to view the Charter - Kowhai Intermediate School

Goal 3 Literacy and maths: Kowhai teachers develop their ‘teaching as inquiry’ abilities with a view to employing the best strategies for high studentachievement (NAG1).TargetsLiteracy: By the end of 2012 60% of the Year 8 cohort are at or above the National Standard for writing.Mathematics: By the end of 2012 60% of the Year 8 cohort are at or above the National Standard for mathematicsDataTarget: Not met. Literacy (Writing): By the end of 2012 54% of the Year 8 cohort reached the National Standard for writing.Target: Not met. Mathematics: By the end of 2012 53% of the Year 8 cohort reached the National Standard for maths.CommentThe achievement levels in writing are not yet at an acceptable level. (Reading levels are at a very acceptable 88% of Year 8 students at or above theNational Standard).The achievement levels in mathematics are not yet at an acceptable level. We have identified that students have insufficient experience inmathematics strands other than numeracy.We were successful in joining a Learning and Change network. This is a trial professional learning strategy funded by the Ministry of Education and itinvolves 13 intermediate schools from across Auckland all focused on improving student achievement in writing. The low levels of students’ writingabilities are a shared concern. This has ‘teaching as inquiry’ at its core; which is, to use good quality information about student achievement in ordershape teaching practice and strategies. During the year a situational analysis was carried out to probe questions about the levels of motivation onthe part of teachers and students towards writing. This professional learning has included close working relationships with two other intermediateschools and termly interaction with another 4 to 6 schools. Teachers have included maths and/or English target groups as part of their appraisal.They have also discussed, moderated and strategized about ‘overall teacher judgements’ in relation to the National Standards in writing and maths.E-asttle reading and maths assessments have been implemented this year, to replace asttle v4. Teachers had additional numeracy professionaldevelopment, particularly in relation to teaching fractions, provided by an outside expert along with regular training and observations from our inschoolexperts.RecommendationThis goal should be retained. Writing should continue as the main focus for literacy professional learning. The Literacy Director and Principal havedeveloped a professional development action plan in conjunction with the Learning and Change Network that will guide developments in this area.This year, the lead teacher of mathematics is on study leave. A representative team of teachers, led by an effective maths teacher, will oversee themaths curriculum for 2013.32