Teaching and Learning at Royal Oak Intermediate School in 2023
Tēnā koutou katoa
At Royal Oak Intermediate we are continuously striving to improve academic outcomes for our ākonga / students and to prepare them in the best way possible for their next steps at secondary school. We aim to do this by providing quality teaching and a wide variety of learning opportunities, as well as taking a holistic view which includes cultural and wellbeing needs.
Currently ākonga move around ‘spec’ subjects, Art, Music, Design Technology and Biofood Technology. In 2021 we appointed a specialist Science teacher and students began moving out of their home class for Science lessons. This has proven successful in terms of more consistent coverage of the Science curriculum content, improved student achievement and has had very positive feedback from both students and the staff involved.
Last year the school’s senior leadership team began investigating the potential advantages of further teaching specialisation. This mahi has consisted of
- Researching best practice in intermediate and middle schools in Auckland and
further afield both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas - Talking to other intermediate schools about how they deliver curriculum and what has
worked best for them - Working with our School Board, both in their role as governors and strategic leaders
of the school, but also as parents and caregivers of our tamariki
As a result of this work, we will be moving in 2023 to a teaching and learning model which incorporates increased specialist curriculum teaching, while still maintaining a home classroom for students which they will be in at least twice every day. Through this model curriculum is taught by teachers who are expert in and passionate about their subject, with an increased ability to differentiate teaching and learning for students working at different levels of the curriculum.
We are acutely aware of the importance of relationships and careful attention is being given to how we maintain all of the positive and rich aspects of intermediate schooling. All ākonga will still spend a considerable period of time throughout the school week in their home classroom, having opportunities to be involved in all of the extra things like inquiry learning that make intermediate school a fun, productive learning environment. This teacher will have oversight of their students’ learning and wellbeing, will maintain connections with whānau and carry out the administrative tasks associated with school, much as they do now.
School wide, we will continue to run extras like the electives programme, performance groups, whole school Rec-Sport, our inter-house competitions, camp and other Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) opportunities. Our special character classes such as our Akomanga Māori and sports class will also continue to run, and we are working on ways to support their kaupapa in this teaching and learning model.
While we have decided to proceed with increased teaching specialisation, we are still working on the details of how this will operate in practice, and we welcome your feedback and ideas. If you would like to comment or have any questions please email admin@royaloakint.school.nz with 2023 Curriculum in the subject line. As we make progress with our planning we will share further updates.
Ngā mihi nui
The Board and Senior Leadership
Royal Oak Intermediate School