Reading & Writing
At Pigeon Mountain Primary School, we are committed to developing confident, capable readers and writers through a structured and evidence-based approach.
We are currently implementing the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum, ensuring all students build strong foundations in literacy.
Key Features of Our Literacy Approach:
Explicit teaching of phonological awareness and phonics
A clear progression of structured literacy skills across year levels
Evidence-based strategies to support reading, writing, and spelling
Focus on oral language development and vocabulary
Regular assessment and support to meet individual learning needs
Our approach ensures every student is set up for success with the building blocks of language and literacy.
Core Subjects
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At Pigeon Mountain Primary School, we are proud to offer opportunities for academic excellence through participation in external competitions. In 2024, many of our Year 4–6 students took part in the internationally recognised ICAS Assessments, showcasing their strengths in Mathematics, English, Digital Technologies, and Science.
Our students achieved outstanding results, earning Certificates of Credit, Distinction, and High Distinction, demonstrating their ability to apply higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.
Participation in ICAS reflects our commitment to academic rigour and supporting students to reach their full potential.
Maths
At Pigeon Mountain Primary School, our mathematics programme is designed to promote deep understanding, critical thinking, and student-led learning.
Each lesson begins with a whole-class Number Talk, encouraging students to share their thinking, ask questions, and make connections. Teachers guide the discussion with minimal talk, using strategies like “noticing and wondering” and think-alouds to support student reasoning without signalling right or wrong answers.
Maths lessons are:
Planned collaboratively in year-level teams to ensure consistency across classes
Guided by the New Zealand Curriculum, with clear learning intentions for each unit
Rich in discussion, allowing students to compare and explain different mathematical strategies
Based on engaging, open-ended tasks, selected by teams to build a strong resource bank for each year level
Taught at the same time within year teams, supporting shared professional learning and flexible groupings
From Term 3, we will introduce Maths No Problem resources to enhance our programme, with a focus on structured dialogue and reasoning in the classroom.
Our goal is to build confident, collaborative problem-solvers who understand and enjoy mathematics.
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Our Maths Extension Programme provides opportunities for our gifted and passionate mathematicians in Years 4–6 to be challenged and inspired. Taught by Principal Phebe Rossiter and Mathematics Specialist Mrs Mandy Attard (Bucklands Beach Intermediate), the programme focuses on problem solving, reasoning, and mathematical thinking.
Students take part in a range of local and international competitions, including:
HPPA Mathex Competition – Recently our top team achieved full marks in the fastest time, following a dominant performance in practice rounds.
Australian Problem Solving Maths Olympiad (APSMO) – Our top team ranked in the top 20% of all schools, with several students placing in the top 10% and 25%.
Otago Problem Solving Challenge – Students can earn Merit and Excellence awards, with top students qualifying for the Final Challenge.
Our extension programme builds mathematical confidence, fosters collaboration, and supports high achievement through rich, engaging tasks and competitive opportunities.
