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Primary award recipients 2012

  1. Anderson, Lee

    Te Kopuru School

    To investigate programmes which address the underachievement of students in mathematics. To research best practice in mathematics and explore successful innovations and intervention programmes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)

  2. Bain, Mike

    Te Mata School

    To investigate the current and potential use of emerging new technologies to support greater student control, engagement, and achievement across the curriculum and development of stronger, more responsive home school learning partnerships.

    Download: Full report (PDF 208 kB)

  3. Baird, Jill

    St Joseph's School (Invercargill)

    Rejuvenation and to join the review team of the diocese of Dunedin as it carries out special character reviews in Southland and Otago in both primary and secondary schools.

  4. Bamford, Wendy

    Wanaka Primary School

    Leadership - the product of interactions.

    Download: Full report (PDF 367 kB)

  5. Barham, Louisa

    Peachgrove Intermediate

    Investigate methods of improving student participation and engagement in the recording and reporting of their learning progress during the intermediate school years.

  6. Barrett, Marie

    St John Bosco School (New Plymouth)

    To develop effective strategies and techniques for working with the high rate of childhood anxiety currently presenting in our schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)

  7. Bayliss, Peter

    Paroa School (Greymouth)

    To research and investigate how New Zealand schools are designing and implementing processes and systems that enable their teachers to inquire into the teaching-learning relationship.

    Download: Full report (PDF 508 kB)

  8. Beales, Judith

    Springfield School

    To investigate how teaching and learning programmes in rural schools in the UK have improved student achievement through government funding and support through the existence of a national body - NASS.

  9. Beetham, Christine

    Weber School

    To explore how e-portfolios, are being used to record, document and monitor student achievement over time and to clarify the purpose, benefits and issues associated with their use in schools.

  10. Bermingham, Glenn

    Rowley Avenue School

    To explore the potential of schools in low socio-economic areas to be a catalyst for positive change within their community.

  11. Black, Jude

    Green Bay Primary School

    Exploring leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship and design technology.

    Download: Full report (PDF 5 MB)

  12. Bowen, Barbara

    Lower Moutere School

    To explore the use of student voice as a tool for reflecting on and informing best teaching practice.

  13. Bremer, Paul

    Havelock North Primary School

    To study what excellence in achievements looks like in high decile schools, in urban, provincial settings similar to Havelock North Primary.

    Download: Full report (PDF 230 kB)

  14. Brisco, Karen

    Omata School

    To complete professional reading around current educational practice and theory and attend the National College for School Leadership 2012 Annual Conference in Birmingham.

    Download: Full report (PDF 4 MB)

  15. Bullick, John

    Cambridge East School

    To inquire into the implementation and use of e-portfolios, in order to enhance student learning, assessment, and reporting effectiveness at Cambridge East School.

    Download: Full report (PDF 151 kB)

  16. Callaghan, Robert

    St Martin's School

    Examine the characteristics of strategic planning that make it effective, and investigate how school evidence impacts on improved student achievement and school improvement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 8 MB)

  17. Cameron, Margaret

    Hurupaki School

    To investigate environmental learning in the primary school, with a focus on wetlands education and sustainability.

    Download: Full report (PDF 121 kB)

  18. Campbell, Alistair

    Māori Hill School

    Investigate the use of ICT, In particular interactive whiteboards, as a tool to enhance teaching and learning and raise student achievement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 110 kB)

  19. Carnachan, Susan

    Marotiri School

    To explore how expert practitioners use music to practise and enhance literacy skills in the primary school setting.

  20. Carswell-Griffiths, Mike

    Birdwood School

    To learn te reo in a full immersion Kura and about Ti Kanga Māori in relation to students.

    Download: Full report (PDF 6 MB)

  21. Channer, John

    Fraser Crescent School

    To complete research into principal clusters, how they work in a strategic way to share skills, support others, and collaboratively raise student outcomes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 115 kB)

  22. Clarke, Robert

    Whau Valley School

    To complete a small research project interviewing schools as an underpinning to complement current academic research to design a teaching and learning programme to improve the Māori achievement at Whau Valley School.

  23. Clarkin, Brendan

    Pyes Pa Road School

    An investigation of programmes and practices in a range of schools that have effectively raised student achievement for students who are under-achieving in reading.

    Download: Full report (PDF 124 kB)

  24. Coleman, Therese

    St Patrick's School (Kaiapoi)

    To investigate the use of e-portfolios as a means of recording and reporting on student achievement in primary school settings. To investigate how student engagement in learning and plain language reporting to parents is enhanced by e-portfolios.

