Education is making front page news almost every day at present. The swift changes being made to the NCEA programme have been particularly prominent.  Also reported recently, are changes the Ministry of Education is making to guidance on handwriting. The following statement appeared on the NZ Curriculum website last month: –

New handwriting guidance is now available on Tāhūrangi to support teaching and learning in Years 0–8. It provides practical, research-informed strategies.

Developed by a subject matter expert and reviewed by external specialists, the guidance reflects a renewed focus on handwriting as a foundational skill. Just 10–15 minutes of explicit instruction each day can significantly boost learners’ literacy, confidence, and cognitive development – setting them up for success across the curriculum. 

Research also tells us that automatic letter formation frees up working memory, helping learners express ideas more clearly, write more fluently, and strengthen their reading and spelling skills. Legible writing also builds pride and motivation—key ingredients for writing success. 

It is a travesty that handwriting has been sidelined for so long in many New Zealand schools. The research is clear, and the benefits listed above are manifold.

One of the comments we often get from prospective parents touring Ficino School is how beautiful the children’s handwriting is. This of course relates to two of our core principles, the first being that everything we do should be undertaken mindfully. Practising fine attention is probably the single most important skill our students take with them to high school. The second principle is beauty, which is really linked to the first; the students are encouraged to present their work beautifully to encourage a mindful approach.

Handwriting has always been a core part of our curriculum. One of the most rewarding moments when I returned from my sabbatical earlier his year, and had the opportunity to visit all the classrooms, was seeing the attentiveness and peace that ensues with practising simple cursive handwriting. I was so touched that I found myself joining in and enjoying the flow that attentive handwriting brings.

On the subject of beauty, our senior choir was awarded gold on Wednesday night at The Kids Sing choral festival (you can watch the performance HERE). The pre-performance statement of the choir’s goals described the experience of beauty leading to goodness. The quality of their singing and presentation certainly exemplified this. Congratulations to our choristers, Ms Doctor and our choir master, Elise Bradley, on this wonderful achievement.