Peer-reviewed research2017–2026 update
Contract Instructing within Aotearoa New Zealand’s Secondary Schools
When New Zealand schools use contract instructors for outdoor education, many outcomes remain undeclared and implicit. The research offers recommendations to help schools and contractors work together.
What's new
Recent accidents have raised society's expectations that outdoor leaders are technically skilled and qualified, and many schools now employ qualified contract instructors to deliver parts of their programmes. Using a grounded theory approach, this research explores the relationships between schools, teachers and contract instructors. It presents a model of the different types of communication between schools and contractors. The model highlights how many outdoor education outcomes remain undeclared and implicit. The article also makes recommendations for working together.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
Many Aotearoa schools rely on external providers for EOTC. If outcomes are not made explicit, the broader learning goals of outdoor education may be lost when delivery is contracted out.
Putting it into practice
Before a contracted programme starts, give the provider a written brief. It should state the technical activity, the learning, social and personal outcomes the school wants, and how teachers and instructors will share responsibility for them.
How strong is the evidence
This is a qualitative grounded theory study. The abstract does not report sample size or participants, so the model is best read as a framework for discussion.
What to read
The communication model and the recommendations for schools and contractors.