Top Educators Recognised in Awards

Media release

24 June 2014

Top educators recognised in awards

Top educators recognised in awards

Innovative teaching practices will be on show when the winners of the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards are announced on Wednesday night, says Ministry of Education deputy secretary Graham Stoop.

“The judging panel was absolutely delighted with the creativity and new thinking going on in so many of our schools and early childhood centres,” says Dr Stoop, convenor of the judging panel for the awards.

“We can learn from all of our finalists, in the ways they harness they best in their students, in their teachers, and in their community. We found many fresh ideas. This is a chance for these schools and early childhood centres to be recognised for their excellent practice,” he says.

Winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony at a dinner at Te Papa on Wednesday night, hosted by the Prime Minister. Representatives from the finalist schools will attend. The awards, which are to be held yearly, will include four category winners, an Education Focus Prize, and a Supreme Award winner.

The finalists for the 2014 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards are:

Excellence in Engaging Atahāpara Award / Location / Level
·  Limehills - English Language Learning / Southland / Primary
·  Otumoetai Intermediate School / Tauranga / Primary
·  St Thomas of Canterbury College - Social Enterprise Hub / Christchurch / Secondary
·  Toybox on Rawhiti / Auckland / ECE
Excellence in Leading Atakura Award / Location / Level
·  Makoura College / Wairarapa / Secondary
·  Selwyn College Leadership / Auckland / Secondary
·  Shirley First Learners / Christchurch / ECE
Excellence in Teaching and Learning Atatū Award / Location / Level
·  Cashmere High School Mathematics & Statistics Faculty / Christchurch / Secondary
·  Daisies Early Education & Care Centre / Wellington / ECE
·  Kerikeri High School / Northland / Secondary
·  Otumoetai Intermediate School / Tauranga / Primary
Excellence in Governing Awatea Award / Location / Level
·  Nōku Te Ao / Christchurch / ECE
·  Otumoetai Intermediate School / Tauranga / Primary
Focus on Learner-led Pathways Takatū Prize / Location / Level
·  Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) Multiple Pathways Partnership Group / Auckland / Secondary-Tertiary
·  Tairāwhiti Schools Trade Academy at Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) / Hawkes Bay / Secondary-Tertiary
·  Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSTA) / Nelson / Secondary-Tertiary

Editor's notes:

·  The five categories for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards can be found on the PM Awards website here: http://www.pmawards.education.govt.nz/#award-categories

·  Information on the judging process can be found here: http://www.pmawards.education.govt.nz/#about

·  The list of the Expert panel members can be found here: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm%E2%80%99s-education-excellence-awards-panel-announced

·  Media are welcome to attend the awards ceremony, which begins at 6.45pm. The winners will be announced between 7pm and 8pm by the Prime Minister.