Home navigation

Primary award recipients 2016

  1. Arnold, Gail

    Springdale School

    Research modern learning environments; visit schools to see examples of MLEs in action, and talk to principals and teachers to get an understanding of the pedagogy linked to MLEs.

    Download: Full report (PDF 176 kB)

  2. Baker, Neil

    Northcote School (Christchurch)

    Carry out relevant study and research into the use of interactive video floor projection.

    Download: Full report (PDF 277 kB)

  3. Barlow, Josephine

    St James School (Aranui)

    Investigate ways to support principals in network – in the roles of coaching, mentoring, and professional supervision.

    Download: Full report (PDF 182 kB)

  4. Beattie, Gaylene

    Springlands School

    Investigate successful interventions, practices, and strategies that benefit achievement of Māori and Pasifika learners in meeting National Standards.

  5. Bioletti, Nigel

    Birkenhead School

    Resolve the surface feature difficulty for schools, whilst maintaining the drive for quality deep feature writing, with the aim of lifting student achievement in this area.

    Download: Full report (PDF 358 kB)

  6. Bourke, Phil

    Flemington School (Waipukurau)

    Investigate the move toward creating innovative learning environments (ILE), the associated changes in teacher pedagogy required, and what effect this has on student agency.

    Download: Full report (PDF 307 kB)

  7. Brell, Nicholas

    Malfroy School

    Review the relevance of the school’s vision and how it is reflected in the school.

    Download: Full report (PDF 127 kB)

  8. Bruce, Lynette

    Knapdale School

    Investigate the pedagogy and practice of independent learning using differentiated learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)

  9. Buckley, Rex

    Kingsford School

    Investigate next steps for e-learning – how other schools use N4Learning portal to enhance learning; hardware and how it is used to enhance the curriculum for priority learners; deepen understanding of professional leader and driver role.

    Download: Full report (PDF 478 kB)

  10. Buutveld, Wilhelmus

    Havelock School

    Determine the efficacy of FIE in a NZ classroom; design and run an inquiry (research) alongside the Feuerstein Pilot running at Havelock School during 2015/16 and travel within and beyond NZ to study the work others have done with Prof Reuven Feuerstein's work over the last 60 years.

    Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)

  11. Caddie, Gordon

    Waltham School

    Inquiry into how to use collaborative teaching approaches to accelerate the progress of priority learners (particularly in literacy and numeracy) – focus on low decile learning communities and those that have a significant proportion of Māori, Pasifika, and students with high learning needs.

  12. Caldwell, Brent

    Mornington School

    Strengthening school curriculum and culture through the development of children's personal social and emotional skills using programmes of behaviour education and self-management.

    Download: Full report (PDF 634 kB)

  13. Carey, Sonya

    Newfield Park School

    Investigate models of curriculum integration that foster student agency.

    Download: Full report (PDF 198 kB)

  14. Cavanagh-Eyre, Jane

    Epsom Normal School

    Qualitative research on how inquiry research has shaped teachers at Epsom Normal and the impact on achievement levels of priority students; visit schools in two international contexts about professional development approaches that they believe have had a direct impact on student learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 579 kB)

  15. Chamley, Patrick

    Flat Bush School

    Visit and talk with all local preschools that service Flat Bush to gain a better understanding of the work they are doing (and to try to improve school/preschool relations); better develop new entrant programmes to enable children to succeed better when they begin school.

  16. Clark, Jan

    Brunswick School

    Visit schools where e-learning has been implemented to support learning across the curriculum – interview teachers and observe lessons; collect and analyse student data; examine methods used to determine what has created shifts in student achievement.

  17. Crockett, Stephen

    Fairhall School

    What it means to be a future focused school – looking at schools that are considered effectively "future focused" with a particular emphasis on managing roll growth, global citizenship, and MLP or pedagogy.

    Download: Full report (PDF 818 kB)

  18. Cronin, Michelle

    Huirangi School

    Work towards completing Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.

  19. Cullen, Mark

    Motupipi School

    Research effective and successful methods of teaching children with dyslexia – staff interviews and observations within selected NZ and UK schools; attend workshop; carry out professional reading and discuss latest methodology with experts.

