Patricia Stringer

Citation

Thesis Title
Capacity Building for School Improvement: A Case Study of a New Zealand Primary School

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Ms Stringer’s study explored capacity building for school improvement in one low decile, multi-cultural, New Zealand primary school. Capacity building research has generally focused on the micro level of school functioning. There has been an absence of debate on political, economic and social trends with implications for capacity building. School improvement and capacity building are complex constructs with depth of understanding only achieved by exploring external and internal determinants. A case study inquiry situated within an interpretivist research paradigm was used. Qualitative techniques for data collection and a grounded theory approach for data analysis defined capacity, ascertained its external and internal influences, and established links between capacity building and school improvement. Findings showed that capacity building is the result of situated activity; connectedness; governance, leadership and management; and capacity outcomes. This thesis has taken a fresh look at what schools do to meet challenges of change and improvement, productively.

Supervisors
Mr Wayne Edwards
Professor John O'Neill