Collective Matters #9
Kia ora,
On Monday 28 April, I chaired a webinar on behalf of AEC entitled ‘Building on our strengths’. The webinar featured Professor Stuart McNaughton, and centred around the content of his recent book: ‘Building on our strengths: improving education in Aotearoa New Zealand’ (published in 2024 by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research). Professor McNaughton is imminently qualified to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of education in Aotearoa from a perspective informed by robust evidence. He is a Professor of Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau | the University of Auckland, and from 2014 to 2024, held the position of New Zealand’s Chief Education Scientific Advisor.
Professor McNaughton began by explaining his rationale for writing the book – that improvements to educational systems need to start with, rather than undermine or ignore, what we are already doing well. He explained that in researching evidence for the book he took a “high level” focus on the public system, drawing on two broad types of evidence: (1) evidence of the “widespread (if variable) presence” of a phenomenon, and (2) empirical evidence of “important positive effects on valued outcomes”.
At the same time, Professor McNaughton noted some “chronic pressing weaknesses” in our education system, including inequitable outcomes, variability across the system, and a declining focus on social and emotional skills. Professor McNaughton identified the undermining of teacher agency as an “acute risk” to our education system, and noted that there are “limits to what a system alone can do”.
With the above caveats in mind, Professor McNaughton identified five “tentative” strengths of the Aotearoa education system. These included:
Child-centeredness – learning from (some) children,
Being very local,
Trying to be bicultural,
Having partnerships, and
Creativity and innovation.
For each strength, Prof McNaughton cited examples of widespread (if variable) presence, and positive effects demonstrated through empirical evidence. For each, he also identified counter-arguments or perspectives.
Professor McNaughton then presented five implications for the education system, based on his analysis of our system’s existing strengths:
The need to raise the status of teaching,
The need for a rapid expansion of a Māori medium and Māori teacher workforce, and a parallel expansion of a Pasifika teaching workforce,
Increased clarity and detail on how to design a local curriculum, including a high-level focus on critical literacy skills (the skills to identify dis- and misinformation in relation to our local context),
The need to be more, not less, ‘child centred’, with more children, and
Better designed partnerships and collaboration.
Professor McNaughton’s presentation provided an excellent model of how to use quality scientific and social scientific evidence robustly and with care as a basis for system-level thinking. Thank you to Professor McNaughton for sharing his work with us in this way.
Professor Vivienne Anderson (University of Otago College of Education)
Panel - Why standardised assessment doesn’t measure up?
Looking ahead into mid May we are pleased to be able to host Dr Marta Estellés, Dr Jade Wrathall, and Lynda Stuart who are discussing the Ministry of Educations tender to purchase a standardised assessment tool. They will be sharing what we know so far and reflecting on what was learned from National Standards. If you are wanting a ticket they are free from aec.org.nz
Event - UpliftEd Conference 2025 - Empowering Educators | Strengthening the Profession | Shaping the Future
30-31 October 2025 - Massey University, Wellington.
The UpliftEd Conference is an energising and thought-provoking event designed for educators who are passionate about their profession and the future of education in Aotearoa. Hosted by the Aotearoa Educators' Collective, this conference brings together leading thinkers, researchers, and practitioners to explore what it truly means to uplift and empower teachers.
Expect inspiring keynotes, engaging panel discussions, and opportunities to connect with fellow educators who share your vision for the future of teaching and learning.
We have Professor Guy Claxton alongside Professor Peter O’Connor, Professor Russell Bishop, Dr Simon McCallum, Dr Hana O'Regan, Dr. Julia Atkin, Janelle Riki-Waaka , Dr. Michael Johnston
Tickets are $495. Register now, as seats are limited!
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Substack Summary
29 April - Building on our Strengths with Professor Stuart McNaughton - Full article
27 April - Is it Time for an EdRising? - Full article
25 April - Panel - Why standardised assessment doesn't measure up? - Full article
10 April - Kia Mahi Kotahi: A Principal's response - Full article