Our Key Approaches
We integrate cutting-edge educational research and best practices into our school's learning value-driven model, ensuring our teaching methods are both innovative and effective. Our commitment to adapting and refining our approach supports a diverse and expanding learning community, ensuring consistency across our curriculum. Stay tuned to this page as we continually evolve, reflecting our dedication to innovation and critical reflection in education.
01
HPP Educative Purpose
Principal, Daniel Birch shares the thinking behind our school approaches and touches on some of the research, vision, and values that drive decision-making at HPPS.
02
Beyond Traditional School Reports
Deputy Principal, Lisa discusses the benefits of real-time reporting and some of the ways information is shared regarding personal and academic progress at HPP.
03
Conceptual Curriculum
In an ever-changing world, our school embraces a conceptual curriculum that transcends traditional rote learning, fostering deep understanding and critical thinking. By centering education around core concepts and real-world applications, we empower our students to connect ideas across disciplines, preparing them for the complex problems of tomorrow. This approach nurtures curiosity, encouraging learners to explore, question, and engage with material in a meaningful way. Unlike traditional methods that prioritise memorisation, our curriculum equips students with the ability to adapt, innovate, and apply their knowledge in diverse situations. We are committed to shaping adaptable, lifelong learners who are ready to meet the challenges of the future with confidence and creativity.
04
Strong Foundations
At our school, we prioritise a strong foundation in the fundamentals—reading, writing, and maths—employing evidence-based teaching strategies to ensure mastery in these critical areas. Our approach integrates these essential skills within a broader conceptual framework, enabling students to not only excel in the basics but also to connect their learning to the wider world. This balanced methodology fosters a deep and lasting understanding, preparing our students for academic success and real-world challenges. We are committed to a well-rounded education that empowers learners with the fundamental tools they need, while encouraging innovation, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.
05
Mana Tamaiti - Personal Growth
At HPPS, guided by the Māori proverb "Whāia te iti Kahurangi - Reach for the Sky," we see the unique potential in every child. We are committed to nurturing self-awareness and responsibility in our tamariki, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills for their future journeys.
Our curriculum emphasises the continuous growth of our children's abilities and qualities, or dispositions, akin to tools in a toolbox, adaptable to various situations. Envisioning each child's qualities as distinctive feathers in a Kahu (cloak) our shared language and five key dispositions envelop our students, empowering them to soar confidently into their futures.
06
Project Based Learning
Since HPP opened in 2012, our learning model has been based on real-world experiences, tackling real-life issues, and asking open-ended questions. We are known for our children being highly engaged in learning through their passions and interests through purposeful projects that connect the curriuclum.
Project-based learning is a teaching approach in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period to investigate and respond to engaging and complex questions, problems, or challenges.
As defined by the Buck Institute for Education
For example, students might embark on a project to design a sustainable community garden. This project integrates science, by exploring plant biology and ecosystems; math, through budgeting and planning garden layouts; and social studies, by considering the garden's impact on the community. Through such projects, students apply their learning in meaningful ways, reflecting their interests and the real-world application of their knowledge.
Due to the emphasis on student voice and undertaking projects that are authentic and meaningful to learners, PBL allows teachers to "be responsive to the needs, identities, languages, cultures, interests, strengths, and aspirations of learners and their families." Ministry of Education, (2019)
