The St Patrick’s Way of Teaching
At St Patrick’s, every child experiences high-quality teaching, strong relationships and a deep sense of belonging.
What This Looks Like Day to Day
Teaching here is guided by our Catholic faith and by the belief that every child is capable of success, with high expectations held for every learner alongside the support, challenge and encouragement they need to grow.
- We educate the whole person, nurturing faith, character, resilience, compassion and academic success
- We build safe, caring relationships so children feel known, valued, respected and ready to learn
- We teach deliberately and explicitly, so students know what they’re learning, why it matters and how to succeed
- We use evidence to guide teaching and assessment, understanding what each learner needs next
- We adapt our teaching for individual needs while keeping expectations high for every child
- We provide extra support when needed, because intervention isn’t about lowering expectations; it’s about helping every learner reach them
Our goal is simple. Every child at St Patrick’s is supported to become a successful learner, a person of faith and character, and someone who can contribute positively to their family, parish, community and the wider world.
“Let all that you do be done in love.”1 Corinthians 16:14
Our Approach at a Glance
Learning at St Patrick’s is purposeful, connected and grounded in our Catholic faith, combining high expectations with strong relationships, explicit teaching and the support each child needs to succeed.
Our curriculum is carefully planned so knowledge and skills build year on year. In the core areas, we draw on evidence-informed approaches such as BSLA for structured literacy, the Helen Walls approach to writing and PRIME in mathematics, alongside rich texts, discussion, practical learning and plenty of opportunity to apply what’s been learned.
We deliberately draw on the stories, environments and knowledge of the Wairarapa, including the perspectives of Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.
Learning reaches well beyond reading, writing and maths. Students explore Science, Social Sciences, the Arts, Technology, Health and Physical Education and Religious Education through experiences connected to our people, our place and our faith.
We want children to do more than complete activities. We want them to build knowledge, ask questions, think deeply, communicate confidently, solve problems and make connections.
Above all, we see education as forming the whole person. Every child leaves St Patrick’s as a capable learner, a kind and confident person, and someone who knows they can use their gifts to make a positive difference in the world.