Visitors

Many visitors from around the country and across the globe again had the opportunity for professional learning and development through visiting Pt England School in 2019.

Most weeks, and sometimes twice a week, visitors have been hosted by the Year 6 Ambassadors and members of the senior management team. In general they have come because they recognise the staff and leadership of PES as being at the forefront of future focused learning in New Zealand. We have successfully supported our colleagues with a high quality professional learning experience.

Many of the visitors were leaders and teachers in schools or part of the education sector. Other visitors were corporate and philanthropic people who came in recognition of our leading role in the Manaiakalani Programme and wanted to experience a successful Manaiakalani School in action. This meant that Pt England School and the Pt England Year 6 ambassadors have helped other clusters and Trusts around the country access resources this year.

A typical visit involved hearing from the Year 6 Ambassadors for half an hour, which gave a student perspective of learning at Pt England. This was followed by a presentation and discussion led by a member of the senior management team which gave background to our pedagogy and direction within Manaiakalani. Finally visitors were shown around classrooms to watch and interact with students learning.

Visitors use an online booking form and channelled all requests to visit through this formal booking process. This was efficiently managed by Donna MacMillan and required several hours each week for her to respond to queries and communicate with visitors prior to each session, during and after. Groups varied in size from 3 to 40.

Once again a group of Year 6 Ambassadors (see below) represented Pt England School with flair, dignity and consummate skill as they spoke for half an hour at the beginning of each session about how they Learn, Create and Share.

These children were also invited as 'guest lecturers' to the University of Auckland as well as travelling out to MIT in Manukau to speak to groups of training teachers. It is wonderful to see their confidence grow over the year as they interact with adults who are in awe of their oracy and digital skills.

Booking Sheet

Requests to visit came through a Google Form.