    Download: Full report (PDF 140 kB)

  25. Cunningham, Bruce

    Belmont School (Auckland)

    Leadership for principals and the desire for continuous improvement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 116 kB)

  26. Dale, Delanee

    Marshall Laing School

    To research the impact of a selected range of Google applications on learning, as an effective means of engaging students and increasing their educational achievement.

  27. Darroch, Bruce

    Te Waotu School

    To investigate schools policies and practices surrounding years in junior classes and the progression of children with April/May birthdays.

  28. Davy, Angela

    Mokoia School

    To observe and reflect on how schools are giving more ownership to students in the learning process.

    Download: Full report (PDF 124 kB)

  29. Dixon, Linette

    Bulls School

    To further explore behaviour management systems with the view to reviewing our Behaviour Management System at Bulls School.

  30. Dunn, Marilyn

    Ruakaka School

    To explore alternative positive behaviour programmes with a focus on using the environment, that cater for the needs of children with challenging behaviours so that schools are able to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all learners.

  31. Eales, Brian

    Clive School

    Developing a culturally responsive curriculum, meeting the needs of Māori within mainstream education.

    Download: Full report (PDF 100 kB)

  32. Edwards, Jeremy

    Northland School

    To investigate the use of school management systems to deliver national standards data to inform school self-review.

    Download: Full report (PDF 126 kB)

  33. Esera, Iosua Fa'atili

    Petone Central School

    To find out critical components of bilingual programmes that lead to acquiring twin proficiency in two or more languages, and how those are reflected in school programmes and teacher pedagogy.

    Download: Full report (PDF 213 kB)

  34. Esera, Wendy

    Evans Bay Intermediate

    To find out how well Evans Bay Intermediate School is meeting the needs of students in the critical areas of numeracy and literacy: reading, writing, and maths.

    Download: Full report (PDF 88 kB)

  35. Fitzgerald, Michael

    St John's Hill School

    To explore how school leaders are sustaining and growing their leadership and that of leaders within their school.

  36. Forsyth, John

    Monrad Intermediate

    To research how Intermediates and Middle Schools use their 1:120 staffing for the delivery of the Technology/Arts curriculum.

  37. Forsyth, Robyn

    Huia Range School

    To investigate improving the educational achievement of boys, in years 0 to 8, in coeducational schools.

  38. Gillatt, Mike

    Hutt Intermediate

    To investigate how systems thinking methodologies can be used to inform and develop a strategic planning and review model that is collaborative, inclusive and utilises the knowledge, skills and experiences of all staff members.

  39. Gregory, Mark

    St Joseph's School (Papanui)

    To visit up to 10 U6 schools to gather information about their leadership teams, the responsibilities of DPs and APs, how planning teams are organised and to investigate how the design of classroom spaces can promote teaching and learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 191 kB)

  40. Hall, Ian

    Napier Central School

    Better understand how boys learn most effectively.

    Download: Full report (PDF 824 kB)

  41. Harrison, Elizabeth

    Ramanui School

    To define cultural responsiveness through professional readings and to look at the challenges and success of principals to acknowledge "cultural responsiveness to indigenous students" in their school practice.

    Download: Full report (PDF 158 kB)

  42. Heath, Simon

    Renwick School

    Investigating conservation and sustainability models; their application and impact for primary schools education programmes. Looking at setting up and implementing a quality 'Eco School' model for Renwick School.

    Download: Full report (PDF 128 kB)

  43. Hepworth, Lynette

    Oakura School

    To undertake reading, investigation and reflection on student-led learning and student-led initiatives in a variety of NZ schools.

  44. Herrick, Chris

    Birchwood School

    To explore the opportunities when transitioning from early childhood centres to school.

  45. Howard, Lorraine

    St Joseph's School (Feilding)

    To investigate restorative justice principles and models and implement a model suited to the primary setting of St Joseph's School.

    Download: Full report (PDF 97 kB)

  46. Jackson, Philip

    Marewa School

    More than just a playground. The development and benefits of natural playscapes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 8 MB)

  47. Jackson, Susan

    West Melton School

    To investigate effective/positive school partnerships particularly with the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA).

    Download: Full report (PDF 230 kB)

  48. Jessop, Christine

    Forest Lake School

    To investigate what an effective culturally responsive approach to the implementation of New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa might look like.

    Download: Full report (PDF 113 kB)

  49. Julies, Yolanda

    Waikirikiri School

    To undertake research into critical success factors for effective school management and leadership in order to take leadership practice to the next level.

