School selected for world-class education

Principal, Mike Leach (left), and Microsoft's managing director, Paul Muckleston, celebrate the school's achievement in becoming a world-class education facility.

Last week, Microsoft NZ announced that Botany Downs Secondary College will be the country’s first school to be accepted to the global Microsoft Innovative Schools Programme. 

Botany Downs was chosen after a rigorous application process, and joins a global community of 80 schools in 46 countries. Over the next 12 months, Microsoft NZ will work with educational experts to assist staff and students through a process of whole-school transformation, aimed at creating a community focused on innovative teaching and learning practice. 

Mike Leach, Principal at Botany Downs, anticipates admission into the programme will mean great things.  

“It is an honour to be chosen for this programme and we look forward to setting the innovation pace for schools all around the country. Technology plays a huge part in education and we are very excited about learning from other schools around the world and, with Microsoft’s assistance, implementing our vision for the school through better technology.”

Paul Muckleston, managing director at Microsoft NZ, shares Botany Downs’ excitement and is thrilled to see a NZ school recognised on a global level. 

“Botany Downs Secondary College has been selected because they are an excellent example of integrating innovative teaching and learning into the school. They have proven they have the community and professional support to drive change, supported by strong leadership. 

“Leaders at Botany Downs have articulated a vision for what they want to achieve and Microsoft will now help refine, strengthen and implement that vision.”

The Innovative Schools Programme is part of Microsoft’s 10 year, NZ$640 million ‘Partners in Learning initiative’ to help teachers and school leaders to use technology to help teach and learn more effectively. 

Supporting unique approaches to assessing, improving, and evaluating a schools learning environment the program will help schools to successfully move beyond traditional learning models and help to encourage thought leadership, the discovery of best practices and leaving lasting models that any school can adopt and use. 

This year 54 new Pathfinder and 16 new Mentor schools have been admitted to the programme. They join nearly 3,000 schools from around the world participating in the Microsoft Innovative Schools Program. Botany Downs has been admitted as a Pathfinder school. The Pathfinder Programme annually selects schools, which demonstrate strong school leadership skills with a proven record of innovation and successful change implementation.