Avondale College wins national Education Excellence Award for teaching quality

Avondale College has been named the national winner for Excellence in Quality Teaching and Instruction (Secondary School) at the inaugural New Zealand Education Excellence Awards, held at Parliament in Wellington yesterday.

The award recognises the college’s outstanding approach to strengthening teaching practice and supporting and growing its teachers and leaders to achieve excellent outcomes for students.

Building a Strong Teaching Team

Avondale College is one of New Zealand’s largest and most diverse secondary schools, with more than 2,800 students from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The college identified an important opportunity to ensure consistently high-quality teaching across all classrooms, so every student can experience success and progress. In response, the school prioritised building a strong teaching team, with a shared understanding of what effective teaching looks like.

Principal Lyndy Watkinson says: “This recognition reflects the collective effort of our staff to learn, grow, and improve together. Our focus has been on creating clarity about high-quality teaching and supporting every teacher to deliver the best outcomes for our students.”

A Coherent Approach to Professional Growth

At the centre of the college’s work is a connected, school-wide approach to professional learning that supports teachers at all stages of their careers.

Key features include:

• A Teacher Growth Profile that sets clear and shared expectations for high-quality, culturally responsive teaching

• Weekly professional learning that brings staff together to collaborate and refine their practice

• Strong mentoring and induction for beginning and internationally trained teachers

• Opportunities for staff to lead learning and grow as leaders

• Use of data, student voice, and classroom observations to guide improvement

• A valued partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki to strengthen cultural understanding and connection
  

This approach ensures that professional learning is practical, meaningful, and closely aligned to the needs of students and the wider community.

Delivering Strong Outcomes for Students

The college’s sustained focus on strengthening teaching practice has led to consistently strong outcomes for students.

Achievement levels remain well above national averages, including excellent results in NCEA, University Entrance, and New Zealand Scholarship. Students have also achieved highly in Cambridge International examinations.

These results reflect both the quality and consistency of teaching across the school, along with a culture of high expectations and strong relationships.

Deputy Principal Emma Joynes says: “We have worked hard to build shared practices that support excellent teaching across the whole school. It means students experience high-quality learning in every classroom, and teachers feel confident and supported in their work.”

Looking Ahead

Avondale College continues to invest in its teachers and leaders to ensure it remains responsive to the future of education.

This includes:

• Supporting early-career teachers and attracting new talent

• Growing leadership capability across the school

• Embedding culturally sustaining and inclusive practices

• Responding to curriculum change and developments in digital and AI-supported learning

This ongoing focus ensures the college is well placed to meet the changing needs of students and its community.

A Shared Success

The New Zealand Education Excellence Awards celebrate schools making a meaningful difference for learners across Aotearoa.

“This award belongs to our entire school community,” says Principal Lyndy Watkinson.

“It reflects our shared commitment to excellence, to equity, and to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”