Winners of PM’s Education Excellence Awards
Education Minister Hekia Parata says the winners of the inaugural Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards
demonstrate the amazing work being done to give young New Zealanders better educational outcomes and more promising
futures.
Finalists, representing early childhood, primary, secondary and secondary-tertiary partnerships, gathered at Te Papa
where Prime Minister John Key presented awards to the winners.
Ms Parata says the awards are the opportunity to recognise, celebrate and share the highly effective and innovative
practice happening across the education system.
“These awards show the wonderful work being done every day by teachers, principals, trustees, education leaders and
communities in classrooms and centres around the country.
“The focus is on groups, teams and partnerships and that’s exactly the kind of collaboration we need to help kids do
better. It’s been fantastic to hear how the finalists have worked together to raise the achievement of our children and
young people.
“I want to congratulate our winners, and to acknowledge the other 147 groups who submitted entries. They represent the
commitment, dedication, energy, imagination, talents and skills of people who every day are making a difference for kiwi
kids.”
A panel of education experts reviewed the entries and recommended the finalists across the five categories. Members of
the judging panel then visited each of the finalists in order to determine the winning entries, as well as a supreme
winner.
“We have had the time and expertise of people of the highest calibre, and I want to thank them for the very substantial
and detailed work they have done. They have had a very high standard of entries to decide between,” Ms Parata says.
The winners of the 2014 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards are:
Supreme prize – Otumoetai Intermediate School (Tauranga)
Excellence in Leading – Makoura College staff, whanau and Board of Trustees (Masterton)
Excellence in Teaching and Learning – Kerikeri High School and Otumoetai Intermediate School
Excellence in Governing – Nōku Te Ao (Christchurch)
Excellence in Engaging – St Thomas of Canterbury College - Social Enterprise Hub
2014 Educational Focus Prize – Learner-led pathways – Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSTA) (Nelson)
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