New Zealand Schools
Partner Schools Connect
As part of ongoing Professional Learning, the i See Learning project facilitator engaged with a fortnightly networking opportunity with Deputy Principals from Hero schools in New Zealand, hosted by Glenys Williams from the Heo team. This opportunity allowed us to learn specific features of the Hero software and gain a deeper understanding of implementing the software into schools. This group included:
Barbara Taylor from Mount Maunganui Primary School in Tauranga
Chris Panther from Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington School in Christchurch
Karla Hull from Te Puru School in Thames
Lisa Squire from Hobsonville Point Primary School in Auckland
The Gardens School
The Gardens School in Auckland was pivotal in starting our journey with Hero as they initially showcased the software to NSW DoE staff during school tours with Social Ventures Australia. Kate Gifford, the Deputy Principal, engaged with our Community of Schools with a panel of school leaders at our strategic planning days. She has developed clarity around whole school expectations for the use of the software and empowered her stage leaders to tailor these expectations to the needs of their students and staff. Kate shared her keys to success with us:
Organic PL for teachers based on their needs
Develop manageable minimum & maximum expectations
Unpack your expectations
Start small
Point Chevalier School
Stephen Lethbridge, the principal at Point Chevalier School in Auckland, was part of the panel of school leaders that inspired our school leaders at our Strategic Planning Days. He is driven by challenging the status quo to create experiences that give students a voice in their learning and reporting. Stephen shared his keys to success with us:
Explore change management research
Slow is better
Prepare for the emotional impact of change
Collaborative vision creation
Orminston Junior College
Vivienne Mallabar is the associate leader of learning at Ormiston Junior College in Auckland, which is a Year 7 to 10 school. She was part of the panel of school leaders that inspired our school leaders at our strategic planning days. Vivienne has developed a school culture where learners are at the centre and students are empowered to use their voice and agency to drive their learning and facilitate real-time reporting. Ormiston Junior College has also done significant work with digital badging. She also shared her keys to success:
Create digital badges that are transferable across Key Learning Areas
Engage students in pitching for badges with evidence
Empower students to drive their learning
Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington School
As part of the Professional Learning for trial teachers, the i See Learning project facilitator hosted Q and A sessions with teachers and leaders from New Zealand schools. Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington School was the first of these. At this school, representatives of their Hero Change Team run lead the use of Hero in their stage teams and are beginning to involve students in this process. Jessie, Aimie and Sophie shared the following impacts of using Hero:
Greater visibility for leaders, teachers, students & parents
Built consistency of language, goals & expectations
Parents have a greater awareness of their child's achievement & needs
Parents feel part of the learning process
St Theresa's School Karori
Representatives from St Theresa's School Karori in Wellington also engaged in the Q and A session for Professional Learning. Rebecca and Jane shared how they utilise Hero in an open classroom and differentiate their teaching and expectations based on levels of student achievement and agency. They also shared the following impacts of using Hero:
Accessibility to all student information
Comprehensive achievement information
Visible growth data over time
Information directly to parents as live reports
Deputy Principal Panel
To learn more about the use of Hero from a leadership perspective, we conducted a Q and A session with three inspirational leaders. They delved into their roll out of the pedagogy and system change required for their school community to engage with the software. These leaders also unpacked how Hero has enhanced their data conversations and reflective practices across their school:
Barbara Taylor from Mount Maunganui Primary School in Tauranga
Chris Panther from Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington School in Christchurch
Shanthan Naidu from Cornwall Park District School in Auckland
The finished the session by sharing their advice to the trial schools:
Make sure everything that goes in there is the best it can be.
Change with people, not to people. Build effective partnerships.
Have your why out there & visible so you are moving in the same direction.
Paekakariki School: Home of the Barefoot Learners
Julia Beven, the principal at Paekakariki School, generously engaged in a Zoom Q and A about how they collaboratively created 'Barefoot Learner Progressions' with the whole school community. She also shared how these learner dispositions are used across the school. Julia outlines the keys to her success:
Community consultation led by community members
Use learner dispositions as expectations for all (students and staff)
After creating dispositions, trial with a paper-based version to get feedback
Keep language consistent and connected