Evaluation Associates Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga

If your school or kura has not yet been able to access structured literacy approaches PLD, cohort nine may be a good opportunity to explore.

Applications are now open for Ministry-funded structured literacy approaches PLD. Schools and kura apply through the Ministry of Education first, then register with their chosen provider once approved.

Key dates to keep in mind:
• Ministry applications close 3 July 2026
• Outcomes are expected from 22 July 2026
• Provider registration closes 5 August 2026
• PLD runs from Term 3 2026 to Term 1 2027

For cohort nine, places will be prioritised for teachers and schools who have not yet had access to SLA PLD.

At Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga, our cohort nine options include:
• structured literacy approaches for Years 0–8
• Our online course for Years 7–8 teachers, called Te Manu Ārahi, is designed to support practical sharing across intermediate and secondary settings.

If you’re unsure which option best fits your school or kura, we’re happy to talk it through with you.

Explore the cohort nine course details on our website, or get in touch to discuss what could work best for your team: https://bit.ly/3Qw3GNn

Throughout this week, beginning principals from across Aotearoa came together in Auckland, Rotorua, Whanganui, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and online for regional wānanga.

Each day focused on turning national priorities into practical leadership action, connecting curriculum changes with local school contexts, and strengthening stakeholder engagement.

Thank you to all the beginning principals, facilitators, panellists and Ministry representatives who contributed to these rich conversations and helped strengthen leadership across our schools and kura.

Education is changing – and the future is full of opportunity.

Today concluded the SPANZ conference 2026. The day commenced with a keynote address from Honourable Minister Erica Stanford.

Minister Erica Stanford’s keynote address at SPANZ this morning highlighted a strong vision for a strengthened, more aligned education system, with opportunities for deep learning, and multiple pathways in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Key priorities included:
📌 A knowledge-rich curriculum with aligned learning across the system, including stronger preparation for the transition into secondary learning and assessment
📌 High expectations for every learner, with targeted support to work towards more equitable outcomes
📌 Expanded vocational pathways and industry-led skills development, with true parity of esteem between vocational and academic learning
📌 Improved foundational skills and access to a broad range of subjects and opportunities

The direction is clear: creating an education system that supports successful transitions, values every learner, and equips young people with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the future.

🎉A big congratulations to Principal Sharon Moller from Hauraki Plains College for winning the Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga giveaway of up to $1,000 of targeted PLD.

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou SPANZ Executive, thank you for sharing this time with us – the opportunity to connect, support one another and learn together has been greatly appreciated. 🤝

Three days into SPANZ and one message continues to surface: secondary schools are navigating increasing complexity while working to ensure every young person experiences consistent, connected, high-quality learning.

🔸Clarity matters.
🔸Connection matters.
🔸Coherence matters.

This short video introduces our Secondary Learning Coherence Pathway Framework and the thinking behind it, partnering with schools long term to strengthen coherence across teaching, assessment, and learner pathways from Years 9–11. https://bit.ly/4f7oZii

Because every ākonga deserves to know where they are going.
And how to get there. 🌱

Raising achievement. Reducing disparity.🎯

We loved celebrating the launch of For the Love of Learning in Christchurch last week with Joan Dalton and so many passionate educators. ✨

It was a special afternoon for marking the release of Joan’s new book and sharing ideas about what really makes a difference for learning in our schools.

🌱A big theme that came through was this:
Strong learning cultures don’t happen by chance. They are built through shared understanding, strong relationships, and a commitment to learning across the whole learning community.

📖For those who couldn’t attend, you can find out more about the book and directly order from Joan’s website: https://bit.ly/4d6Ws9C, or you can order a copy through Learning Network NZ: https://bit.ly/4uDfsUv

Many people left the event thinking about what this could look like in their own context.

At Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga, our Leading Adult Learning Pathways support leaders to bring this thinking into practice. We work alongside staff at all levels to co-design and implement best fit professional learning. If you’re curious about what this could look like in your context, we’d love to kōrero. 🌟

🔗 Learn more about our Leading Adult Learning Pathways: https://bit.ly/42vaj4S

A special evening celebrating the launch of For the Love of Learning with Joan Dalton. ✨

Wonderful to see educators, leaders, colleagues, friends, and whānau coming together to honour Joan’s contribution to learning, leadership, and education in Aotearoa. ❤️

Thank you to everyone joining us tonight and helping mark this important milestone. 🎯

This week marks an exciting milestone for the Beginning Principal Programme (BPP).

Following our mentor onboarding last Friday, we welcomed over 120 beginning principals yesterday across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, alongside a further 125+ beginning principals taking part in virtual onboarding sessions running throughout the week.

It’s been incredible to see so many new school leaders coming together, both in person and online, sharing experiences, building relationships, and beginning their journey as part of this national programme.

We’re proud to be delivering BPP in partnership with Te Uru Amokura - Springboard Trust, combining our shared commitment to strengthening leadership across Aotearoa.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this happen, and most importantly, to our beginning principals and mentors. We’re excited to walk alongside you in your principalship journey.

Nau mai, haere mai.