Minister meets with British education experts

&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;" alignright size-full wp-image-1868" src&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;schoolnewsnz&period;fastrackdev&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;10&sol;SND20-wk4-Experts&period;jpg" alt&equals;"SND20-wk4-Experts" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"217" &sol;>Meetings with leading British education experts have confirmed the critical importance of good data and school-to-school support&comma; Education Minister Hekia Parata says&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> <&excl;--more--> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ms Parata met with several leading education experts in London last week&comma; including Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw&comma; Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb&comma; and former Chief Advisor for London Schools Professor David Woods CBE&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;My discussions confirmed that good school level data and school-to-school collaboration are essential to lifting student achievement&comma;&&num;8221&semi; Ms Parata said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;The very successful London Challenge that has seen significant gains in student achievement across about the same number of schools as in New Zealand was exciting and informative&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ms Parata said it was great to share the development of some of the initiatives in New Zealand&comma; including Communities of Learning&comma; and the Public Achievement Information graphics&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;All of the experts and education leaders I met also agreed that the quality of teaching and leadership is critical to lifting and sustaining student learning and achievement&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;The discussions have been very useful and confirmed the direction that we are taking in New Zealand with lessons for our further progress&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;