Principals share best practice at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic hosted 100 principals and other educators from around the region last week as part of the Bay of Plenty Principals’ Association (BOPPA) 2014 conference forum.

The BOPPA conference, Building Teaching Capability, brought together secondary school principals, deputy principals and heads of departments aiming to increase educational achievement across the secondary sector.

Ray Scott, Principal Aquinas College, said the event was a great opportunity for principals and curriculum leaders to share best practice.

“Our overarching aim this year is to look at ways of building teacher capability and also to build our own leadership capability as principals,” said Ray.

“Our first day with just principals allowed us to look in detail at the ERO report on ‘Improving student achievement in secondary schools’. Kevin Shore from Whanganui’s Cullinane College also gave an excellent presentation around the work their community had done in this same regard.”

During the second day curriculum leaders from each of the schools joined the principals for a series of presentations and discussions around the use of ICT devices in school and developments in learning across the curriculum.

Dr Alan Hampton, Polytechnic Chief Executive, welcomed delegates before accompanying them on a tour of the Titanium Development Industries Association facilities, highlighting different areas of expertise on the campus.

BOPPA represents secondary principals throughout the Bay of Plenty region (Western and Eastern BOP, Rotorua, Taupo and secondary schools in the outlying areas of Tokoroa, Matamata, Putaruru and Coromandel).

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Waiariki Institute of Technology and BOPPA signed a joint partnership agreement in March 2013. This new partnership aims to ensure the successful transition of students from secondary to tertiary study and improve educational achievement in secondary schools across the Bay.