Curriculum

PYP

Milford School is a candidate school for the PYP. We are pursuing authorisation as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy, a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education, that we believe is important for our students.

Programme of Inquiry

As a candidate school for the PYP, we have a programme of inquiry which shows the units covered during the year. You can view this here.

Student Achievement

Good quality systems for assessing and evaluating student achievement have been developed by the Principal in consultation with the Board and teachers. Senior leadership ensure that students are appropriately assessed against a selection of National Achievement Objectives.

NZ standardised tests, such as Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs) in listening skills, mathematics, reading and comprehension skills are administered for Year 3 – 6 children each year.

Senior leaders have developed an effective structure for providing a balanced curriculum and for ensuring that the curriculum is appropriately implemented. Detailed planning in year levels is a feature of the school. Learning objectives, consistent with the curriculum documents, are established each term by the teams.

Teachers demonstrate high levels of enthusiasm and professionalism and this is reflected in the excellent learning climate throughout the school. They provide highly effective frameworks of routines and expectations within which students have the freedom to work independently, develop their own initiative and take responsibility for their own learning. Teachers have a sound knowledge of individual learning needs and strengths and tailor their programmes accordingly. Students are secure, happy and work purposefully. Classroom environments are vibrant and stimulating. Teachers make good use of the available space to display a variety of student learning.

Assessment

The key purpose of ongoing assessment at Milford School is to improve students’ learning and teachers’ teaching as both respond to the information it provides. Through PYP, students are assessed (formally or informally) in learning, Learner Profile Attributes and the Approaches to Learning across the curriculum. Assessment is an integral part of knowing student needs in learning.  Assessment for learning is an ongoing process that arises out of the interaction between teaching and learning. Overall teacher judgements are made using assessment information. Our assessment Policy can be found here.

Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC)

Year 5 EOTC

Three days of activities, such as a surf day at Muriwai Beach, skiing at Snowplanet, and activities at the Millenium Institute are held in Term 1.  Later in the year, a 2-day overnight camp at MERC in Long Bay is held.

Year 6 Camp

This is a 4 night experience, usually held during Term 1 at Carey Park, Henderson Valley. Students leave school on a Monday morning and return on the Friday. Accomodation is in cabins at the park.

Waterwise

Waterwise is an aquatic programme based in our school grounds on Lake Pupuke. It aims to teach our Years 5 and 6 children water safety and water confidence through teaching them to sail and kayak. Waterwise operates every Monday afternoon for our year 5 and 6 classes in Terms 1, 2 and 4 (weather permitting) and is dependent on parent help.