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Curriculum and assessment#
Updated curriculum content#
Schools and kura are required to start using the updated content for Years 0 to 10 English, Te Reo Rangatira, Mathematics and Pāngarau.
Updated curriculum content – Tāhūrangi
Consultation update#
Consultation on The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa frameworks and remaining Years 0 to 10 content closes 24 April 2026. All feedback and insights will be carefully considered and will inform the National Curriculum before it is finalised mid-year.
Writing is well underway on the detailed drafts of the new senior secondary curriculum for Tau | Years 11-13.
Detailed drafts for consultation will be released in 3 groups:
- group 1: May to June
- group 2: June to July
- group 3: July to August.
Roadshow for leaders#
Registrations are now open for the Term 2 Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow for Years 11 to 13 secondary, kura and area school leaders.
Register for the Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow for Leaders
Phonics checks and hihira weteoro#
Phonics checks and hihira weteoro are now required for schools and kura. Specified kura boards have until 2027 to implement the checks.
- Full implementation guidance has been developed to support schools and kura to confidently implement the checks and submit the results, including short online training modules.
- A choice of modes is available to support transition to the new tools, either online, on paper or a combination of both.
Attendance#
Term 2 focus#
The focus for Term 2 is on embedding the initiatives introduced in Term 1, including:
- the new attendance services model
- strengthened attendance management plans
- new student management system functionality.
Schools are now required to:
- have a board-approved attendance management plan (AMP) published on your website
- record response activities in your student management system (SMS) when students reach AMP thresholds.
If your school or kura does not have its own website, we can host your AMP.
Recording response activity at AMP thresholds#
Your school must record response activities at AMP thresholds in your SMS.
- You must record AMP response activities when a student reaches the threshold of 5, 10 or 15 days of absence within a term.
- SMS providers have introduced new features to make it easier for schools to record these activities.
- If you need help with these features, contact your SMS provider directly.
Fuel-related absences#
Fuel-related absences need to be treated as 'unjustified'. If a child remains absent for more than 5 days, you will need to follow up as you would for any other unjustified absence.
Update on the attendance service case management system#
Some recent system issues prevented some schools from submitting requests through the attendance services case management system.
The system is now operational, and affected schools can submit requests for support. Additional features will be released soon, allowing schools to view all active and closed cases referred to an attendance service provider.
Recording a full-day school closure#
Your school is required to record a reason for any full-day school closures during term time in your SMS.
See guidance and information:
Learning support#
Early Intervention Services referrals#
Schools are now able to make referrals to Early Intervention Services (EIS) for learners in Years 0 to 1 with parental consent.
Learning support in the early years
Induction courses for learning support coordinators#
We encourage schools with a learning support coordinator (LSC) to support them to complete an induction.
Learn more about the LSC induction courses and how to access them:
Managing emergencies#
All schools must have an emergency management plan in place. School boards are responsible for developing and maintaining this plan.
Prepare for an emergency or traumatic incident
We have 2 new resources to help schools respond to student self-harm and after a suspected suicide.
Support to schools responding to self-harm and suspected suicide
Our regional Traumatic Incident Teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any school experiencing a sudden disruptive event or emergency.
Freephone (NZ only): 0800 TI TEAM (0800 848 326)
New Zealand Education Excellence Awards#
Nominations for the Ngā Tohu Kairangi Mātauranga o Aotearoa | New Zealand Education Excellence Awards close 9pm Friday 24 April.
Applications will close on Friday 1 May.
Winning schools and kura will receive $20,000. Award winners and finalists will also be formally recognised at a national awards ceremony to be held in Parliament on Wednesday 24 June.
