We were really lucky to have Professor David Mitchell visit our school and talk with our staff about what makes a good teacher.

Former Westland High School (Hokitika District High School as it was known then) student, Professor David Mitchell visited our school on Wednesday. 

Professor Mitchell has a very successful career in Education with specialisation in special needs and differentiated learning. 

He met with staff after school and gave a very compelling and insightful presentation on what makes a good teacher as supported by evidence, research and observation. 

On looking around the school he was impressed by the learning hubs in A Wing and remarked that when he first started it was in the Victorian style classrooms and that new buildings were built while he was at school and now form the old part of our school. 

As a school, we were very lucky to have Professor Mitchell visit through his connection with our Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO), Dr Mukti Thapaliya. Professor Mitchell very generously donated a copy of his latest book What Really Works in Special and Inclusive Education: Using Evidence-based Teaching Strategies, (2020) to the school.