  20. Daines, Deborah

    New Brighton Catholic School (ChCh)

    Visit principals and leadership teams to survey ideas and best practice for school leaders supporting the health and well-being/hauora of their school community when disaster strikes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)

  21. Devenport, Janine

    Fernridge School

    How primary schools can collaborate to provide high quality learning and professional development opportunities across clusters or communities.

    Download: Full report (PDF 560 kB)

  22. Dillon-Roberts, Lisa

    Merrin School

    Explore how to best provide for new entrant learners entering school life.

  23. Dixon, Linette

    Hokowhitu School

    Explore pedagogies and practices that support effective personalised learning in both flexible learning spaces (MLE) and single cell classrooms.

    Download: Full report (PDF 203 kB)

  24. Donnelly, Annette

    Mt Carmel School (Meadowbank)

    Research modern learning practice within a modern learning environment and how this pedagogy can be implemented successfully into the school.

    Download: Full report (PDF 73 kB)

  25. Doyle, Louise

    Oaklynn Special School

    Investigate the use of coaching/mentoring processes to build professional capability in the special education sector and aid organisational improvement; produce a resource for other school leaders to use to develop a coaching culture.

    Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)

  26. Drury, Kevin

    Rukuhia School

    Investigate the effect that variables  – teacher relationships, attendance, whānau support and MLE – have on students well below and below achievement expectations, with emphasis on Māori students.

    Download: Full report (PDF 523 kB)

  27. Eagles, Judith

    Maungatapere School

    Undertake research into learning disorders and disabilities (ASD, dyslexia) that are becoming more prevalent in our schools today, and gain knowledge of the teaching strategies that support these children in their learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 328 kB)

  28. Ellis, Rosemarie

    Kaiwaka School

    Learn how other mainstream schools present lessons, assess student achievement, and evaluate teaching and learning in te reo and tikanga when they are operating at the 4b level, to gain insight into best practice and effective learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 75 kB)

  29. Emerson, Joanne

    Longburn School

    Participate in the 2016 LEAP (Learning Educators Around the Planet) Programme – reciprocal arrangement, components include: shadow a principal in their school/professional environments (Northern Hemisphere); undertake action research project; visit schools; participate in international conference.

  30. Farrelly, Michael

    Raumati Beach School

    Investigate the transition of year 8 students into secondary schools with a particular emphasis on transition from larger schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 132 kB)

  31. Ford, Patrick

    Balclutha School

    Look at the impact on principals of the cluster model made possible through IES funding.

    Download: Full report (PDF 332 kB)

  32. Franklin, Vaughan

    Te Rapa School

    To carefully consider the very critical role of personnel in positions of leadership and governance in New Zealand schools, and how they are directly responsible and accountable for influencing a school’s culture and effectiveness for the better, and how can we actively learn from positive examples of this, as well as any negative examples, to reduce the need for statutory intervention and / or commissioners in our schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 772 kB)

  33. Franks, Geoffrey; Franks, Raylene; Punler, Gary

    Linton Camp School, Glen Oroua School, West End School (Palmerston North)

    Acceleration, as opposed to remediation, is one strategy the government is using with schools to raise student achievement. This study looks at how school and teacher "acceleration" practices are enhancing children's progress and achievement and how teachers know these practices are making a difference.

    Download: Full report (PDF 500 kB)

  34. Goodall, Callan

    St Patrick's School (Invercargill)

    Research current literature and visit other primary schools to investigate the direct impact of student engagement on achievement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 323 kB)

  35. Green, Simon

    North Loburn School

    Investigate a cluster-wide approach to the implementation of Ka Hikitia school communities.

  36. Gunn, Elizabeth

    Churchill Park School

    Investigate how e-learning strategies support greater student ownership of, and engagement with, their learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 110 kB)

  37. Haggo, Craig

    Pongakawa School

    Impact of one-to-one personal device access on accelerating student learning (reading, writing, mathematics) when aligned to a modern learning environment.

  38. Hankins, Diane

    Sommerville School

    Making sense of aggregated progress and achievement data in a special school.

