Motueka High School has embedded Read&Write into everyday learning, helping students with identified learning needs and the wider student population to learn in ways that suit them best.
In under a year of using Read&Write, the school's Reading Co-Requisite results show marked improvement:
- 30% increase in literacy attainment in Year 10
- 18% increase in literacy attainment in Year 11
Motueka High School adopted Read&Write in January 2025, and has already seen a marked increase in literacy achievement.
Read&WriteWe see Read&Write being one of our core pillars of delivering learning and making the MHS curriculum accessible.”
Background
Motueka High School (MHS) is a co-educational secondary school for students aged 13-18. It sits at the heart of the local community in Motueka, New Zealand and has a roll of 700+ students.
Students at MHS enjoy diverse programmes full of opportunities both within and outside the classroom. The school has a 'bring your own device' arrangement, and since the start of 2025, it has implemented Everway's Read&Write as a core part of its digital learning strategy.
Embedding Read&Write
The school's Deputy Principal, Jeremy Cumming explains the school's approach to digital learning: "Using devices for a clear learning purpose has been an important shift for us," he says. "Our internal research focused on how, for every 60 minutes of learning, at most 20 minutes should be completed on a device."
The school does not see digital tools like Read&Write as a replacement or distraction to teaching, but rather a kind of teaching assistant that works in tandem with staff to ensure students have access to the support they need as and when they need it.
"Our staff are focused on excellent face-to-face teaching and learning, so the devices enable students to receive feedback on learning and understand what next steps to improve are."
Since their licence began in January 2025, the school has seen 518 unique users interact with the toolbar over 32,000 times. It has become embedded in daily teaching and learning practices.
Read&Write is a key tool for our learners to complete learning activities and their final summative assessments. It's helping them to reach their potential.”
How Read&Write supports teaching and learning
"We see Read&Write as a key tool to supporting students who require verbal and visual prompt support," Jeremy explains. In particular, he notes the highlighting, dictionary and voice-to-text features as supporting students who would traditionally rely on a classroom reader or scribe.
These features support vocabulary-building and comprehension, while the voice-to-text dictation tool offers an accessible alternative to handwriting or typing. Students are also benefiting from the simplify feature, which makes research more digestible and reduces distractions while looking for information online.
As a result, Jeremy shares how teachers at the school have observed "an increase in student confidence and in their ability to complete internal learning assessments."
Teachers are also using Read&Write. They're fans of the voice notes feature, which is making feedback more responsive and accessible.
Overall, Jeremy praises the part Read&Write plays in supporting a "learning-focused culture" where barriers are removed and teachers can focus on teaching.
Lasting impact
MHS has recently documented their Reading Co-Requisite results, which showed a 30% increase in literacy attainment in Year 10 and an 18% increase in Year 11. In less than a year, they are already seeing the impact of Read&Write's literacy support.
Jeremy shares his advice for other schools as they embark on developing a digital learning strategy. "If you want a digital strategy to have purpose outside of learners staring at screens, you need key tools that embed your learning-focused culture. Read&Write is one of our key pillars where focus is solely on learning and how the tool can be applied in all aspects of classroom teaching and learning. The range of tools available mean staff and learners are able to understand its uses quickly and then use it within the classroom to drive learning forward."
