Values-based kura points students in the right direction

Nga Taiatea Wharekura, a purpose-built secondary school for kaupapa Māori students in Hamilton has a clear strategy to focus on students' achievement.

The ideal Nga Taiatea Wharekura graduate (as agreed by students, staff, parents and the wider whanau):

• practices the core values of mana tangata (integrity), whanaungatanga (relationships), kawenga (responsibility) and aroha (love/ respect)

• has very strong reo and tikanga

• has achieved his/her full potential in academic achievement

• has a strong work ethic

• is caring and confident

• The major focus for the wharekura has shifted from the curriculum first, to the heart of students.

"When we first started we focussed on the curriculum, but there was something more fundamental that was missing. Therefore, in our second year we shifted our focus to the use of core values," says principal, Watson Ohia.

"If our students have these values, then they will do their homework, remember to bring their gear, treat others with respect, and have a positive attitude," Mr Ohia says.

The school opened in 2004 to offer secondary schooling to kura kaupapa pupils from around the Waikato. It has 140 students from years 9-13. All subjects are taught in te reo Māori except for English and the bi-lingual business enterprise studies programme.

Karepe Edwards is giving her best effort for her school

The school has a strong commitment to academic achievement and encouraging pupils to aim high through the development of Individual Education Guidance Plans (IEGPs). IEGPs are developed by each student with his/her parents and kaiarahi (student's key mentor/ teacher). IEGPs cater to each student's needs, interests and passions.

Mr Ohia says that all students can achieve through NCEA. However, the school's structures, processes and curriculum need to be focused on ‘enabling' students to succeed rather than ‘disabling' them. Another very important factor is that staff, students and whanau need to genuinely believe that all students ‘want' to achieve and ‘can' achieve.

The NCEA results for this decile-1 wharekura are a reflection of this focus. By the end of 2006, 91% of Year 11 students achieved NCEA level 1 and 100% of Year 12 students achieved NCEA level 2.

Nga Taiatea student Apanui Skipper studies hard. E puta ki Taiatea

Many Nga Taiatea students achieve higher levels than their year cohorts. Numeracy and literacy (in English and Māori) are expected.

Other popular subjects include Performing Arts, Science, Business Enterprise and Tu Taua (Māori martial arts).

Mr Ohia says the Qualifications Framework enables the wharekura to offer a range of programmes that appeal to the minds and hearts of students. The flexibility of the framework enables the wharekura to develop flexible structures and processes for each student.

Year 12 and 13 students spend each Friday doing tertiary programmes with various organisations, including fashion design, philosophy, multi-media, engineering and law. "We want students to leave school with some experience of the outside world and an understanding of the possibilities that are out there, and where they're going," Mr Ohia says.