Attendance, achievement and assessment#

Rephasing phase 5 of the National Curriculum#

We want to make sure that senior secondary teachers and kaiako have enough time to implement new National Curriculum changes for Years 11 to 13 (Phase 5). Following sector feedback, we are updating expectations for Phase 5 to create a phased roll-out of senior secondary subjects.

The Years 11 to 13 curricula will be available in Term 1 2026 to invite wider feedback and help build familiarisation and readiness. There will be no formal requirement to use this content until 2028 (for Year 11 content), 2029 (for Year 12 content), and 2030 (for Year 13 content).

Timeline details and an overview of an implementation package to support teachers and kaiako is available on Tāhūrangi:

Curriculum timeline change responds to feedback from senior secondary teachers – Tāhūrangi

Update on maths PLD Years 0 to 8#

To secure Term 4 dates, apply for Term 4 maths PLD days before 15 August. If you miss the cut-off, you can still apply for Term 1 2026 onwards. Requests must be submitted by week 5 each term for PLD in the following term.

To apply, go to:

Information on maths PLD – Professional Learning and Development

For more information on maths PLD:

Maths professional learning and development – Professional learning and development

Updated guidance on generative AI#

We’ve updated our guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence (genAI):

Generative AI

The guidance includes what factors you, your leadership team, and your school board need to consider when updating your school’s assessment policy, which must include the acceptable use of genAI.

We encourage you and your leadership team to:

• share this guidance with your teachers and school community
• review and update your school’s assessment policy, as needed
• consider what operational implications the guidance and your updated assessment policy have for your school.

Tāhūrangi outage#

Tāhūrangi will be unavailable on 29 August for planned maintenance. During this time, you will not be able to access any content or download resources.

Reminder: Applications for Cohort 6 PLD of structured literacy approaches and te reo matatini#

A reminder that applications for Cohort 6 of the new Ministry-funded PLD for structured literacy approaches and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā (structured te reo matatini) are open until 8 August. Cohort 6 PLD will be delivered over Term 4 2025, and Terms 1 and 2 2026.

If you’re approved for this PLD, you’ll receive an application reference number (ARN) that can be used to enrol with approved providers. For more information, visit:

PLD for structured literacy and te reo matatini approaches – Professional Learning and Development

Learning support study awards applications open#

We offer study awards for teachers or learning support coordinators to study one of Massey University’s Post Graduate Specialist Teaching Programmes. Distance courses allow people to study while working and to put theory into practice as they go. Applications close 12 September 2025.

Funding is provided, and you can visit our website to read more about the award, eligibility and how to apply:

Learning support study awards

Errors in Ministry-funded maths resources#

We're aware of some errors in the Ministry-funded maths resources. Our resource providers regularly review their print and digital resources to correct any errors that have been reported, and to ensure accuracy.

To inform us of any errors (for example, typos), contact us stating what the error is and where it is.

Email: [email protected]

An error tracking document for any identified errors and the corrections is available at:

Ministry-funded maths resources resolved errors – Google doc

What you told us in Term 2 check-ins#

In Term 2, our regional teams checked in with you about how implementation of curriculum, attendance and other changes was going. Thank you for the valuable insights you shared. This built on what you told us in Term 1 and we continue to use this feedback to inform service delivery and target supports to you.

A summary of what we heard and how we have responded can be found here:

What schools told us in Term 2 2025 check-ins

Your local Director of Education can share more detailed insights about your education region.

Workforce and resourcing#

Invitation to host school onsite training programme student teachers#

The 2026 School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP) application process will be live on 11 August and will close on 12 September. Those interested in being a host school for students participating in the 2026 SOTP should contact their initial teacher education (ITE) partner.

This year, the process has changed. For the 2026 SOTP intake, ITE providers will be lead applicants – they will be consolidating and presenting application forms for the host schools working with them.

The 2026 SOTP has a two-step application process:

1. ITE providers submitted their programmes for assessment against the SOTP ITE provider criteria
2. ITE providers submit an application identifying their partner host schools or kura for places on the 2026 programme. We assess host schools and kura against the SOTP school criteria.

Schools and kura who do not have an existing partnership are encouraged to get in touch directly with ITE providers. For more information, visit:

School onsite training programme – Education Workforce

Watch the recording of the SOTP webinar here:

Webinar for schools and kura: 2026 School onsite training programme – Vimeo

Resourcing update#

Q4 operational funding

Quarter 4 2025 operational funding will be on Pourato on 18 September and paid on 1 October 2025.

Provisional rolls

These will be on Pourato on 12 September. To view your provisional roll, provisional staffing entitlement, and indicative funding, open the ‘rolls’ tab in Pourato and check that ‘2026’ is selected in the drop-down menu.

Provisional roll review applications open on 15 September and close on 14 November 2025. To request a review, visit:

Apply for a provisional roll review

School donations scheme

The school donations scheme opt-in process remains aligned with your July roll return. If you opted-in to the scheme for 2026 when you completed the roll return, no further action is required.

For teen parent units, activity centres and other attached units that can’t opt-in as part of the July roll return submission, you can only opt-in by completing the donations scheme form before 14 November.

2026 Donations scheme opt-in form – Survey Monkey

You can view the 2026 equity index (EQI) when the 2026 provisional rolls are published on Pourato on 12 September. Some schools and kura whose 2026 EQI is 432 or higher will become newly eligible to opt in to the school donations scheme for 2026.

Information to help you consider whether to opt in is available on our website:

Fees, charges and donations – Ministry of Education

If you decide to opt in, you need to complete the 2026 donations scheme opt-in form.