    Download: Full report (PDF 3 MB)

  39. Harwood, Carol

    Te Kohanga School

    How to create a modern learning environment for primary students in a 100-year-old school with single classrooms; investigate how Māori student achievement can be nurtured through the adaptation of physical spaces, and the pedagogical environment required to grow confident, engaged learners.

    Download: Full report (PDF 6 MB)

  40. Horsfall, Antony

    Ohope Beach School

    Investigate the changes in teacher pedagogy and collaboration required within modern learning environments and the effect this has on learning, with particular focus on priority learners.

  41. Howard, Moira

    Levin North School

    Explore personalised learning within innovative learning environments in order to reflect on and develop a framework and documentation for the revised Levin North School Curriculum.

    Download: Full report (PDF 2 MB)

  42. Inder, Patricia

    St Joseph's School (Queenstown)

    Identify the necessary knowledge and skills to support teachers to identify and implement targeted strategies to meet specific learning needs of priority students.

    Download: Full report (PDF 172 kB)

  43. Jenkins, Sandra

    Freemans Bay School

    Explore transition processes that would enable schools to realise their vision around learning as part of the design process of innovative learning environments.

    Download: Full report (PDF 410 kB)

  44. Joblin, Kathleen

    St Thomas More Catholic School

    Perspectives and learnings from our experiences as a Community of Learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)

  45. Johnson, Elizabeth

    Fairfield Primary School

    Gain a better understanding of the cultural background and schooling experiences of Tongan migrant children attending school in NZ by visiting schools in Tonga; research strategies and successful programmes operating in NZ schools that accelerate Pacific (predominantly Tongan) students' learning.

  46. Johnson, Kathryn

    Halfmoon Bay School

    Investigate how to better prepare students for the transition to secondary or boarding school by extending and adapting the ways e-learning is currently being used.

    Download: Full report (PDF 203 kB)

  47. Johnston, Richard

    Panmure Bridge School

    Attend the 2016 ISTE (International Society For Technology in Education) Conference in Denver, Colorado; visit schools in the region that are leading examples of digital learning and have made significant shifts in learning through technology.

  48. Jones, Janet

    Paeroa Central School

    Visit other schools that have Rumaki classes, local kura kaupapa schools that have year 9–13 classes, and schools that have dual-medium/bilingual classes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 103 kB)

  49. Keenan, Sandra

    Burnham School

    Investigate ways to fully engage parents of children in bilingual classrooms in their children's learning and find ways to increase the level of te reo spoken in their homes.

  50. King, Stephen

    Remuera School

    Undertake an action research project aimed at understanding how schools engage effectively with families from Asia and the Indian sub-continent.

  51. Laugesen, Sarah

    Lynton Downs School

    Investigate how schools are adapting their learning environments to enhance and engage boys in learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 195 kB)

  52. Leighton, Wayne

    Royal Road School

    A study undertaken with AUT in 2013 into play resulted in an overhaul of our approach to how we let children play, and is having a positive, ongoing effect on both playground behaviour and child wellbeing. I plan to investigate other innovations that are happening with a view to implement these and promote them to other schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 59 kB)

  53. Mackay, Kevin

    Greytown School

    Investigate and compare ways in which NZ primary schools are meeting the learning needs of priority learners.

    Download: Full report (PDF 168 kB)

  54. Mansfield, John

    Fitzroy School

    Transform and develop current modern learning environment pedagogy and philosophy into a living teaching and learning environment at Fitzroy School.

  55. Marshall, Gail

    Solway School

    How families, schools, and community support services can come together in a collaborative way to meet the comprehensive needs of our children.

  56. McLachlan, Susan

    Mountain View School

    Investigate the impact of designing a modern "learning landscape" to optimise student achievement at Mountain View School, and to develop a resource which makes this learning accessible to other schools and communities.

    Download: Full report (PDF 13 MB)

  57. Melrose, Peter

    Hampstead School

    Investigate effective crisis management – specifically schools' preparedness for a student death; explore the impact of increasingly diverse school cultural demographics, which requires appropriate cultural responsiveness.

    Download: Full report (PDF 444 kB)

  58. Mercer, Greig

    Boulcott School

    Examine models of curriculum design and school development and interview principals about their current design process and frameworks and how these meet the needs of diverse learners.

