Curriculum

Quality Teaching

Studies around the world agree that high quality teaching is the most important factor in raising student achievement.
At Motupipi we emphasise learning programmes which actively engage students, by encouraging participation and focussing on areas of their own interest. Our teachers make lessons fun and stimulating through varied teaching methods, and they are always open to taking advantage of the teachable moment.
The teachers keep up to date with information and ideas through a variety of professional development programmes, and we also employ two teacher aides so students can receive additional individual focus. We provide specialised reading programmes and extension programmes for children with special talents.

Focus on Literacy and Numeracy

In line with national guidelines, our learning priorities are literacy and numeracy, and we have produced excellent results in these areas.
We are careful to assess and track student achievement, through the use of national exemplars and standardised tests. These results direct future planning. We know how the children are doing, where they need to go next and how they compare to other students nationally.
This information is regularly reported in newsletters, reports and at parent-teacher interviews, and parents are welcome at any time to talk to a teacher about their child’s progress.

The Subjects

With a growing pod of laptops, students integrate information technology into all their curriculum areas, preparing presentations and using the computers as a research tool.
Maori is integrated across all curriculum areas and Social Studies units are taught in classes or as whole-school projects.

Science is particularly emphasised in Year 5 and 6 and we often have a whole school science focus.

Art projects run constantly in classrooms, as well as being integrated into all learning programmes.

Children learn how to play a range of musical instruments in class and singing is an every day activity. Our very popular school music and drama productions involve all the children and showcase their drama and dance, artistic and musical talents, as do our weekly assemblies. We also offer individual lessons in recorder and cornet, and provide the opportunity to learn guitar and piano.