17 December 2004 Media Statement

Innovative programmes for at risk students

Education Minister Trevor Mallard today announced the six schools that will run trial innovative programmes in 2005 to improve educational outcomes for students at risk.

"Three Auckland schools - Waterview Primary, Avondale Primary and Rosebank Road Primary - along with Tauranga Boys High School, Manunui School in Taumarunui and Hurunui School in Kaikoura will receive funding," Trevor Mallard said.

The programmes will run at a cost of $341,075 in 2005 and will be funded through the Ministry of Education's Innovations Funding Pool.

The Innovations Pool provides funding for the trialling of new programmes to assist students at risk of achieving poor educational outcomes.

"The Labour-led government is committed to lifting education standards for all students and these programmes will help us achieve this by targeting students who are at risk.

"The results of the trials will contribute to the knowledge of the schools, and the Ministry of Education, on ways to assist students to improve their level of achievement. The programmes aim to address students' behaviour and attitudes, and develop skills which benefit the school community."

"Two further programmes, at Branston Intermediate in Christchurch, and Clendon Park School in Manurewa, have already been funded and will also continue to receive funding from this pool," Trevor Mallard said.

The fund became available in 1999 and since then has funded more than 40 programmes in schools throughout the country.

School/s approved for Funding Programme

Waterview Primary School,

Avondale Primary,

Rosebank Rd Primary.

- The project will operate across three primary schools. It involves providing twice-weekly drama therapy sessions to selected groups of students identified as at risk over four terms. A further intervention will be trialled involving a family therapist working with the families and students identified as at risk.

Tauranga Boys

- The project seeks to identify the varied behaviours of best classroom practice from teacher perspectives and the views of students representative of a particular community and targeting professional development to close the gap between student and teacher perceptions.

Manunui

- The programme is based upon the Nurture Group theory developed in the United Kingdom. This programme aims to help children who are out of the education system for various reasons to develop the skills required to move back into the classroom.

Hurunui

- The programme centres on teacher professional development and focuses on giving teachers opportunities. through weekly sessions and an introduction to key ideas on inclusive teaching practices.

Two programmes, which have been receiving Innovations funding for up to two years, have been recommended for further funding.

School Programme

Branston Intermediate

English Language Intensive Programme (ELIP) - specialised withdrawal programme designed to target year 7 and 8 non-English speaking children with an emphasis on educational language especially Maths and Science.

Clendon Park School

A mentoring programme working across 4 primary schools with 4 students from each school participating each term. The programme is designed to provide resiliency and life-skills development of year 5 -8 students who find it difficult to deal with adversity.

ENDS

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