    Download: Full report (PDF 652 kB)

  50. King, Pamela

    Kauri Park School

    To research and review how medium to high decile schools with a low percentage of Māori and Pasifika students successfully engage family and whānau in their children's learning to help raise student achievement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 473 kB)

  51. Laird, Maurice

    Plimmerton School

    To investigate effective methods of deeper analysis of school-wide student achievement data as evidence to support judgments about programme effectiveness.

  52. Lewis, Michael

    Ongaonga School

    To investigate and explore the teaching of fitness and physical education in primary schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 182 kB)

  53. Linington, Derek

    Bailey Road School

    How can adaptive leadership help me build leadership capacity within our school to ensure that we are able to lead the change that is required to meet the needs of the 21st century learner?

    Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)

  54. Lloyd, Tracy

    Matua School

    To investigate the impact that Professional Learning Communities have on personalised staff learning and how different schools implement this concept within their school environment.

    Download: Full report (PDF 614 kB)

  55. Lomas, Graeme

    Cockle Bay School

    To investigate a range of methods which schools utilise to effectively communicate and consult with their stakeholders.

    Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)

  56. Marshall, Debbie

    Dairy Flat School

    To explore the use of Google applications as a tool to facilitate learning both in school and in the wider global community. To set up links with other schools so they can engage and collaborate.

  57. Marshall, Peter

    Greenhithe School

    Educating students to become effective citizens in a globalised world.

    Download: Full report (PDF 148 kB)

  58. McArthur, Jill

    Whakamaru School

    To investigate what different schools do to make learning exciting and relevant for Māori and Aboriginal learners. To discover what the successes, fallacies, and failures are of other school's systems in New Zealand and Australia.

    Download: Full report (PDF 451 kB)

  59. McCabe, Dale

    Te Awamutu Intermediate

    To visit schools to look at how they are reporting to their communities in plain English on the National Standards, and compare best practice. Lead a review of how Te Awamutu Intermediate is reporting to their communities.

  60. McDonald, Bruce

    Kenakena School

    To investigate specific school-based programmes for enhancing educational, social, and behavioural outcomes for boys in primary schools.

    Download: Full report (Word 9 MB)

  61. Morgan, Andy

    Kihikihi School

    To study what schools who include mixed teaching mediums (Te Reo Māori and English) are implementing and using as strategies, principles and creative solutions to facilitate success for learners across the whole school.

    Download: Full report (PDF 587 kB)

  62. Munkowits, Linda

    Manuka Primary School

    To investigate ways we can better meet the needs of the large number of new entrants entering schools with diagnosed development learning issues.

    Download: Full report (PDF 91 kB)

  63. Parsons, David

    Riverlands School

    To investigate what strategies can be used to successfully implement a parent portal and introduce student e-portfolios through a LMS.

    Download: Full report (PDF 108 kB)

  64. Perry, Barbara

    Our Lady of Victories

    Sustainability and resilience in New Zealand principals.

    Download: Full report (PDF 530 kB)

  65. Perry, Howard

    Waikowhai Intermediate

    To investigate the the pivotal strategies of successful programmes in accelerating Pacific Island students' learning.

  66. Piercy, Clyde

    Keith Street School

    To investigate the extension and building of the role of student voice in building learning-focused relationships.

    Download: Full report (PDF 4 MB)

  67. Pollard-Williams, Dianne

    Melville Primary School

    To inquire and explore into the positive engagement, of low decile school parents and communities.

  68. Poulter, Ian

    Bluestone School

    To develop effective and rigorous school wide self review cycles that positively impact on school culture and student achievement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 266 kB)

  69. Quinn, Nick

    St Peter Chanel Catholic School (Te Rapa)

    To investigate the vision: Whole Education, Whole Person and what it could look like in St Peter Chanel Catholic School. To evolve the school's definition and uncover new opportunities to fulfill our school's long term goals.

  70. Rayner, Rhonda

    Cargill Open Plan School

    To undertake professional learning in how schools can meet the needs of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) including Aspergers' Syndrome.

    Download: Full report (PDF 257 kB)

  71. Read, Sharren

    Waitara Central School

    To investigate how our Positive Behaviour 4 Learning Programme and The Ka Hikitia Strategy can be linked to improve student-learning outcomes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 178 kB)

  72. Reed, Nicholas

    Ashhurst School

    To study the impact of ICT on student learning and the various ways schools are able to sustain the financial costs associated with this.

    Download: Full report (PDF 170 kB)

  73. Riceman, Gregory

    Raureka School

    To observe, assess, and analyse appraisal and mentoring programmes used in primary schools and to review and implement the current Raureka appraisal / mentoring system based on this observation.

