In 2017 we completed the main elements of the Ministry of Education’s Christchurch Schools Rebuild (CSR) Programme. This building programme was a Government initiative managed by the Ministry of Education. Following the Canterbury earthquakes the educational landscape shifted and St Albans School was allocated $4.9m to retrofit and build learning spaces.
Why the Change? Most New Zealand schools were built in a time of ‘factory-style’ learning, where all students of the same age learned the same things, at the same time, by direct teacher instruction. We have now moved to a model of collaboration and co-teaching. Multiple layers of collaboration are now a component of our practice, including:
- 1: many
- 1 : home base
- 1 : group
- 1 : 1
- Co-operative groups
- Extension
Benefits of collaboration
- The power of two or three…
- Two heads are better than one
- More ideas
- Shared responsibility
- Building on teachers’ strengths
- Catering to wide range of needs
Outcomes for learners
- Improving hauora – wellbeing
- Better learning outcomes
- Challenge… mistakes… the power of ‘yet’
- Moving from teacher centred learning to learner driven, as required for learning in future educational settings
- Developing the skills required by ‘future employers’
HUBS AND HOME BASES
Students are in home bases with a home base teacher (this replicates the previous class teacher model). However, they will now also be a part of a hub of two or three other home bases. Our model acknowledges the importance of students and whānau having a strong relationship with one teacher in the shared space while developing meaningful connections with the other teachers.
All environments at St Albans School are collaborative, meaning there is a greater likelihood of teachers other than the home base teacher teaching your child, enabling us to use teachers’ strengths to get the best for all learners in a collaborative setting.
HUB COMPOSITION
| Hub | Year Group |
| Parerā | Year 0 |
| Pīwakawaka | Year 1 |
| Pūkeko | Year 2 |
| Kererū | Year 3/4 |
| Kāhu | Year 5/6 |
| Te Tikanga Rua Reo | Riroriro (Year 1/2), Kōtuku (Year 3/4), Pouākai (Year 5/6) |
At the end of the year we use an approach for our composite groups that see them working within the same home base and hub for two years, e.g., Year 3 students will stay with the same teacher and group in Year 4. Some exceptions will be made in consultation with whānau and staff, or if teachers leave or change levels.