    Download: Full report (PDF 214 kB)

  59. Miller, Mary

    Gore Main School

    Research a multi-dimensional model to teaching gifted children, trial it school-wide to see what success occurs for all year levels, and gather feedback.

    Download: Full report (PDF 107 kB)

  60. Moy-Low, Katherine

    Waiheke Primary School

    Gain a deeper understanding of the "School in the Cloud" and collaborative approaches of Sole classrooms around the world, based on research of their founder Sugata Mitra, Professor of Educational Technologies at the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences at Newcastle University.

    Download: Full report (PDF 138 kB)

  61. Murray, Fiona

    Woodlands Full Primary School

    Understand the most effective ways of transitioning students into and out of primary school.

  62. Naera, Cathryn

    Ngongotaha School

    Investigate best practice for akonga and their whānau when transitioning to a primary school from kohanga reo and early childhood education centres.

  63. Nicholls, Daniel

    St Patrick's Catholic School (Taupo)

    Deepen understanding of working with priority learners (Māori/Pasifika) – up skill knowledge and application of te reo/tikanga; develop a strategic plan that lifts engagement and achievement of priority learners at St Patrick's.

    Download: Full report (PDF 428 kB)

  64. Nicoll, Judith

    Makauri School

    Build professional knowledge in leadership of modern learning environments – understand modern learning pedagogies and practices that underpin MLE; identify MLE practices that have the potential to enhance learning, engagement, and achievement for priority students.

    Download: Full report (PDF 513 kB)

  65. O'Neill, Ruth

    Cannons Creek School

    How are school libraries changing to support inquiry learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 249 kB)

  66. Oliver, Charles and Shona

    Wanganui Intermediate, Central Normal School

    Research the difference that innovative learning pedagogy makes to the achievement of priority learners with a particular focus on the achievement of Māori learners.

    Download: Full report (PDF 233 kB)

  67. Oliver, Gavin

    Pukete School

    Research the anxiety and anger issues that children exhibit, with a particular focus on priority learners – causation and treatment of anger and anxiety with the aim of enhancing children's engagement and learning.

    Download: Full report (PDF 622 kB)

  68. Pettit, Michael

    Cambridge School

    Develop a kete that will provide improved knowledge, skills, understanding and effective practices to successfully engage Māori and Pasifika parents and wider whānau.

    Download: Full report (PDF 137 kB)

  69. Rayner, Rhonda-Maree

    Cargill Open Plan School

    How can schools best manage their ICT in relation to iPads, Chromebooks, Hapara and Google Apps – programme content and curriculum delivery, logistics and systems for managing programmes and devices.

    Download: Full report (PDF 93 kB)

  70. Richardson, Glen

    Waituna West School

    Initiatives to sustain and improve rural school rolls with an emphasis on community engagement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 609 kB)

  71. Richmond, Tracy

    Omakau School

    Investigate programmes to support oral language development for children starting school with oral language deficits.

    Download: Full report (PDF 236 kB)

  72. Ryan, Nicola

    Weston School

    Understand how our school can work effectively with families of priority learners – what procedures and systems do successful schools use to ensure respectful relationships that support the learning success of priority learners?

  73. Sandilands, Collette

    Grantlea Downs

    How can schools support and develop student wellbeing to optimise their success?

    Download: Full report (PDF 431 kB)

  74. Saunders, Vicki

    Te Kauwhata Primary School

    Investigate successful models of coaching and mentoring in primary schools and other learning environments; continued study towards Masters in Educational Leadership.

  75. Scouse, Sharron

    Mangatawhiri School

    Investigate innovative learning spaces, teacher pedagogy, and school management in relation to best practice examples of raising student achievement in a NZ and overseas context, then relate this to implementing change within our rural school context.

  76. Sedcole, Alexander

    Mangonui School

    To review and strengthen the Mangonui School curriculum.

  77. Shannahan, Louise

    Fairlie School

    Increase professional understanding of and capability in further leading collaborative teaching and learning in flexible teaching/learning environments; learn how schools have implemented flexible teaching/learning environments with limited physical changes being made.

  78. Simpson, Jacinta

    Hataitai School

    Investigate the learning needs of boys aged 5–6, with regard to the transition from early childhood providers to school; and how their readiness for school impacts on learning success during their first year and their achievement.

