Schools in New
Zealand
Compulsory education
in New Zealand is divided into primary, intermediate and secondary
schooling.
Primary schools
are the first level. They cater for children from the age of five
years - from entry to school - to the end of Year 6.
Children in Years 7
and 8 may either be in a separate intermediate school or part of a
primary, secondary or composite/area school.
Secondary schools
usually provide for students from Year 9 until the end of Year 13.
Adult students who return to school enter in whichever year the
majority of their subjects are in.
Area/composite
schools, which are usually based in rural areas, combine primary,
intermediate and secondary schooling at one location.
Starting School
A child starting
primary school for the first time between July (when the school
roll is counted) and 31 December of a school year, and aged
between five and six, will be classed as Year 0.
Children who begin
school for the first time between 1 January and before the July
roll count will be classed as being in Year 1.
Children most
commonly start school when they turn five even though schooling is
compulsory from age six. Where children start school for the first
time after the age of six, they are placed in the same year as
other children of the same age.
Types of Schools
While most students
in New Zealand attend state-funded schools, parents or caregivers
and students have the choice of a number of schooling options.
State schools are
co-educational (mixed sexes) at primary and intermediate level but
some offer single-sex education at secondary level. Lessons are
based on the New Zealand curriculum. Some state schools offer
special programmes for adult students or run community education
classes.
Kura kaupapa Mäori
are state schools where the teaching is in the Mäori language (te
reo Mäori) and is based on Mäori culture and values. The
curriculum is the same as at other state schools. Kura kaupapa
Mäori cater for students from Years 1-8 or Years 1-13. These
schools provide ongoing education in te reo Mäori, building on
from te köhanga reo (Mäori language early childhood education
centres). A key goal of kura kaupapa Mäori is to produce students
who are equally skilled in both Mäori and English.
Special schools are
state schools that provide education for students with special
education needs. The curriculum is the same as at other state
schools.
Integrated schools
are schools that used to be private and have now become part of
the state system. They teach the New Zealand curriculum but keep
their own special character (usually a philosophical or religious
belief) as part of their school programme. Integrated schools
receive the same Government funding for each student as state
schools but their buildings and land are privately owned so they
charge attendance dues to meet their property costs.
Designated character
schools are state schools that teach the New Zealand curriculum
but have been allowed to develop their own set of aims, purposes
and objectives to reflect their own particular values.
Independent (or
private) schools are governed by their own independent boards but
must meet certain standards in order to be registered. Independent
schools may be either co-educational or single-sex. They charge
fees, but also receive some subsidy funding from the government.
Boarding schools may
either be independent or part of a state-funded school. All charge
boarding fees.
The Correspondence
School (TCS) provides distance learning for more than 20,000
students across New Zealand. Students may live a long way from
their nearest school, live overseas, study with TCS for medical
reasons or have special education needs. Secondary students may
also enrol in specific subjects if these are not available at
their regular school.
TCS provides over
300 courses from new entrants to adults seeking to continue
education at secondary level. They also offer programmes in early
childhood and some specialist adult education courses, such as
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
The school is
committed to using information communications technology (ICT)
solutions to improve education. TCS is making significant
investment in ICT solutions to meet the needs of all present and
future students.
Home-based schooling
is available for parents and caregivers who want to educate their
children at home. Parents and caregivers need to get approval to
do so from the Ministry of Education and must educate their
children to the standard they would receive at a registered
school. Homeschooling parents and caregivers are given an annual
grant to help with the cost of learning materials and can choose
to purchase teaching services from The Correspondence School.
Though the number of
homeschooled children in New Zealand has grown considerably in
recent years it accounts for only one percent of total school
enrolments.
Deciding on a
School
Most children attend
the school closest to where they live. Parents and caregivers can
apply to enrol their children at any state school of their choice.
However, if a school has too many children wishing to enrol, the
Ministry of Education may require a school to operate an enrolment
scheme to prevent over-crowding. An enrolment scheme must contain
a home zone with clearly defined boundaries. Students who live
within the home zone have an absolute right to enrol at the
school. Students living outside the zone can still apply to enrol,
but if there are more applicants than available places, a ballot
will be held to determine who can enrol. Brothers and sisters of
current and former students and children of board employees have a
higher priority for the out-of-zone places.
Parents or
caregivers can telephone the schools they are interested in and
ask to visit. They can ask to see the latest Education Review
Office report, which is available to the public, or get a copy
from the local Education Review Office or the Education Review
Office's web site: www.ero.govt.nz.
Many schools have a
prospectus or brochure that sets out their ideals and what the
school offers its students. Schools also have a school charter and
you can ask to see a copy.
Enrolling
Children can be
enrolled in a New Zealand school from their fifth birthday. All
children in New Zealand must attend school from their sixth
birthday.
How to enrol
Once parents and
caregivers have decided on a school they are encouraged to visit
to fill in an enrolment form before the child's first day. They
are then given information about school opening hours and how the
school operates. Often this visit provides parents and caregivers
with the opportunity to meet the principal.
Once children are
enrolled, they and their parents and caregivers become part of the
school community and have many opportunities to be involved in its
activities.
Changing schools
If a child needs to
change schools it is important to let the present school know as
soon as possible. Once the child is enrolled at a new school all
their personal records may be sent from the previous school.
Children changing to
a new level of schooling, such as intermediate or secondary, will
have information sent home with them telling parents and
caregivers what they need to do.
Where there is a
choice of schools, information will be provided about each option.
Sometimes an information evening is arranged by the present school
to explain these options more fully. Most intermediate and
secondary schools hold open days so students and their parents and
caregivers can see what they have to offer.
