22 July 2002
Picking up the Pace
Education Minister Trevor Mallard is urging schools to read the results of a research project that significantly lifted
reading and writing achievement for new entrant children in Mangere and Otara.
The Minister said he regarded the research as internationally significant and was keen for it to be extended to other
parts of the country.
Trevor Mallard launched Picking up the Pace: A Summary today. The summary highlights the key findings of the full
research report, released for the first time late last year.
“The research was a great success. By the time they were six, the new entrants in the study were reading and writing
close to the levels achieved by six-year-olds across the country,” Trevor Mallard said.
“It shows that with the right support, children from disadvantaged backgrounds can still achieve academically. That is
what the government is aiming for with our reducing disparity policies
Picking up the Pace delivered concentrated professional development to teachers at 15 schools and a range of early
childhood centres in Mangere and Otara. More than 400 children were involved in the research.
It was delivered in a programme run in schools by Dr Gwenneth Phillips and Professor Stuart McNaughton.
“”The research project was a combined effort involving communities, teachers, academics and the Ministry of Education.”
“The new summary means the findings will be more easily shared by other schools and teachers. It will be a key resource
for a professional development section in workshops being run by the Ministry of Education as part of the Literacy
Leadership Programme. Principals and literacy leaders will be able to attend workshops during terms three and four this
year.
The summary and full report are available at: