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"MATAPU SCHOOL - NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH" 

I HEARD YOU MOVED THE MICROWAVE

Background

When this became a major talking point for our small rural community…alarm bells began to ring.  Things needed to change! 

But why change? 

The school was outwardly successful.  Although we had a competent staff and principal, an excellent E.R.O report under our belt, we realised as  a staff that “things weren’t gelling”. 

As a relatively new principal in the school, it became imperative that I had to analyse the school in depth.  The microwave comment served to crystallise my thinking.  It highlighted the resistance to change.  Matapu was like many small rural schools.  It was very traditional and conservative and there was a real desire in the community to maintain status quo.  The feeling was, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” 

So what was broke? 

We knew we had problems and we needed to clarify our beliefs as a staff.  At a teacher only day at which all staff, including ancillary staff attended, we had a real soul searching day.  During this process we realised that no one was taking responsibility for the direction of the school. 

We went on to identify the key problems: 

·         Fractionalised community;
·         Lack of respect;
·         No shared vision for the school;
·         A ready acceptance of the status quo;
·         A bottom heavy school academically; and
·         A perception from the community that teachers had a responsibility to deliver the curriculum in traditional ways. 

None of this had ever been questioned. 

This reflection led us to initiate a community meeting to share and discuss these findings with parents.  Our worst fears were realised when only the board attended a well publicised ‘whole day’ meeting.  This was a wake up call for the BOT, as well as the teachers. 

At this time, we were invited to attend the first Integrated Curriculum Contract where the Hopkins, Ainscow and West model of dynamic and improving schools was introduced. 

(With acknowledgement, Hopkins, D. Ainscow, M. and West, M., Four expressions of school culture)

 This model hit home like a bombshell!!

 For the first time we had a clear picture to show where our school stood and where we wanted to be, and Integration offered the pathway towards crystallising our ideals into reality. 

We left the seminar with renewed energy.

We decided to combine the implementation of curriculum integration in our school with the development of a collaborative vision for our school.  Integration would allow us to meet with parents and the community to share our ideas about learning and teaching, as well as accept feedback.

We hoped that if we could catch the children’s interest and imagination through integrated classroom programmes, then they would become the ambassadors for the new and interesting things happening in our school.

Integration Take Off – Our first leap into the unknown

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