ICT PD Auckland & Tauranga Schools Tour

1. ICT PD Auckland & Tauranga Schools Tour Tour Participant Report To Board & Staff

2. During June 2007, seven Cotswold School staff members Introduction joined staff from seven other schools from throughout the south island to visit five leading schools located in Auckland and Tauranga. The purpose of this presentation is to provide the Board and staff with feedback from participants as to how Cotswold School rates in relation to the schools visited and what strategic development opportunities we believe should be considered.

3. Schools Visited • We visited the following schools:

4. During our visit we had the opportunity to observe, reflect on and Tour Observations discuss the following: • How schools develop and maintain a school-wide culture • The importance of leadership • Teaching and learning practices that use ICT to enhance achievement for digital learners • Innovative learning programmes • Inquiry Learning • Measuring student achievement • School ICT systems and administrative practices

5. Common elements of most leading schools included: Common Elements • Shared vision, values and beliefs, integrated and progressvely built on from New Entrants to Y6 • Sound pedagogy underpins everything • Reflective thinking (quality) • Positive school culture • Well developed and organised environment

6. Ongoing professional development including professional readings High expectations of their younger students (ICT) The promotion and progressive development of self managed learners Community partnership/involvement with a specific request about how parents could contribute to the school. Common Elements

7. Ensure: Strategic Development Considerations • Reflective Thought and Action is a Key Ingredient in All Aspects and at All Levels of Our School. • Regular Professional Readings for All Staff are incorporated as part of a Targeted/Ongoing Professional Development. • The development of a Seamless Curriculum Plan incorporating Major Themes integrating the Essential Learning Areas, School Values and Key Competencies. • An Inquiry Learning process is developed and implemented across our school. • All Intelligences are Valued.

8. Consider: Strategic Development Considerations • Ratifying our Shared Vision which needs to be Owned & Promoted by All School Community Members • The constant promotion of “The Cotswold Way” – “At Cotswold we …. • Incorporating “COTSWOLD CONNECTED” • Kids Talk – develop a simplified Visual Version of Vision, Values And Beliefs • The term “Pride & Passion”

9. Consider: Strategic Development Considerations • Encouraging Pooling and making use of Teacher Skills/Expertise school-wide • Utilising Specialist Teachers • Developing “Cotswold Connected” Visual Reminders (tools, quotes). • Characterising the Cotswold Elephant??????

10. Consider: Strategic Development Considerations • Integrating Extension as part of Class Programmes including Choir, Sport, the Arts, Maori, ICT • Provide More Opportunities for Students to Share and Perform. • Provide More Leadership Opportunities for students at All Levels of our school – Students seen as Leaders in our School. • Students Applying for Extension/Specialist Programmes they want to be involved in by completing an Applications & CV.

11. Consider: Strategic Development Considerations • Incorporating WITS as a Behaviour Management Strategy – Walk Away, Ignore, Talk About It, Seek Help • Developing a Low Freqency Radio Station for our school.

12. Thank You • All tour participants thank the Board and staff for allowing them the opportunity to take part in this tour.