Te Kura Big Picture learning
Te Kura offers every fulltime student and young adult student (aged 16 to 19) the opportunity of Big Picture learning.
Big Picture learning places you, the learner, at the centre. It’s a way to fully personalise your learning with plans that focus on your interests, your passions and your potential.
You, your whānau and your Te Kura learning advisor will design a programme of learning that is relevant to you and connected to the real world.
A key aspect of Big Picture learning is your engagement with the wider community to broaden, enhance and deepen your learning. This includes everything from interviewing a community expert on a shared interest to undertaking a long-term community-based project. This part of Big Picture learning is called ‘Leaving to Learn.’
We’ve seen many powerful examples of young people working in their communities to create positive change, explore different careers and learn more about themselves as part of their learning programme. These experiences can provide an important foundation for learners to move beyond Te Kura.
Watch the following video about Te Kura Big Picture learning:
We'll also continue to provide high-quality learning programmes to students who are studying one or two subjects, rather than a full Big Picture programme. This includes programmes such as dual tuition, Summer School and students enrolling with a specific focus on the study of single subjects; meeting the needs of each individual learner is all part of our Big Picture philosophy.
Our five Big Picture Principles: Kaupapa Whakahaere
Big Picture learning is an international model, which we have made our own for our learners, their whānau and our school. Our five principles draw on Tikanga Māori and Big Picture principles.
Your Big Picture learning
Here’s how to participate in Big Picture learning…
Big Picture learning experience at Te Kura
We know Big Picture works for our learners. One reason we know this is because we’ve run pilots. Te Kura’s Big Picture Learning Pilots were established in 2014 at six sites across New Zealand. Eighty of our students and their whānau were invited to join the initiative. The Pilots were requested and supported by the Ministry of Education. This initiative was a finalist in the Prime Minister’s Education Awards in 2018.
Watch a video about our Big Picture Pilots [YouTube]
Big Picture learning is an international programme
As a Big Picture learning student, you are part of an international community of learners. Big Picture learning was founded in America over 20 years ago, and is now an international community of educators Big Picture Learning International
Our school is an active part of this community. We’ve also made sure that our Te Kura Big Picture learning is relevant to our learner’s and their whānau, our school, and Aotearoa.