Amongst many exciting things "world-famous in NZ" are St Margaret's Senior Tutor groups. I met up with one on Tuesday of last week so that they could tell me about what was wonderful about school and the kinds of challenges they face as they learn their way to an NCEA or IB qualification.

We began by sharing favourite subjects and then the things about those that made them so rewarding. They valued small class sizes and the level of 1:1 assistance that this enables. Teachers who were careful to ensure that no one got left behind by checking understanding before moving on to the next piece of learning were rated highly, and they enjoyed those teachers with a sense of humour because it helped make the learning fun. 

Some enjoyed mathematics because processes were formulaic and outcomes clear, while the performing and visual arts were embraced for the opportunity to be creative and showcase talents to friends, family and the public.
Some had their curiosity satisfied by the Sciences and others by the Social Sciences and Humanities. Immersing yourself in French had the advantage of opening the door to access qualifications that run parallel to the school system. Others enjoyed the collaborative approach to learning that happens in subjects such as Business Studies. Study periods ranked highly, as they provided an opportunity to collect thoughts, catchup when behind, or simply relax in an otherwise hectic day.

The conversation turned to challenges. Chief among these was the way some internal assessments seem to gather themselves up at certain points during the year and the need to effectively manage time so that these can be completed well and on time. Sport, which has very high participation rates, provides the opportunity to re-create, develop friendships, learn new skills and further challenge yourself.