Each year, schools at the NZAI Assessment Conference have a space to showcase their improvement journeys. Through the establishment of NZAI’s Collaborative Improvement Community (CIC), eight of the stories from the 2025 conference have been brought together and analysed to better understand what school improvement looks like in practice.
The study examined how schools defined improvement priorities, used evidence, and structured inquiry to strengthen outcomes for learners. A qualitative thematic analysis identified five common themes relating to clarity of purpose, evidence-informed improvement, inquiry as routine professional practice, the use of evidence to guide action, and the organisational conditions that support sustained improvement.
This session, led by Dr Melanie Atkinson and Michael Absolum will present these themes and illustrate them through examples from the schools involved. Participants will have the opportunity to briefly reflect on their own improvement work and consider how the themes resonate with their context.
Mel works for Evaluation Associates leading the evaluation of programmes, projects, and public policy. As a community psychologist she has worked across the education, youth justice, social service, and community sectors, supporting organisations to lead evidence-based change and continuous improvement and develop evaluative thinking in complex settings.
Michael Absolum is co-founder of NZAI and the founder and director of Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga. His establishment of the Collaborative Improvement Community reflects his passion for school improvement that creates inspired and inspiring teachers and enables students to become powerful engaged learners.
Find the presentation slides here: Mel Atkinson & Michael Absolum How Schools Improve
