The Centre for Teaching Excellence & Research (CTER) was established in 2018 with the express purpose of supporting excellence in teaching and learning. For our boys, quality education is dependent on quality teaching based on best practice. Just as we aim to enable each boy to be at his best, CTER works to enable each teacher to be at their best. Our CTER work takes several forms.锘�
Coaching and mentoring
Teachers at 国产午夜福鈥檚 College model lifelong learning through their professional growth cycle. All teachers at 国产午夜福鈥檚 College have a trained professional coach who supports an organic inquiry cycle. Together with their coach, teachers identify personal goals in order to extend their teaching craft (pedagogy). Their coaches support reflective practice through classroom observations, video analysis and individual coaching sessions.
Strategic curriculum development
Since its inception, CTER has been a driving force of ongoing curriculum review. The curriculum (the framework of what we teach) needs to be dynamic to best prepare our boys for life beyond school. The most tangible review outcome has been the three-year development of the 国产午夜福鈥檚 College Diploma, which will be introduced in 2022. CTER will be the mechanism for continual self-review of how we implement the curriculum in our classrooms.
Professional learning delivery
Each Thursday morning, teaching staff gather to focus on their professional development. 国产午夜福鈥檚 College鈥檚 commitment to staff development is underpinned by allocating this specific time and resource to teaching and learning. CTER plans and delivers a large number of these professional learning sessions. Using research, student voice and strategic priorities, the sessions focus on how we can work together to improve student experiences and outcomes.
Research
Pedagogy is always evolving and it is important that our staff base their practice on what educational research identifies as the most effective teaching methods. In order to help our staff keep abreast of the latest research, CTER works to synthesize academic findings into key points that enable teacher development. In addition, CTER is a resource for teachers to request research and information to explore individual professional goals. CTER plans to partner with academics in educational research to make new contributions to the field of academic research.
The people
Dr Graeme Swanson
Director of CTER (Fixed-term Secondment)
Dr Graeme Swanson
Director of CTER (Fixed-term Secondment)
Nikki Bleyendaal
Assistant Director of Drama, CTER Head of Teaching & Learning
Nikki Bleyendaal
Assistant Director of Drama, CTER Head of Teaching & Learning
Nikki has relished being part of the Drama Department in a variety of roles over the past 10 years, and now brings her skills and experiences to her latest role as the Assistant Director of Drama. Whether she is teaching in the classroom, coaching Theatresports, supervising the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival or directing the junior or senior productions, Nikki always revels in the joys and challenges provided by the dynamic and collaborative world of the performing arts.
In 2022, she directed the junior play, Rainbow鈥檚 Ending, and in 2023, co-directed Peter Pan for the senior production. She also works as a director at Original Scripts Theatre School and has both directed and performed with the Top Dog Theatre Company for more than a decade. She was last seen on the Isaac Theatre Royal stage as Bottom in A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream. Nikki鈥檚 other roles at 国产午夜福鈥檚 College include coaching as a Head of Teaching & Learning, and a mentor in Somes House.
Amanda Lester
Head of Department, CTER Head of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Lester
Head of Department, CTER Head of Teaching & Learning
Shannon Small
CTER Head of Teaching & Learning (Term 3 & 4)
Shannon Small
CTER Head of Teaching & Learning (Term 3 & 4)
Shannon Small first became involved in Theatresports as an Ashburton College student, travelling to 国产午夜福church for competitions. He was awarded a blue 鈥� the equivalent of a College Colour 鈥� for his contribution to Theatresports at secondary school. Shannon then completed a Theatre Studies degree at the University of Otago, including papers on improvisation. Next, he gained entry to the prestigious Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School to study for a degree in acting. Following his graduation, workshopping and devising plays became part of his professional life. A career change into teaching took Shannon in a different direction. In 2023, he returned to the sport by coaching the 国产午夜福鈥檚 College Theatresports teams, with the junior team winning that year.