Media
Education
The way we teach the next generation will affect the future they create. Our work in education has covered many facets of New Zealand’s school experience, including school leadership, curriculum, access to schools, and partnership schools.
Most Recent Activity

Discussion Paper | The Case for Character Skills
By Kieran Madden
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Success early on in life is about…
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Discussion Paper | Catching the Tide
By Rowan Light
Young New Zealanders face compounding challenges in their transition to work in 2020. Young people globally are bearing the brunt…
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The early years consensus
By Kieran Madden
The first three years are critical for a child’s development and long-term success in life, but policy has unfortunately been…
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Beyond the “Growth Mindset” hype
By Kieran Madden
In just over a decade, “Growth Mindset” has graduated from an exciting theory to accepted wisdom in classrooms across the world. But when it comes to actually changing mindsets in the classroom, the hype is way ahead of the evidence.
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Vocational surgery required
By Kieran Madden
Our vocational educational system is on life support— haemorrhaging badly in desperate need of surgery. Four of New Zealand’s sixteen…
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Learning Support funding should bridge to work
By Danielle van Dalen
School can be difficult for everyone, but for students with disabilities the difficulties are generally heightened. The Prime Minister acknowledged…
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Excessive tertiary education sends the wrong signals
By Kieran Madden
The higher education system is a colossal waste of time and money—far more about signaling to future employers than gaining…
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Changing the way we educate
By Danielle van Dalen
Nelson Mandela is credited with saying: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” It…
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Our politicians must learn what actually makes a difference in education
By Danielle van Dalen
I can clearly remember my favourite teacher. He was a jovial and portly history teacher, who would get incredibly excited…
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Supporting the village raising our children
By Danielle van Dalen
An African proverb claims that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Labour’s School Leavers’ Toolkit Policy seems an…
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Death to deciles
By Kieran Madden
The Government is about to drive school deciles out of town. Good riddance. What will replace the much-maligned decile system?…
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The future is not (only) digital
By Kieran Madden
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution” is upon us—the exponential rise in technology that is set to disrupt every aspect of our…
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‘Cash for class’ a bankrupt idea
By Guest Author
According to PISA, 42% of New Zealand students are skipping school at least once every two weeks. Why are kids…
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“Beautiful as heaven, lonely as hell”
By Julian Wood
I have heard friends of mine visiting New Zealand describe it as “beautiful as heaven, and lonely as hell.” If…
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Sir John Graham Lecture 2016 | Achieving Change
Using evidence to empower educators and help students succeed Every parent, teacher, principal, policy expert, and education leader wants an…
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Free tertiary policy lacks precision
By Julian Wood
I never knew the “glory days” of tertiary education where everything was free. After high school I was ushered into…
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Social skills to pay the bills
By Kieran Madden
Modern workplaces are like preschool. Our schools and homes should be too. At preschool “children move from art projects to…
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Is education the great equaliser?
By Kieran Madden
Last week, New Zealand got a glowing report card from the OECD for our economic performance and the policies set…
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What’s happened to Finland’s schools?
By Jane Silloway Smith
Spend any time with an education reformer and you’re likely to hear something about Finland. This Scandinavian country of 5.5…
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Back to school
By Jane Silloway Smith
Uniforms are washed and ready to wear; iPads are fully charged; and backpacks are laden with fresh stationary supplies –…
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