Attendance, achievement and assessment#

Stepped Attendance Response – STAR trial completed, and resources updated#

In Term 2, we worked with 15 schools to trial the STAR and gathered responses from a nationwide feedback survey. Insights from both have helped refine the STAR and supporting resources.

Supporting materials have been updated to align with the revised STAR and strengthen its application in schools.

View more information on the trial and revised resources here:

Stepped attendance response – STAR – Ministry of Education

Years 11 to 13 subjects confirmed for the National Curriculum#

A rich range of exciting secondary curriculum subjects have been announced for Years 11 to 13 (Phase 5 | Tūārere 5) to create a national curriculum for the future.

The subjects will provide students | ākonga with choice, clear pathways and opportunities for specialisation, setting them up for success in future study or their chosen profession.

To give students more choice, a proposal under the potential changes to senior secondary qualifications would allow new Industry Skill Boards (ISBs) to develop industry-led subjects with support from us. These subjects will sit alongside Ministry-led subjects to offer clear, high-quality pathways to further training and employment.

More information is available at:

Senior secondary subjects for Years 11 to 13 confirmed for the National Curriculum – Tāhūrangi

Mentor an aspiring or beginning principal – applications open#

As part of the Aspiring and Beginning Principal Programmes (launching in 2026), we’re inviting current principals to apply to become mentors – guiding, supporting, and inspiring the next generation of school leaders.

The one-to-one mentoring is an opportunity to reflect on your leadership journey, share your experience and help build a pipeline of prepared, confident, and culturally responsive leaders in our schools | kura.

Applicants can apply to mentor:

• an aspiring principal | tumuaki (1-year engagement)
• a beginning principal | tumuaki (up to 2-year engagement)
• or both.

More information about becoming a mentor, including applicant webinars, eligibility and an overview of the programmes is available at:

Mentor an aspiring or beginning principal – Education Workforce

Applications for Year 7 and 8 Maths Acceleration Programme and Hāpai Pāngarau Years 7 and 8#

Following the successful Year 7 and 8 Maths and Pāngarau Accelerated Tutoring Trial, we are introducing a nationwide Year 7 and 8 Maths Acceleration Programme and Hāpai Pāngarau for Years 7 and 8 to provide targeted support for Year 7 and 8 students from Term 1, 2026.

Applications for funding to deliver these programmes open on 6 October. Decisions on submitted applications will be communicated by 14 November.

Read more at:

Maths and Pāngarau years 7 and 8 intervention – Tāhūrangi

Maths and Pāngarau Acceleration Programme Years 0 to 6#

More detail is now available about the maths targeted staffing for Years 0 to 6. This will deliver the Maths Accelerated Programme (MAP). MAP is a 12-week face-to-face programme run with small groups up to four times a year, focused on accelerating progress in Years 3 to 6 and Tau 3 to 6 and complementing universal teaching for those who require additional support. You can apply for the 2026 staffing allocation until 19 September.

For more information about the design of the programme, including the teaching topics, the delivery of the programme, and how to apply, go to:

Maths and Pāngarau Years 3–6 staffing resource – Tāhūrangi

Ordering window for Ministry-funded maths resources#

If you have not yet placed an order for 2026 Ministry-funded maths resources for Years 0 to 8, another ordering window will be open from 6 to 26 October, for Term 1 delivery.

If you ordered resources for 2025, you still need to place another order on Salesforce for 2026. This is so you receive top-up resources and digital licenses for the 2026 school year.

More information about ordering resources can be found on Tāhūrangi:

Ordering Ministry-funded maths resources – Tāhūrangi

NCEA consultation closing reminder, new FAQs and factsheet available#

A reminder that consultation on the proposed changes to NCEA closes on 15 September. We encourage all school leaders, teachers | kaiako, and wider school communities to have their say before the deadline.

With that in mind, we’ve added FAQs and a factsheet to the NCEA consultation page, to provide more detail on key aspects of the proposals and support informed kōrero within your school community.

Frequently asked questions and factsheet – Ministry of Education

Share with your teams and encourage them to provide feedback before the closing date:

Have your say: consultation on proposal to replace NCEA – Ministry of Education

Structured literacy approaches resources funding contribution#

To support implementing structured literacy approaches and te reo matatini approaches, we are providing a contribution towards purchasing resources.

• Every state and state-integrated school and kura with students in Years 0 to 3 will receive a minimum of $500 annually, with any additional funding on top of this based on Year 0 to 3 roll numbers on 1 July. This is the second of four annual payments.
• Schools and kura will receive the contribution alongside their 1 October (quarter four) operational grant this year.
• Funding will be allocated every year, adjusted according to the 1 July roll, from 2024 to 2027.

For more information including how to use the funding contribution, resources available and support for selecting resources, go to:

Funding contribution for structured literacy resources – Tāhūrangi

Guidance Counsellors Training Study Awards open#

Applications for 2026 study awards to complete a master's qualification in counselling or counselling studies, are open until 30 September. To read about eligibility and to apply, visit:

Guidance Counsellor Training Study Award – Education Workforce

Any pātai, email [email protected].

Webinar 20, 21 October – Supporting your mentees with understanding diverse learners#

Te Poipoi Kaiako Mentor Support Programme invites all mentor teachers and pou tautoko to our webinar on supporting your mentees with understanding diverse learners. Both webinars cover the same content.

