From national to international recognition – St Paul’s Collegiate School’s agribusiness programme was announced as a finalist in the 2019 International School Awards.
The awards, formerly the British International School Awards, celebrate learning, teaching, community, pastoral care, leadership and strategic initiatives at international schools. They provide the opportunity for international schools to share best practice, creative endeavours, community participation and innovation.
Selected from over 200 applications, St Paul’s was shortlisted in the ‘teaching initiative’ award category for the creation and development of an original, innovative, multidisciplinary teaching and learning agribusiness programme for Year 12 and 13 students.
“In the development of this programme, contexts for learning were chosen for their relevance and utility, and the teaching focuses on long-term, valued outcomes that align with the outcomes of many employers in the agribusiness sector,” says St Paul’s Deputy Headmaster and Director of the Agribusiness programme, Mr Peter Hampton.
The success of agribusiness at St Paul’s has led to other New Zealand schools wanting to offer the programme. Currently St Paul’s is working with 49 schools throughout the country, implementing various combinations of agribusiness programmes and assessment.
The other finalists in the ‘teaching initiative’ award category were Dulwich College Seoul, South Korea; Western Academy of Beijing, China; and DelCampo School, Honduras.
The winners were announced at a prestigious ceremony on January 21 at Covent Garden in London. In attendance from St Paul’s were Mr Hampton and Agribusiness Curriculum Director, Mrs Kerry Allen. While St Paul’s was not named as the winner – with the award going to Dulwich College Seoul – it was an honour and privilege to be chosen as a finalist.
The International School Awards are hosted by International School Leader Magazine with the support of ISC Research. For more information about the awards, visit their website.
