New Zealand schools join international network of innovative schools

Schools across New Zealand gathered this week to discuss the challenges of 21st century education and attend the launch of iNet New Zealand, part of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust’s international arm, iNet.

iNet aims to create powerful and innovative networks of schools across the globe to share best and next practice and participate in the worldwide transformation of learning to ensure outstanding outcomes for all students. It currently links schools and other educational bodies in England, Australia, Chile, South Africa, China, Holland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Elizabeth Reid, Chief Executive of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, said:

‘The sharing of experiences and good practice has a positive impact on helping students realise their potential. By joining iNet, schools in New Zealand will receive a wide range of support and resources to help them share their innovative work with schools across the iNet network. It will also give them access to a wealth of knowledge and practice from around the world.’

Through online conferences, study tours, publications and local, regional and international events schools will be able to share and discuss ideas on a wide range of issues including curriculum, innovative teaching practices, school management and leadership. Students will also benefit from running educational projects with peers in other countries and through the international network of students which allows them to communicate directly with each other.

Associate professor Jan Robertson, Assistant Dean, International Development and
Director, Educational Leadership Centre at The University of Waikato said:

‘New Zealand is well-placed as a bicultural and multicultural laboratory for educational transformation due to its location, size, use of information communication technology and a strong national school system. Schools in New Zealand have been self-managing their entire budget, apart from teachers' salaries, since 1989, and all educational decisions are made at the school level, within the national framework. The more effective school leaders in New Zealand have utilised this autonomy and authority to become innovators and creative designers of the learning spaces for successful education.

‘Part of New Zealand's national culture is the importance of the ‘Big OE’ (overseas experience) and therefore internationalisation and transformation are high on many schools' priorities, as they seek to offer an education fitted for the future global world in which young people, tomorrow's leaders, will walk.’

The launch of iNet New Zealand will take place during a series of workshops, organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and the University of Waikato in New Zealand. Entitled ‘The challenges of 21st century schooling: Focus on the learner’ and drawing on international perspectives the workshops will demonstrate how personalising learning and the sharing of practices both nationally and internationally can ensure excellence in schools.

Professor David Hargreaves, Associate Director for Development and Research at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge, said:

‘Personalising learning is important if we are to truly transform education world wide. It is a global issue and one that school leaders around the world are discussing with a view to implementing. It will impact on schools in many ways by challenging existing structures and encouraging leaders to look for innovative ways to improve the teaching of all students. And it is through networks, such as iNet, that knowledge and experiences can be shared, developed and put in practice.’

Ends.

Notes to editors
1. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is the leading national body for secondary education in England, part funded by the DfES, delivering the Government's Specialist Schools and Academies programme. The Government's aim is that by 2010 all schools will be specialist or academies.
2. The Trust seeks to give more young people access to a good secondary education by building networks, sharing practice and supporting schools. The Trust's way of working is based on the principle 'by schools for schools'.
3. There are over 3,000 schools affiliated to the Trust including primary, secondary and special schools and Academies.
4. 80% of all secondary schools in England now have specialist status. The 2,502 specialist schools are maintained English secondary schools which teach the full national curriculum but give particular attention to their specialist subject, sometimes through an extended school day. All maintained secondary schools are eligible to bid for specialist status.
5. Specialist schools are nearly all comprehensive schools dedicated to accepting pupils with a wide range of ability. Schools specialise in teaching the arts, business & enterprise, engineering, the humanities, languages, mathematics & computing, music, science, sports, vocational subjects, and technology. There are also SEN trailblazer schools.
6. There are currently 27 academies open and the Government plans for 200 to be open or in the pipeline by 2010. Academies are all ability schools that aim to challenge the culture of educational underattainment and to deliver real improvements in standards. All Academies are located in areas of disadvantage. They either replace one or more existing schools facing challenging circumstances or are established where there is a need for additional school places.
7. Academies offer a broad and balanced curriculum to pupils of all abilities focusing especially on one or more subject areas. As the Academy becomes successfully established it will share its expertise and facilities with other schools and the wider community.
8. Further information on specialist schools and academies can be found at www.ssatrust.org.uk or www.dfes.gov.uk 
9. For further information please contact Michael Turner, Media Relations Manager, on 020 7802 2334 or michael.turner@ssatrust.org.uk