The Learning Centre

Learning Centre

 

 

Profile of Head of Department

 

Gary Francis is the Head of the Learning Centre team. He has been a teacher for 17 years, and has experience in every sector of school age education.

He has a BA in Psychology, and a Post Graduate Teaching Certificate from Loughborough University in England, where he specialised in Physical Education and Special Educational Needs.

He began his teaching career as a mainstream secondary Physical Educationalist, where he spent eight years including four as a Head of Department. He then moved into Special Education, firstly as a PE specialist, then as a SENCO and finally combining the SENCO role with the role of Disability/SEN specialist teacher for his local primary and secondary schools cluster.

He continued teaching in Special Education at Arohanui School in West Auckland after his family immigrated to NZ in 2006, before taking up his current post at Rangitoto College.

 

“ I always wanted to be a PE teacher as a kid. It was great to actually turn that into a reality. But once I began to work with students with Special Educational Needs I became completely inspired by them, and determined to make sure that all students received the quality education they deserve, regardless of their abilities.” 

 

Aims of the Learning Centre:

 

The Rangitoto Learning Centre aims to enable all students to access the curriculum and to experience success across a range of areas while at school through the provision of a combination of the following:

                               Extra assistance

                               Adapted programmes or learning environments

                               Specialised equipment or materials

 

The learning Centre aims to provide all students with a safe, friendly environment that will encourage them to feel positive about their learning.

The Learning Centre can assess students, develop IEP’s and offer individual and small group instruction, as well as provide Teacher Aide assistance and Special Exam Assistance for students who qualify.

The Learning Centre also aims to develop a comprehensive programme of Professional Development for College Staff so that they become more aware of the disabilities they may encounter among students they teach, and strategies to help the students overcome those disabilities.

 

Rationale:

 

The Rangitoto Learning Centre recognizes and upholds the New Zealand Disability Strategy (April 2001) objectives.

A disability is any physical, emotional or learning barrier which requires strategies to overcome in order for the students to have full access to the opportunities provided.

 

Student Testimonials:

 

Matt Hart Year 13:

 

“Rangitoto College has provided me with teachers who gave me the motivation to pass the exams I needed to gain NCEA. The school has a great positive environment that has helped my learning.”