Monday 20 October, 3.30–4.15pm

Tuesday 21 October, 7–7.45pm

Register here:

Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programme webinar #8 – Humanitix

Health, safety and wellbeing#

Dengue warning for travellers to Pacific Islands#

With dengue cases soaring across the Pacific Islands, travellers are urged to protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes.

Many countries, including American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu, are experiencing dengue cases.

People can get sick if bitten by infected mosquitoes in areas with dengue. At greatest risk are children under 10, people over 60, and those who’ve had dengue before.

Anyone feeling sick with symptoms within three weeks of returning home from a country with dengue, should contact their healthcare provider, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

For more information, visit:

Dengue – Health New Zealand

Keeping healthy when travelling – Health New Zealand

Dengue fever outbreak in the Pacific – Safe Travel

New Zealand health authorities have developed informative videos and factsheets, translated into Pacific languages.

Dengue factsheet translations are available in PDF format here:

Dengue resources – HealthEd

Workforce and resourcing#

2026 School Onsite Training Programme applications close today#

Applications close for the School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP) today and all submitted applications move into the review and evaluation stage.

Outcomes for places will be communicated with initial teacher education (ITE) providers from 19 September. Schools and kura should find out the results of their SOTP application from their partner ITE providers. For more information, visit:

School Onsite Training Programme – Education Workforce

Estimated pay equity and collective agreement funding – 1 October#

On 1 October, state and state-integrated schools | kura will receive the next instalment of estimated top-up funding for non-teaching pay equity settlements and collective agreements. Payment will be made via Pourato under the payment type ‘non-teach support PE and CA funding’.

A letter detailing the estimated funding will be made available via the secure data portal (SDP) on 26 September.
We encourage downloading and retain a copy of your funding letter from the SDP, as this letter will only be available for 6 months.

Further information on collective agreements, and previously settled pay equity outcomes we continue to provide top-up funding for can be found at:

Pay equity funding – Ministry of Education

Any patai, email [email protected].

Settlement of the School Caretakers’, Cleaners’ and Canteen Staff Collective Agreement#

A circular is available about the recently ratified School Caretakers’, Cleaners’ and Canteen Staff Collective Agreement 2025–2027, effective from 10 July 2025 for 20 months. For employees previously employed as ground staff, refer to the terms of settlement for information about how the roles have been merged into the caretakers’ pay scale.

We have published a new individual employment agreement for employees who are not covered by the collective agreement. Caretakers, cleaners and canteen staff should sign the new agreement to access the improved pay rates and conditions.

Circular 2025/03: Settlement of the School Caretakers’, Cleaners’ and Canteen Staff Collective Agreement

Any questions, contact Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | NZ School Boards Association Advisory Support Centre on 0800 782 435 or email [email protected].

Governance, planning and infrastructure#

Staff triennial and parent representative school board elections#

The election for both the staff triennial and parent representative positions should be held before 19 September.

If your school is unable to meet this timeframe, the returning officer needs to contact [email protected] to request an extension.

Changes to vocational education training system#

The Government is making changes to how vocational education and training (VET) works, and these changes will begin January 2026. We encourage regular contact with your local polytechnics and other providers. Note that:

• Most of the programmes and qualifications that polytechnics and other vocational providers offer will continue. If any programmes are discontinued, students will be supported to enrol in that programme to finish or transfer to another qualification.
• Some campuses may change or close, but there will still be access to work-based, online, and regional study options.

For more information including the background to the VET Amendment Bill, and factsheets, visit:

Redesign of Vocational Education and Training System – Ministry of Education

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori celebrates 50 years#

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, commemorating the movement sparked by the Māori language petition delivered to parliament in 1972. We honour those who championed the revitalisation of te reo Māori and celebrate its growing presence in everyday life.

We have highlighted a collection of resources to support teachers in planning learning experiences engagement with te reo Māori.

Tama Tū, Reo Ora – Te Petihana 1972 – Kauwhata Reo

Ready to Read Phonics Plus - Te Reo Māori Kete Cards – Tāhūrangi

Te Arapū Māori – Tāhūrangi

Changes to Microsoft licensing#

Share the following information with your IT teams and service providers:

• We will continue to fund Microsoft server licences in 2026 as we collect data and understand further needs, so licences can be rationalised. To continue to access funded server licensing, schools must apply and complete the registration form by 3 October.
• We will no longer fund Power BI and Teams Telephony services (external calling). We will move to funding A5 Security licences. You can purchase Power BI and Telephony services (as an add-on) directly from Cyclone by completing the registration form by 3 October.

Ministry of Education – Microsoft Licensing Response Form – Cyclone

A new reporting tool is being deployed in schools to help with decision making for Microsoft and Google licence usage and funding.

More information is available at:

Microsoft software licences for schools – Ministry of Education

Kia Manawaroa education pānui#

Kia Manawaroa is our dedicated newsletter for whānau Māori, sharing opportunities, updates and information about education, and issue 8 is released today. Share this free pānui with your communities:

Kia Manawaroa issue 8 – Mailchimp

Subscribe to Kia Manawaroa – Mailchimp

For feedback or story ideas, email us [email protected].