What is the Koru Programme?
The Koru Programme is a student support, enrichment and extension programme for ākonga/students at Te Kura Tuarua O Ngāmotu.
Programme Outcomes:
Find, uncover and extend upon ākonga educational interests, skills, passions and dreams.
Provide opportunities for off site trips, courses, competitions, guest speakers and/or mentoring to enhance student engagement and learning.
Provide opportunities for students to be challenged, to engage in robust discussion or debate, use critical thinking and/or problem solving skills. Activities and tasks may not necessarily align with any particular assessment.
Track and monitor the progress of ākonga to help them achieve at their full potential.
Create individualised learning programmes for ākonga that will offer extension and enhancement.
Assist with course selection to ensure ākonga educational interests, skills, passions and dreams are catered for.
Koru Pouāwhina will liaise with teachers and the Koru co-ordinator to ensure that there is extension offered within and across learning programmes.
Koru Pouāwhina will liaise with parents and whānau to keep up to date communication and form a connective relationship. This includes monitoring the wellbeing of each student.
Programme Structure:
Koru Learning Advisory:
Ākonga who are a part of the Koru Programme will be placed in a ‘Koru’ Learning Advisory class. Learning Advisory is held twice a week for one hour; Mondays during period 5 and Fridays period 1. Koru Pouāwhina / Learning Advisory teachers will support ākonga in the Koru Programme by helping to create individualised learning programmes (if required), by tracking and monitoring progress and achievement (including ākonga well-being), providing information about events, competitions or trips; and by liaising with whānau, staff, and the koru co-ordinator.
At the junior level, Koru Pouāwhina / Learning Advisory teachers will also deliver a curriculum during Learning Advisory time that is designed to engage students in robust discussion, and encourage critical thinking skills. Activities and tasks provided do not necessarily align with any assessment, but rather is an opportunity to be challenged in a supportive and non-assessment driven environment, or to provide extra learning opportunities for the ‘love of learning’.
Note: Some students may be a part of the Koru Programme but could be placed in different Learning Advisory classes - for example senior Language Students.
Individualised Learning Programmes:
Those who are a part of the Koru Programme may have individualised learning programmes. This will look different for each student, but the following shows some examples of what this could look like:
Taking a course above one’s year level (for example, a Year 10 student taking a Year 11 / Level One course).
Taking classes that are tagged for Koru/academic students (following an academic timetable).
Being extended within a subject / department area - such as completing different assessments or programmes within a course/class in negotiation with that subject teacher. For example working towards scholarship in a subject area.
Wider Koru Programme Opportunities (not compulsory):
Those who are a part of the Koru Programme will be offered enrichment opportunities throughout the year which they may choose to participate in. Some of these opportunities will be organised by the school, others will need to be organised by parents if they wish for their child to participate. For example:
Offsite trips, events and courses.
Opportunities to listen to guest speakers.
Academic Competitions.
Networking with other like-minded students.
Completing special projects.
Specific details will be communicated to parents as and when opportunities arise.
Koru Programme Placement:
Year 9: Poutiaki/Dean and the enrolment team put the Year 9 Koru Class together using data/information & discussion from both contributing schools and whānau during the enrolment process.
Year 10-13: Koru class rolls over for these levels but students can be added or changes made by Poutiaki in consultation with staff, ākonga and whānau. Some students are included in the programme based on their academic performance but may not be in a specific Koru Learning Advisory class. For example - senior languages, sports or rainbow learning advisory classes.
Placement is holistic.
Data / Information that may be considered for placement in the Koru Programme: *
Students who are working above (or are capable of working above) their expected curriculum level for their age. EG: literacy & numeracy testing at primary/intermediate school.
Placement in a previous extension programme at intermediate / primary level.
Recommendations from contributing schools.
Assessment / Academic results (could be broad or within a subject area). For example, at the senior level, those tracking to get Merit or Excellence NCEA endorsements.
Students who show high motivation, effort and focus towards their learning / studies.
Students who show they are able to think critically.
Students who demonstrate a genuine love of learning and enjoy learning new skills that may not directly relate to assessment, or work completed in the classroom.
Students who want to get involved in wider learning opportunities; for example, completing more in-depth learning tasks in Learning Advisory, off-site trips, and listening to guest speakers.
Discussion with staff, ākonga and whānau.
*Guidelines only. Placement is holistic.
More Information:
For more detailed information about the Koru Programme please see the following link: Koru Programme: Handbook