Writing Challenge

Writing Achievement

Our Challenge

Our writing data informs us that 83% of girls are currently at or above the expected standard compared with 67% of boys. Similarly only 71% of Māori students and 73% of Pasifika students meet or exceed expectations. By focussing on accelerating the achievement of those students not meeting National Standards in writing and the Better Public Service goal of NCEA Level 2, we will enhance the achievements of all students.

Writing: National Standards	We aim to have at least 85% of all learners at or above National Standards in writing by 2018. We intend to move at least 332 students currently below expected levels to be at or above National Standards in writing by the end of 2018. We intend to move at least 96 Māori students and 13 Pasifika students who are currently below expected levels to be at or above the expected levels by the end of 2018. We recognise that our biggest challenge is with boys’ writing and we intend to move at least 201 boys who are currently below National Standards in writing to at or above National Standards by 2018.
	At or Above the National Standard
	Māori		Pasifika		Female		Male		All
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Actual 2015	577	71	82	73	1193	83	1039	67	2232	74
2017 Target	617	76	89	79	1222	85	1132	73	2413	80
2018 Target	673	83	96	85	1324	92	1240	80	2564	85

Writing: NCEA Level 2	We aim to have at least 85% of all learners achieving NCEA Level 2 before they leave school at the end of 2018 This amounts to 19 more students leaving school achieving NCEA Level 2 in 2018 than in 2015. This amounts to 19 students, four of whom are Māori students and 3 Pasifika students. We recognise that our target group needs to be boys as in 2015 their achievement in NCEA Level 2 was 4% behind the girls. Interestingly Māori males are actually improving the male profile with 80% of Māori males achieving NCEA Level 2 before they left school in 2015 compared to 75% of all males. We intend that 11 more males will achieve NCEA Level 2 before they leave school in 2018 than did so in 2015.
	Māori		Pasifika		Female		Male		All
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Actual 2013	29	51	6	67	102	76	66	56	168	67
Actual 2014	46	75	4	73	103	87	87	68	190	77
Actual 2015	49	79	12	63	104	79	83	75	187	77
2016 Target	50	81	14	73	109	83	87	79	196	81
2017 Target	51	83	15	79	109	83	91	83	200	83
2018 Target	53	85	16	85	111	85	94	85	206	85

Rationale for Writing

Target 2: Writing

Writing is a skill required to achieve across all aspects of the curriculum. If students struggle within the area of writing this may contribute to barriers to success in other learning areas. Boys have traditionally achieved lower outcomes in this area. We need to find a way that engages boys with the writing process, helps them to see a purpose for writing and equips them with the skills to achieve success across of their leaning and their schooling.

Analysis of our 2015 aggregated Community of Learning writing achievement data indicates a clear drop in achievement at the Year 6/7 level and the Year 8/9 level. There does not appear to be a strong discrepancy amongst gender and ethnicity so we are focusing on all students.

From our professional discussions we have discovered that there is inconsistency within our individual school approaches to developing OTJs and the assessment tools that are used to form these.

While there are some good transition processes in place we need to strengthen these and try to incorporate the strengths of what staff know about their students as well as developing shared expectations and understandings about what ‘progress and achievement’ look like.

Our data demonstrates that there is a need to focus on boys’ writing. Y1-8 boys achieved 67% at or above National Standards at the end of 2015, compared to 83% of girls. In Years 11-12 (NCEA Levels 1 and 2) across reading, writing and maths, writing shows the greatest disparity between genders.

Our data also demonstrates that Māori students have a 3% difference in achievement with 74% of Y1-8 students overall achieving at or above the National Standards in writing and 71% of Māori students.

Target 2A: Boys’ Writing

Our challenge is to raise the achievement of all Year 1-8 boys in National Standards writing from 67% (2015) and achievement in NCEA Level 1 and 2 boys writing to 80% by the end of 2018.

Accelerate improvement in boys’ attitude to writing
Show an improvement in teacher knowledge and practice about how to best engage boys in the writing process
Show an improvement in boys’ ability to make connections between the purpose of writing and their ability to meet that need

Target 2B: Māori Writing

Our challenge is to raise the achievement of Year 1-8 Māori students in National Standards writing from 71% (2015) to 83% by the end of 2018.

Show an improvement in Māori students’ attitude to writing
Show an improvement in teachers’ culturally responsive practice that leads to improvements in outcomes in writing for Māori students

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