I was privileged enough this week to spend a day shadowing Ngaire Harris, Principal of Hauraki Plains College. I was able to attend a full school assembly, in which they sang their school song with pride, but the best part of the day was being able to pick the brains of a Principal whom I have read so much about, and who has been leading the way for years with diverse, flexible and authentic curriculum practices.
A few years ago Ngaire asked her staff to show her the Pathway that a student, who wanted to be an Electrician, could take at HPC. There was none. So she set about leading the school on a journey towards providing Pathways for ALL students.
Changing the Senior lines from 4 hours to 3 hours, and creating 2 extra subject lines, was a big step at the time - one in which many schools would be too scared to do - for fair of jeopardising their academic subjects.
However, HPC has been able to provide Pathways for ALL types of students, so much so that over half of their roll is out-of-zone - which speaks volumes for the work that is happening there.
I love going to innovative schools, who have the mindset that even leaving one student behind is not good enough. Their motto 'Excellence is our tradition' encompasses the standard that they set their students. When you read about student accomplishments, plastered all over the walls, you soon realise that 'excellence' comes in many forms - and they are proud of it!From a student who may graduate to study Medicine, to a student who can build a house before they have left school (which is then sold off), to a student who excels on the sporting field - HPC is working hard to cater to all. The picture below, found on Ngaire's office wall, really encapsulates the school culture.
Let's hope that more schools see the relevance of providing such flexible, authentic experiences for students, that break away from the traditional, or antiquated.
