Westlake Boys High School Westlake Boys High School
Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate
Who we are and what we do

Vision:    
The Westlake Boys Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning will enhance student outcomes by providing innovative and outstanding opportunities for excellence in Teaching and Learning.    

Mission Statement:    
The Westlake Boys Centre is a dedicated, inclusive space that provides our community with a range of evidence-based programmes and opportunities for excellence and equity in boys’ education. We are a supportive and caring environment that connects and engages in positive, holistic, and motivated learning.    

Values:

Here at Westlake Boys High School, teaching and learning is at the centre of all we do. We strongly believe that if we support our teachers to be the best they can be in the classroom, our students will grow to be the best they can be too. 

The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was established in 2019 to be at the core of our support and professional development for our teachers, whether they are new to the profession, have decades of experience, and everything in between. By acknowledging that we can always be better and striving to be the best that we can in the classroom, the teaching staff are putting boys’ education at the forefront of everything that they do. 

Our philosophy and values are underpinned by research and evidence-based practice. In doing so, the centre continues to make connections with other schools within New Zealand and internationally. In an ever-changing educational landscape, it is important to be at front of the charge in innovation and adaption of ideas and pedagogy in our own unique context of Westlake Boys High School. 

If you would like to know more about what we do or collaborate with us, feel free to contact us by email below. 

Casey de Wit

Casey began her career as an English and Media Studies teacher in Auckland in 2015. She is currently Head of the Media Studies Department and the Professional Development Coordinator. As a Leader of Learning in the Centre for Excellence, her work focuses on coordinating and presenting the weekly internal Professional Development, external applications and running the Professional Growth Cycle. Her current work will find her running professional development for the school Prefects, Bite Size Professional Development and Growth Coaching within school.  

Kelly Easton

Kelly has been teaching in New Zealand since 2006, after emigrating from the UK where her early Teaching career began. She has had a variety of roles in her career, such as Deaning, Head of Department and most recently as Specialist Classroom Teacher with a focus on improving Teaching and Learning at our school. She is passionate about improving student outcomes and fostering the development of new Teachers to the profession and inspiring potential Middle Leaders. Presently she is collaborating with EBE an organisation in the UK, to embed the Great Teacher Toolkit with experienced Teachers at Westlake, supporting them with evidence gathering, reflection and professional dialogue.

Jude Arbuthnot

Jude began her career as an English and Media Studies teacher in the UK in 2001, moving to New Zealand and Westlake in 2006. She is currently teacher in charge of Media Studies Scholarship and has a Within School Leader role for the Pupuke Kahui Ako. In her career she has held the roles of Head of House and Assistant Head of Faculty. She has completed Action Research for the International Boys School Coalition into collaborative writing. As a Leader of Learning in the Centre for Excellence, her work focuses on literacy, mentoring of Provisionally Certified Teachers and supporting and training Middle Leaders.