At our kura we usually have 6 or 7 classes from Year 1 - 6 in operation with purposeful teaching within stimulating and engaging flexible learning spaces. We also like to ensure that class numbers are kept as small as possible and we consider the needs of all the children and how those can be best met when we are designing our classes.  Our kura operates like a whānau, where we see value in everyone learning from one another.

At the heart of effective teaching is teachers who are able to form strong relationships with their ākoka and that have very strong effective pedagogy.

Therefore we do find at Macandrew Bay School that having a teacher for more than a year is extremely beneficial as it means the teacher has more time to get to know each student personally, teachers gain a deeper grasp of the kids’ strengths and challenges. The teachers have more opportunities to tailor their instructional and emotional support to help all the students in the class reach their potential. 

We aim to provide a safe, inclusive and stimulating learning environment.  We believe in nurturing a sense of belonging and connection to our kura and our community. 

Collaborative teaching is 2 or more teachers working closely together to provide an effective teaching and learning programme. When teachers can work together, share the responsibility, share strengths and skills, and see one another in action, the learning is enhanced. We have this model currently in place for Year 3 and 4 and Year 5 and 6. Our Year 1 and 2 children will collaborate more next year with a cross over of year levels.

We believe that students having access to 2 or more teachers has many advantages;

• More frequent interactions with teachers

• Greater differentiation of the class programme to support all learners, because there are now 2 teachers rather than 1 teacher trying to cater for an enormous range of abilities 

• Increased collaboration between classmates and teachers

• More detailed analysis of each child's learning needs through the different perspectives of teachers

• Greater chance of each child forming a strong relationship with at least one of their teachers

• Access to a range of teachers strengths and passions, providing a richer, more broader curriculum

• Greater social development with more peers to interact and work with

As members of a community we live and work with a range of people. As members of our learning community, we look to mirroring the real world by expecting the children to learn in collaboration with a range of people. We are committed to providing learning opportunities within a multi-age setting, that develop the children’s capacity to effectively cooperate, collaborate and communicate in their world.  

The benefits of mixed-age learning are a testament to the power of diversity and collaboration in education. This approach not only enhances academic achievement but also equips students with vital life skills, empathy, and adaptability. 

In 2025 we will have 6 classes:

Senior School

Toroa- Year 5 and 6, Chris Ward/Judy Hawker

Kārearea- Year 5 and 6, Matt Direen

Kererū- Year 3 and 4, Shannon Te Huna

Tūī- Year 3 and 4, Jess McAuley

Junior School

Rātā- Year 1 and 2, Mel Gaul

Kōwhai- New entrant/Year 1, Beth Wells

Your child's class for 2025 has been shared with you on their school report. This was shared on Friday 6th December.