  79. Sincock, Brendon

    Carisbrook School

    Visit NZ schools that have developed MLEs and are using a collaborative approach effectively to enhance student achievement, with a particular focus on the achievement of Māori and Pasifika students.

  80. Smith, Angela

    Mauku School

    Develop a "writing together" resource to support the Reading Together Programme (developed by Jeanne Biddulph), which is widely used to help transition children into school and provide parents with knowledge of the reading process and their role to support this at home.

    Download: Full report (PDF 400 kB)

  81. Smith, Carolyn

    Pukenui School (Kaitaia)

    Investigate the place of year 7 and 8 students in the primary education system and what influences their parents/carers to make schooling choices for this group.

    Download: Full report (PDF 296 kB)

  82. Smith, Deborah

    Musselburgh School

    Investigate the impact that mental health and wellbeing has on engagement of and learning for traumatised and vulnerable students; explore effective strategies and techniques that will help these students to thrive, achieve, and belong.

    Download: Full report (PDF 326 kB)

  83. Stewart, Marama

    Waiouru School

    Visit schools and early childhood centres to look at effective transition strategies for four and five year olds; conduct research with local ECE around preparing both caregivers and children for school.

  84. Stockton, Matthew

    Whatawhata School

    Revisit Masters of Educational Leadership research (completed in 2009), which involved working with small rural schools to examine their contextual curriculum implementation, its opportunities, and its challenges.

    Download: Full report (PDF 226 kB)

  85. Sweeney, Gary

    Pukekohe Intermediate

    Visit schools and meet with SENCOs working at the senior end of primary and lower secondary schools; undertake a study based on the work undertaken by these SENCOs.

  86. Tait-Jamieson, Mary

    Tauranga Waldorf School

    Investigate post-heroic, social justice leadership practices and their application in supporting positive community school partnerships.

    Download: Full report (PDF 454 kB)

  87. Towersey, Neil

    Te Puna School

    Research elements of best practice in dual medium governance, leadership, curriculum design and delivery; develop a programme of self-review and strategic planning to bring about necessary changes or improvements at Te Puna.

    Download: Full report (PDF 42 kB)

  88. Tyson, Ross

    Cambridge Middle School

    How are successful schools using data to formulate OTJs and how are they moderating? Is moderating being carried out collaboratively across school communities or just within schools?

    Download: Full report (PDF 336 kB)

  89. Vidulich, Craig

    Te Horo School (Otaki)

    Investigate and learn from schools/classes/parents/businesses who teach growth mindset practices – can teaching growth mindset language and processes accelerate learning for children?

    Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)

  90. Waikato, Debbie

    Lincoln Heights School

    Investigate effective strategies for simplifying the work while meeting expected targets and/or rates of acceleration – undertake professional readings; visit schools within the Auckland area; administer a survey across Auckland primary schools.

    Download: Full report (PDF 469 kB)

  91. Ward, Lynley

    Makarora Primary School

    Explore and implement best practice for developing online collaborative learning opportunities for students in rural schools – study online and collaborative learning theory and practice; visit schools to view current good practice; set up online collaborative learning relationships and opportunities.

    Download: Full report (PDF 88 kB)

  92. Wilkinson, Sally

    Blomfield Special School and Resource CT

    Uncover common characteristics of effective leadership models in special education internationally and consider how these characteristics can be identified and strengthened within leadership in New Zealand.

    Download: Full report (PDF 560 kB)

  93. Windleborn, John

    Paparore School

    Investigate how to develop productive, positive home-school whānau partnerships that focus on learning, therefore improving outcomes for students – strengthen current school processes; gather information about best practice; engage in reflective models; interview key stakeholders.

  94. Wright, Brendan

    Hanmer Springs School

    Research strategies being used to create confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners – look specifically at self-regulated learning, how it is being implemented and its effect on student progress and achievement.

    Download: Full report (PDF 268 kB)

  95. Wright, Paul

    Clayton Park School

    Review research literature concerning the effectiveness of models of collaboration between schools and subsequent impact on learning outcomes.

    Download: Full report (PDF 1 MB)