Leadership and Organisation

We have a clear and articulated vision for Middle Years’ students. We see a vision of Year 10 being a year where every student experiences success in the various aspects of their learning and development. We see our students actively involved in their journey towards reaching their full potential in their physical, mental, social- emotional and spiritual development. Our students are discipled in their personal relationship with God and challenged to be outward focused as servant leaders in their spheres of influence.

Ways that this vision will be achieved:

• Engaging, challenging, relevant and interesting learning design
• Including a variety of fun highlights through the year
• Using a developmentally responsible curriculum that aims to grow students holistically, for example, teaching socio-emotional skills and including fitness each week
• Collaborating with students, empowering them through an individualised learning program suited to their passions and interests
• LifeLab devotional sessions each week for encouraging personal connection with the Lord
• Mentoring programmes
• Community contexts to serve being engaged in throughout the year.

Our Middle Years leaders at KingsWay are committed to and knowledgeable of this age group, educational research, and best practices. We are committed to the growth and development of young adolescents in all areas of life and Christian spiritual formation. Our leaders constantly update their knowledge and understanding of research and best practices and have a thorough understanding of curriculum, teaching and assessment practices unique to this age group. We strive to educate colleagues and the KingsWay community about the Middle Year’s philosophy, relevant research, and proven approaches to build support for a long term, continuous school improvement.

Structurally the Junior Secondary falls into the Middle Years. However, a dedicated leadership structure exists to cater to this age group’s unique needs to prepare for the transition to Senior Years education.

Our Junior Secondary leaders are:

• Head of Junior Secondary- Vanessa Gatman
• Programme Dean- Boys
• Programme Dean- Girls
• Assistant Head of Middle School Wellbeing – Years 7-10.

In the Middle Years at Kingsway school, we seek to prioritize the academic growth and well-being of every student. We believe that having a team of teachers committed to the successful education of all students is imperative. This is done by ensuring that our structures, programs and practices are adapted to meet the changing needs of the students. Our diverse team of teachers work collaboratively to effectively cater for the academic growth and well-being of every student. We cultivate leadership qualities and skills in students by leading, educating and empowering them through school-based opportunities.

There is a strong focus on ongoing professional development that reflects best educational practices unique to emerging adolescents. Opportunities for our staff to grow in their understanding of teaching and engaging this age group include options at a local, national and international level. There is an expectation that new teachers in the Middle Years complete a reading programme in the first two years of employment.

Research shows that effective teams lead to improved student achievement, increased parental contacts, an enhanced school climate, and positive student attitudes. In the middle years at KingsWay, organisational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships. In the Junior Secondary, we group teachers into interdisciplinary teams of two teachers for Maths, English, Social Sciences and Science. Students are also assigned a homeroom teacher that is their first port of call and facilitates a sense of whānau or family.

Other beneficial structures include:

• The large blocks of class time allow for valuable learning experiences such as science experiments
• Timetabled academic tutoring, mentoring and spiritual formation
• Whānau groups creating a sense of smallness and enhance student-teacher relationships
• Our teachers collaborating to design and operate much of the programme across teaching specialties and sharing responsibility for literacy development, advocacy and student life.