    Download: Full report (PDF 140 kB)

  74. Ristow, Janet

    Franz Josef Glacier School

    To contact other remote and isolated schools to see how they are involving four year olds in transition programmes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 133 kB)

  75. Russek, Alan

    Dargaville Primary School

    To explore initiatives in schools to enhance the learning of maths for at-risk Year 2-4 students.

    Download: Full report (PDF 76 kB)

  76. Simmons - Kapa, Susanne

    TKKM o Whakawatea

    To complete reading, research and visit some successful Māori and/or other indigenous and/or alternative education environments to discuss how they are promoting high levels of student engagement and achievement.

  77. Simpson, Sue

    Halcombe Primary School

    To explore how e-portfolios, are being used to record, document and monitor student achievement over time and to clarify the purpose, benefits and issues associated with their use in schools.

  78. Sjoberg, Annette

    St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch)

    To investigate, research and define the characteristics or strategies primary principals employ to strengthen the pastoral care within their school community.

  79. Sye, Roy

    Tamatea Intermediate

    An investigation into the use of online technologies to share student assessment/learning information 24/7 with students and parents.

    Download: Full report (PDF 854 kB)

  80. Taylor, Graeme

    Broadlands School

    To investigate the rationale behind the implementation of e-learning in the educational setting.

  81. Thomson, Robin

    Belmont School (Lower Hutt)

    To gather data from a variety of sources and perspectives that will enable me to be more effective in developing with all our staff, an 'appraisal for learning'.

  82. Titchener, Heather

    Poukawa School

    To investigate what primary schools are currently doing to close the achievement gap (that is, shorten the tail of low achievement) in their schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 10 MB)

  83. Tonks, Selena

    Grovetown School

    Investigate the development of community based school charters and strategic plans in Charter Schools of North Carolina, USA. To explore in which way schools implement and monitor their plans and report to their school communities.

    Download: Full report (PDF 98 kB)

  84. Turfrey, Tony

    Bledisloe School

    To undertake personal research into sustaining Positive Behaviour for Learning and ensuring the concept becomes embedded in our school culture.

  85. Uasike, Jocelyn

    St Joseph's School (Pukekohe)

    To further develop my professional knowledge of how parental engagement contributes to student achievement in schools, to inquire how to encourage greater engagement of Pasifika parents, and to provide an opportunity for the Pasifika 'voice' be heard.

    Download: Full report (PDF 584 kB)

  86. Walker, Anne

    Fernworth Primary School

    To understand the relationship between a culture of distributed leadership and coaching as a way to build leadership capability.

    Download: Full report (PDF 127 kB)

  87. Walsh, Anthony

    Pasadena Intermediate

    To learn about and prepare a school resource for managing traumatic events and providing support and help for those in the school community experiencing severe trauma and stress.

  88. Warren, Bruce

    Mairangi Bay School

    Principals in classrooms: a snapshot of the thinking of school principals about making regular classroom visits.

    Download: Full report (PDF 596 kB)

  89. Watson, Raewyn

    St Anthony's School (Seatoun)

    To investigate Teaching as Inquiry approaches in New Zealand schools.

  90. White, Douglas

    Clyde School

    To review current literature on student motivation, attend an international education conference, and investigate case studies in which primary schools provide motivating and engaging learning experiences.

    Download: Full report (PDF 384 kB)

  91. Williamson, Lorraine

    Opunake School

    To further develop my pedagogy in inquiry learning and curriculum integration.

    Download: Full report (Word 5 MB)

  92. Willing, Bunny

    Epuni School

    To look at self-regulation across the school in the contexts of teaching, learning, and behaviour management.

    Download: Full report (PDF 5 MB)

  93. Willocks, Ross

    Queenspark School

    To investigate how oral communication develops effective relationships in a high performance environment.

    Download: Full report (PDF 148 kB)

  94. Wilson, Graham

    Merrilands School

    To investigate relationships within highly effective schools who have strong partnerships between their school and community.

  95. Win, Janice

    Bellevue School (Newlands)

    To investigate how mid- to high-decile schools engage with their Māori families and communities.

  96. Wootton, Judith-Anne

    Windley School

    Gaining on-going engagement of parents, whānau, and caregivers in decile on and two urban schools to improve student engagement and achievement.

  97. Worboys, Neil

    Wainuiomata Primary School

    To examine, through research findings and through dialogue with education practitioners, the role cultural responsiveness plays in enhanced Māori student achievement in primary schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 365 kB)