Any pātai about the donations scheme, email us or contact your school finance advisor.

Email: [email protected]

School finance contacts

Single sign on for EdPay#

The online payroll system EdPay has been moved under our Education Sector Logon (ESL) to increase security and provide a single sign on for users.

We know you don’t need to use EdPay often, but when you do it may be time critical. We recommend setting aside ten minutes to log on to EdPay and link your accounts, rather than waiting until you need to open EdPay in a hurry. Once you complete the verification process, you’ll be able to access EdPay and all your other education sector services via ESL.

For the linking instructions, see the special edition payroll update:

News for school payroll staff – EdPay

If you need more help, talk to your school administrator or call the education sector service desk.

Phone: 0800 422 599, option 2.

Governance, planning and infrastructure#

Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme#

There are 265 contributing primary schools and kura with students | ākonga in Year 0 to 6 transitioning to the cost-efficient school lunches model in Term 1, 2026. The focus remains on students and delivering nutritious meals each school day.

Updates on the transition, including the request for proposals (RFP) for suppliers to apply to deliver meals to contributing primary schools (operating under the external model) is available on our website:

Contributing primary schools

Microsoft Windows 10 end of support: Action required#

Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 on 14 October. Devices running Windows 10 won’t receive updates and support from Microsoft and will be more vulnerable to security risks.

End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 – Microsoft

You’ll need to do the following:

• Upgrade devices to Windows 11 before 14 October. Use the PC Health Check Tool from Microsoft to check the ability to upgrade.
• Repurpose devices that can’t run Windows 11, by using lightweight operating systems like ChromeOS Flex.
• Inform whānau about upcoming changes for students who are using devices that may be affected.
• Update ‘bring your own devices’ (BYOD) guidelines for 2026, to reflect compatibility with Windows 11.

Check if a device meets Windows 11 system requirements after changing device hardware – Microsoft

ChromeOS Flex – Google

If you would like to consider purchasing Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESU) for eligible ‘school owned devices’ running Windows 10, email the team for the New Zealand education price.

Email: [email protected]

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 – Microsoft

Specialised school transport assistance services tender#

We provide specialised school transport assistance (SESTA) to young people with safety and/or mobility needs that prevent them from travelling independently to school.

We have recently completed the process of procuring new contacts for 57 of our SESTA clusters with contracts due to expire from the end of Term 4.

To find out who your school’s SESTA provider will be next year, visit:

Specialised school transport assistance procurement

If your SESTA provider is changing, your new provider will be in touch shortly to introduce themselves. We will also be in touch with you in the lead up to the new provider taking over to ensure a smooth transition.

All current SESTA services will continue to operate as usual during this procurement process. If you have any questions, email us.

Email: [email protected]

School transport – SESTA and conveyance allowance students#

You can now request changes to student’s specialised school transport assistance (SESTA) or conveyance allowance via the online portal School Transport Hub | Pokapū Waka Kura.

Information on what changes can be requested through Pokapū Waka Kura can be found on our website:

Specialised school transport assistance (SESTA)

Applying for a conveyance allowance

Information on Pokapū Waka Kura, and user guides on how to submit a change request, can also be found on our website:

About the School Transport Hub | Pokapū Waka Kura

New all-of-Government motor vehicles contract#

A new all-of-Government motor vehicles contract has been launched by New Zealand Government Procurement. You are welcome to join and use the contract when purchasing vehicles, to take advantage of the terms, conditions and pricing available.

Vehicles are available for purchase from 16 different brands. The contract covers a range of vehicle body styles, transmission, and fuel options to meet a school’s requirements. The average discount available is 13.75% off market rates.

For more information, visit:

Motor vehicles – New Zealand Government Procurement

Any pātai, email us.

Email: [email protected]

Upcoming all-of-Government electricity contract intake#

Reduce contractual risk, ensure price certainty and save money by joining the all-of-government contract for buying electricity. Those interested can be added to this contract twice per year.

The second intake for the year will be 30 September. If you are interested, you need to register before 25 August. Any queries, contact us.

Email: [email protected]

Charter school changes#

Sponsors of converted schools can now be offered 20-year contracts with 2 10-year rights of renewal.

Two other changes will be progressed through proposed legislation to be introduced this year. Sponsors will be able operate multiple charter schools with only one multi-school contract, and a pathway will be created for state and state integrated schools that convert to a charter school to revert to a state school.

Charter schools are public schools, but instead of a school board, they are operated by a sponsor – an organisation that has signed a contract with the Crown to operate the school. They have considerable flexibility around teaching, curriculum, governance, hours, and days of operation, and can decide how to use their funding and can set their own curriculum. In exchange for this greater autonomy, charter schools are accountable for delivering outcomes via their contract.

Kia Manawaroa education pānui for whānau Māori#

Kia Manawaroa is our dedicated pānui for whānau Māori, sharing stories, opportunities, updates and information about education.

Read the latest issue of Kia Manawaroa.

Kia Manawaroa – Mailchimp

Subscribe to Kia Manawaroa here.

Subscribe to Kia Manawaroa – Mailchimp

For questions, feedback, or story ideas, email us.

Email: [email protected]

Matavai Pacific education e-newsletter#

Matavai is our monthly e-newsletter featuring the latest Pacific education updates, stories and upcoming events. Feel free to share it with Pacific parents, carers and communities through your school.

Subscribe and read the latest issue of Matavai, issue 4.

Subscribe to Matavai – Mailchimp

Matavai – Mailchimp