Rangiātea: Hastings Boys' High School

This case study and exemplar examine the journey Hastings Boys' High School is on towards realising Māori student potential. The case study looks at the strategies used by the school leadership team and reports on the key factors that are contributing towards lifting Māori student achievement. The exemplar steps through how a particular programme has been successfully used.

Project focus: pastoral and careers education

Let’s forget about whatever we can’t change; whatever the circumstances they come from — and they can be really the most supportive and the most dysfunctional — but when they come here that’s what we have been given. Let’s not make any excuses and let’s find as many strategies and processes and things to make it work. Really, it’s just a non-deficit thinking model. (Headmaster)

Hastings Boys' High School is an urban, decile 2 school. Māori students make up 45 percent of the roll.

Case study key points

Download the Hastings Boys' High School case study (PDF 383 kB)

Establishing goals and expectations enhances Māori student achievement:

School-wide goals are set and expectations clearly communicated to students, whānau, and staff.
Priority given to goal of 80 percent attendance.
Year 9 and 10 student learning is accelerated and closely monitored.

Strategic resourcing to enhance Māori student achievement:

Dedicated liaison officer monitors attendances and follows up absences.
Position of academic dean established.
Decile funding used to support teaching and learning, such as teacher aides.
On-site health services.

Teaching and curriculum enhance Māori student achievement:

Focus on teaching that works for boys, informed by research.
Integrated school-wide systems and processes to ensure students make progress.
Principles underpin engagement with Maori students, such as manaakitanga, wairua and tikanga.
Māori staff provide visible and well-supported leadership in tikanga and engagement with whānau.

Powerful connections with Māori whānau and community enhance Māori student achievement:

Series of different events held to regularly engage whānau.
School places importance on explaining how NCEA works, for students and whānau.
Whānau group and Māori “old boys” help seek whānau input into school and learning.

About the exemplar

Download the Hastings Boys’ High School exemplar (PDF 197 kB)

The Hastings Boys’ High School exemplar explores the school’s use of Pastoral, Academic, Careers and Education (PACE), a school-wide programme to help students make choices about school courses and to be better prepared for leaving school.