Kia ora whānau

Over this term we have sought feedback about the following from our community (57 respondents), our staff (all staff) and our students (group of 60, Year 7 and Year 8 students).

1. What are some of the things Heaton is doing really well?

2. What are the best things about learning and teaching at Heaton?

3. What are the most important features of internal and external spaces you would love to see at Heaton?

4. What are the ways you would like us to communicate with you about your child’s learning? (This question was adapted for staff and students’ feedback)

5. What are some things that Heaton could focus on improving or change?

6. What questions do you have as we move forward into the education design process?

Consistent themes coming through are:

• Wonderful, kind, caring and approachable staff who support each other and our students

(overwhelmingly number one with the community, students and staff)

• Wide range of different learning opportunities compared with primary school, in particular specialist teaching subjects, sport and performing arts

• Communication between home and school is generally regarded as very good, in particular teachers quickly contacting parents but could be improved with more regular/timely information about students’ learning and ways for parents to be more actively involved in the school

• Tired and poorly heated/ventilated buildings, poor sound proofing

• Poor state of the drainage in the main field especially after a lot of rain where it becomes unusable for months and a need for more shaded spaces

• A new hall

• A desire for flexible breakout learning spaces but not large modern learning environment type spaces. (The Learning Resource Centre is the most popular learning space for students)

• The house system, especially teachers and students all working together for two years

• Time for the school uniform to be reviewed

• Continue to make it clear that only respectful behaviour is acceptable at our school

• Wide range of extension/enrichment opportunities available for all students

• Students expressed concern about homework especially as most of them have lots of activities to go to after school

• Students expressed the desire for more choice in their learning

Questions as we move forward into the Education Design process

• Concern about whether Heaton will have large modern learning environment type spaces as most have a preference for our mainly single cell class spaces

(overwhelmingly number one with the community)

• How much say do the Ministry of Education have in the redesign/upgrading of the school?

• What is the time frame/level of disruption for the upgrading?

• How was the $6.6 million that has been allocated to the school been determined?

• Want to be kept informed about progress as well as opportunities for feedback

Many thanks to everyone who contributed feedback. It has been much appreciated and there will be more opportunities for this.

Nga mihi

Andrea Knight