The Awards will shine a light on the schools and kura making a meaningful difference for learners, their educators and communities. They celebrate leadership and innovation in areas that matter most for student success, while providing an opportunity to share effective practice across the education system.

The categories and awards#

Schools and kura will be recognised across 4 categories.

• Excellence in Raising Student Achievement.
• Excellence in Student Engagement and Attendance.
• Excellence in Quality Teaching and Instruction.
• Excellence in Educational Leadership.

Four awards will be presented in each category for different school types. In each category, awards will be presented to:

• one primary school with roll numbers of 1–150 students (U1–U3)
• one primary school with roll numbers 151+ students (U4+)
• one kaupapa Māori
• one secondary school.

Winning schools and kura will receive $20,000, and award winners and finalists will also be formally recognised at a national awards ceremony to be held in Wellington on Wednesday 24 June.

How to apply and nominate#

The nomination and application period opens on Monday 16 March. Nominations will be open for 4 weeks, closing on Friday 10 April. Applications will remain open for a further 3 weeks, closing on Friday 1 May 2026.

Anyone can nominate a school or kura to apply for an award, including students, whānau, staff and members of the wider community.

Full details on the nomination and application process, assessment criteria and conditions of entry are available below.

New Zealand Education Excellence Awards