Since adopting Writer’s Toolbox in 2022, St Peter Chanel Catholic School in Hamilton, New Zealand, has witnessed a remarkable transformation in student writing, confidence, and engagement.  Three years on, teachers say the tool has not only changed how they teach writing but has also reshaped the learning culture throughout the school.

Writer's Toolbox—provides real-time, individualised feedback at scale and a whole-school, common language approach to teaching writing—has helped teachers supercharge student engagement.  “The student agency that we're seeing in our students—that's where the real learning comes from,” says Year 7 & 8 teacher Maree Campbell.  Campbell also sees the tool empowering teachers as well as students.  “This is a tool I haven't encountered before. It answers so many of my questions that I have as a teacher.  How can I teach these students sentence structures better?  How can I encourage them and give them ways to add more detail to their writing?”

The impact hasn't stopped there.  Teachers have observed a cultural sea change that extends beyond writing mechanics.  Learning Support Teacher Sue Farrell notes how Writer’s Toolbox has helped unlock student voices.  “It has given our kids the ability to actually express themselves, not just as children but as people,” she explains.  “It's opened their eyes to see the possibilities, not just in writing but real self-belief in themselves as learners.”

For Clare Dutton, also teaching Years 7 & 8, the shift has been about consistency and student autonomy.  “Having a common language across all year levels has really been supportive for student development.  They hear the same vocabulary and they're taught the same structures right the way through, so every year they can build on it,” she says.  “They were the drivers of their own learning, and they could use the feedback to really see where they might need to improve or whether they were really happy and satisfied.”

Sue Farrell adds, “The ability of students to own their own learning—to make really conscious decisions and choices—had an influence outside just writing and Writer’s Toolbox.”

At St Peter Chanel, Writer’s Toolbox is more than a writing programme; it’s a catalyst for confident, capable learners prepared to express themselves in writing and in life.  Students and teachers alike feel more confident that students are better prepared for high school.  With more doors open for their young learners, the possibilities are endless.