What are the Values of the Cluster

• Access for all - all schools can participate whether or not they are ready to take up broadband services
• Responsibility to region - the cluster is to enhance learning opportunities within the wider educational community (primary, intermediate and secondary sectors)
• Distributed capacity - developing coherent and increased leadership capacity and ICT capability throughout the region
• Strategic Planning - clearly identifying our preferred future and strategically implementing both the process and critical steps to achieve it
• Teacher opportunity - the funding is to give teachers the greatest quality learning opportunities in order to improve understanding of the contribution that ICTs can make to student learning.
• Student Learning - opportunity for greater student voice and connectedness
• Fostering partnerships - to broaden and extend collaborative and networks within and beyond the Region
• Innovation - innovative practice utilising network tools and innovative efficiencies

What is the definition of a ‘regional’ cluster?

A ‘regional’ cluster is not defined by a geographical boundary or definition such as district, region or province. They are envisaged as ‘super-clusters’ that could be characterised by:-

· Having a significantly broader reach than existing ICT PD clusters.

· A strategic focus on developing ICT capability of schools through an educational ICT initiative.

· Establishing and fostering partnerships with other organisations (such as local councils or community trusts) for the mutual benefit of the wider community.

· An appropriate governance structure to support a community partnership model.

· Schools having a key role in their initiation and are strongly represented in the governance structure.

What should a Regional Educational Cluster programme aim to achieve?

Clusters will provide ICT leadership at a more regional level by providing a programme that overarches any existing individual or localised cluster PD or school development programmes. The programme will be founded on a strong pedagogical vision. To achieve this, the proposer will consider the relative strengths of constituent schools and aim to bring coherence to the regional development of ICT capability.

Programmes will reflect and support government educational priorities such as developing National Standards (in literacy and numeracy), delivering success for Māori (as expressed in Ka Hikitia - Managing for Success) and the Pasifika Education Plan.

How will the programme work?

Selected regional clusters of schools will decide on the focus and design of their ICT PD programme with the support of a National Support Services Facilitator (NSSF) as a part of the national ICT PD Collaboration Programme.