Unlimited paenga tawhiti
Encyclopedia
Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti (UPT) is a state secondary school located in the city centre
of Christchurch
, New Zealand
.
It was established in 2003 by the Christchurch-based Learning Discovery Trust which had earlier set up the primary Discovery 1 School
, and is one of just eleven schools running under the "Designated Special Character
" criteria of the Education Act 1989, Section 156:
This special character element is similar in some respects to the charter school
system in the United States.
The school started with just 40 students (the "foundation forty"), but now has a roll of around 400 students, aged from 12 to 18 years of age.
The school is resourced with high-end information and communications technology (ICT), all students have the opportunity to gain qualifications in the New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement
(NCEA). There are a range of secondary school subjects on offer including English
, Mathematics
, Science
, Social Sciences
, Computing
, Drama
, Dance
, and Physical and Outdoor education. In addition to these subjects, UPT offers a range of courses that are not normally provided at secondary schools. These include DJ performance and music production, Entrepreneurship
, Holistic programmes, Philosophy
, Psychology
and Videogame design.
Courses provided by outside providers are also offered, for example Unlimited offers students the ability to participate in courses taught by Natcoll Design Technology, the Christchurch Polytechnic and The University of Canterbury
. They also offer a Cisco
networking course with the ability to gain a Cisco Certified Network Associate qualification taught by Aranui High School
, it was announced by John Mather that the school's Board of Trustees has made it clear to the community that Unlimited will not be returning to the current buildings which are leased in the Central City. Instead, it was announced the school will potentially build new buildings, relying on whether the Ministry of Education agrees to terminate the lease agreements. The school has temporarily been relocated to the Halswell Residential College campus in Halswell.
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It was established in 2003 by the Christchurch-based Learning Discovery Trust which had earlier set up the primary Discovery 1 School
Discovery 1 School
Discovery 1 School is located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The school is state funded and offers individual, discovery based learning programmes...
, and is one of just eleven schools running under the "Designated Special Character
Designated Special Character schools
Designated Special Character schools were created under the New Zealand Education Act of 1989 which allows the Minister of Education to establish two types of special character schools under Sections 155 and 156 of the act.-Section 155 schools:...
" criteria of the Education Act 1989, Section 156:
- "...The special character of schools established under this section is not specified in the Act, and parents may propose any desirable special character as long as no other local school is already delivering an education reflecting the same special character...".
This special character element is similar in some respects to the charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
system in the United States.
The school started with just 40 students (the "foundation forty"), but now has a roll of around 400 students, aged from 12 to 18 years of age.
Distinctive Elements
- Students can follow their own pathways of learning. The school uses the term 'Independent, Collaborative Learning' to distinguish between learning taking place in a class and learning driven or directed by the student outside of a classroom setting. Often called Inquiry LearningInquiry educationInquiry education is a student-centered method of education focused on asking questions. Students are encouraged to ask questions which are meaningful to them, and which do not necessarily have easy answers; teachers are encouraged to avoid giving answers when this is possible, and in any case to...
, this means that students can opt to work outside of classes and courses on their own passions and interests. In practice the amount of time given over to this individual, and often independent, style of learning varies according to the interests and maturity of each student. An example of a long-term group ICL is the AudiodreamsAudiodreamsAudiodreams is a promoter/producer of dance parties based in New Zealand. It was founded in 2006 by Brent Silby along with a number of teenage students from Unlimited paenga tawhiti, a special designation secondary school. Audiodreams is notable for providing raves and dance parties specifically...
project—an event management company being run by students during school hours. - The school year at Unlimited is divided into seven or eight half-term blocks of four to six weeks. Students take courses in subjects for the duration of these half-term blocks, or can enroll for longer periods up to a full academic year.
- Students are vertically grouped in homebases (similar to form classes). The homebases have up to 15 students in them.
- Up until 2011 students were allocated 30 minutes each per week to meet with their Learning Advisor to discuss and progress their learning. In 2011 the school board reassessed the value of this level of individualized support and reallocated staff hours back towards classroom teaching, thus effecting a significant change in the school's model. Students are now allocated 15 minutes each per week to meet with their Learning Advisor.
- The school is based directly in the central business district, and has no grounds. Thus, they make use of community resources, such as the nearby Hagley ParkHagley ParkHagley Park is the largest urban open space in Christchurch, New Zealand, and was created in 1855 by the Provincial Government. According to the government's decree at that time, Hagley Park is "reserved forever as a public park, and shall be open for the recreation and enjoyment of the public."...
, and the central Christchurch City LibraryChristchurch City LibrariesChristchurch City Libraries are operated by the Christchurch City Council and are a network of 19 libraries and a mobile book bus. The library was formerly known as the Canterbury Public Library.-Early history:...
.
The school is resourced with high-end information and communications technology (ICT), all students have the opportunity to gain qualifications in the New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement
National Certificate of Educational Achievement
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement is, since 2004, the official secondary school qualification in New Zealand.It has three levels, corresponding to the levels within the National Qualifications Framework, and these are generally studied in each of the three final years of...
(NCEA). There are a range of secondary school subjects on offer including English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, Computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, Drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, Dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, and Physical and Outdoor education. In addition to these subjects, UPT offers a range of courses that are not normally provided at secondary schools. These include DJ performance and music production, Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
, Holistic programmes, Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and Videogame design.
Courses provided by outside providers are also offered, for example Unlimited offers students the ability to participate in courses taught by Natcoll Design Technology, the Christchurch Polytechnic and The University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
. They also offer a Cisco
Cisco
Cisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
networking course with the ability to gain a Cisco Certified Network Associate qualification taught by Aranui High School
Aranui High School
Aranui High School is a large secondary school for Years 9-15, in Christchurch, New Zealand.A redevelopment of the school is occurring 2009-2011....
February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
Students, Staff, and visitors were present in the Unlimited buildings when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit on February 22nd 2011. The school was evacuated to Latimer Square and CPIT, with the Latimer Square group then moving to CPIT. It is publicly unknown about the fate of The Crossing Basement, but Northern Tower has been Green placarded and Southern Star, which was reportedly extensively damaged, especially on the second floor, has been Yellow placarded. In a meeting held at Burnside High SchoolBurnside High School
Burnside High School is the second largest high school in New Zealand with over 2600 students, and is located in the suburb of Burnside in Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:...
, it was announced by John Mather that the school's Board of Trustees has made it clear to the community that Unlimited will not be returning to the current buildings which are leased in the Central City. Instead, it was announced the school will potentially build new buildings, relying on whether the Ministry of Education agrees to terminate the lease agreements. The school has temporarily been relocated to the Halswell Residential College campus in Halswell.
External links
- School Website: http://www.unlimited.school.nz
- ERONew Zealand Education Review OfficeThe Education Review Office or ERO is a relatively small state sector organisation of New Zealand tasked with reviewing and reporting publicly on the quality of education in all New Zealand schools...
report: Education Review Report, May 2006 - Provider details at NZQA