Centre for Enhancement of Learning

The Centre for the Enhancement of Learning (CEL) provides Diocesan’s gifted and talented programmes and student learning support. To further the goal of enhancing learning, any student can seek learning support at CEL. The School’s most recent ERO report praised the Centre for its outstanding contribution to student results and wellbeing.

Support of learning needs

The CEL staff are experienced at identifying students with a range of learning differences and offer tailored support to meet their needs. Staff work closely with parents, academic and pastoral staff to ensure girls have a good support network. CEL staff work with students and their support includes the use of study techniques, revision, time management and planning strategies. A student can refer herself for CEL support or be referred by her parents, dean, subject teachers or a guidance counsellor.

Students may get CEL support in small groups. Students who drop an option because of learning needs join the Learning Support Programme (LSP). This enables CEL staff to provide support for these students as needed without taking them out of subject classes.

Gifted and Talented

Diocesan offers several opportunities to further extend the thinking of gifted and talented students, through the da Vinci programme in the Junior High School. In this programme a variety of enrichment modules are provided for students. The da Vinci module covers performance and visual arts, philosophy, creative writing and the integrated study of topics from a range of subjects. Students are invited to join these modules and are withdrawn from their classes to do so. Mathematically able students in Years 7-9 are invited to join da Vinci Maths Teams which participate in the Australasian Mathematical Problem Solving Olympiad Competition.

Diocesan also offers acceleration opportunities for selected students to work at higher year levels in subjects in which they excel such as the Future Problem Solving Programme.

Future Problem Solving

The Future Problem Solving Programme is widely regarded as one of the best ways of extending gifted students. Students are taught skills of creative, critical and ethical thinking within the framework of some of the world’s most significant issues.

Students engage in deep learning as they grapple with existing or emerging international issues, such as trade barriers, pharmaceuticals, the robotic age, mega cities and organ donation. After researching the topic students are presented with a futuristic scenario that extrapolates existing trends and includes futuristic elements.

The Future Problem Solving programme is particularly fitting in this climate of innovative change in New Zealand education as it fits the concept of the seamless curriculum, and covers all the essential skills of the New Zealand Curriculum Framework.

For more information see the Future Problem Solving website