wanganui City College, as is ensuring the sustainability of the Te Kauhua initiative.