Blue Schools

Our Vision

We want young people to understand the ocean’s influence on us, our influence on the ocean, and how their own choices and actions can shape the future of the environments and communities they live in. After three years of development, we have created a uniquely Aotearoa-based programme that blends science, mātauranga Māori, creativity, and hands-on exploration.

Grounded in partnerships across Waitaha/Canterbury, the programme helps Year 7/8 students build meaningful, personal connections with their local environments. By integrating ancestral, Indigenous, and scientific ways of knowing, we aim to grow confident, curious learners who feel empowered to contribute to the wellbeing of the moana and their own communities.

The Three-Year Blue Schools Pilot (2026–2028)

In 2026 we will launch a three-year pilot across five schools in Waitaha/Canterbury. This pilot will be designed carefully with teachers, communities, iwi, our partners and marine practitioners to ensure it is engaging, culturally grounded, and aligned with the refreshed science curriculum.

The pilot will allow us to test, refine, and strengthen the programme before scaling it across Canterbury as a Blue Schools Network.

What the Programme Delivers

Each term, schools participate in a structured learning sequence combining classroom sessions, field experiences, and digital learning tools. This blended model ensures that students build strong foundations, develop practical skills, and make deep connections with their local environment.

Three 90-Minute Classroom Sessions (per term)

Every term includes three facilitated 90-minute sessions delivered by our team alongside classroom teachers. These sessions introduce core themes through interactive, inquiry-led learning. Students take part in:

• Hands-on experiments and demonstrations
• Multimedia storytelling based on local case studies
• Exploration of ecological, cultural, and scientific perspectives
• Group investigations that lead into the term’s field trip
• This structure builds knowledge and curiosity before heading into the field.

One Field Trip (per term)

Each term includes a field experience connected to the school’s local environment—coastal areas, river systems, estuaries, or community sites. These trips allow students to:

• Observe local freshwater or marine ecosystems
• Meet local experts, iwi representatives, or environmental groups
• Take part in simple monitoring, surveying, or creative documentation
• Connect their learning to real places, people, and stories

Field trips vary depending on each school’s location and community priorities, ensuring every experience is locally meaningful.

Digital Learning Platform

A dedicated digital platform supports teachers and students throughout the programme. It provides:

• Interactive modules and videos linked to Aotearoa’s marine environments
• Teacher planning guides, assessments, and curriculum-mapped resources
• Student reflection tools and creative challenges
• A space for schools to share projects and connect with each other
• Extension materials for whānau and community engagement

This platform ensures continuity across the pilot, builds teacher capability, and allows the programme to grow sustainably.

Building a Model for Aotearoa

The Waitaha/Canterbury pilot will serve as a proof of concept for a scalable national model. Over three years we will gather evidence, test partnerships, refine resources, and build a durable, culturally grounded framework that other regions can adopt.

Our long-term aim is for every young person in Aotearoa to have access to engaging, place-based ocean learning connected to their coastlines, communities, and local knowledge holders—so that our marine environments and our people can thrive for generations to come.