Attendance, achievement and assessment

Regular check-ins

As you are aware, there is a lot going on in the education system this year to improve achievement and attendance, and strengthen other priority areas, such as learning support and the education workforce. Our role is to support you in implementing these and other priorities – including through more proactive, consistent supports and services from our regional offices. 

To support this, our regional teams will be in contact with you at least once per term (more if you have specific matters that need following up) to understand how things are going for you. The purpose of these check-ins is to make sure you are aware of the resources and assistance available to you, explore what is working well and discuss any specific needs that you may have. 

The information you provide will be used at the school level to help us understand what you need from us, and at an aggregated level to understand how things are working across the system.

Your local team will arrange these check-ins in the way that works best for you.

NCEA co-requisite supports for Year 12 students

Over the coming weeks, local Ministry offices will be reaching out to schools and kura to provide you with additional information and support for Year 12 students at risk of not achieving their co-requisite.

The supports are designed to help you, teachers, and kaiako plan for and track student progress towards their NCEA goals, and prepare for the co-requisite assessments. They join our range of existing NCEA resources, which you can find here:

Literacy and Numeracy resources for kaiako – NCEA Education 
Rauemi for Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau – NCEA Education 

Applications for structured literacy and te reo matatini PLD closing soon

Applications for Ministry-funded PLD for structured literacy approaches and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā (structured te reo matatini) close on 3 March.

This round of PLD will be delivered over Terms 2, 3, and 4. If your application is accepted, you will receive an application reference number which you can use to enrol with one of our approved providers.

For more information on how to apply, the list of approved PLD providers, and key dates, visit our PLD website:

PLD for structured literacy & te reo matatini approaches – Ministry of Education

Accelerating learning report available

The ‘Accelerating Learning in Oral Language, Reading, Writing and Mathematics’ report is available on Tāhūrangi. The report identifies evidence-based teaching practices and interventions that accelerate learning in English and maths.

This report can help you plan for students needing acceleration and guide classroom practice. We will be using it to inform the development of further accelerative learning resources and supports.

You can read a copy of the report here: 

Accelerating learning in English and maths - Tāhūrangi

Find recently released guidance here:

Accelerating progress – Leadership Guidance – Tāhūrangi
 

Attendance expert advisory group

An attendance expert advisory group (EAG) has been established to support Government agencies, the sector and us to improve outcomes for learners. The group is made up of representatives from principals, attendance leads, attendance services and community leaders.

The EAG will provide advice that supports the continued development of the Attendance Action Plan. This includes advice on policy development, early feedback on new or improved systems and processes, and insights into the challenges faced by schools and communities across New Zealand.

The EAG will be in place from February.  We will provide updates as the work progresses.

International assessments data collection

If your school offered an assessment alternative to NCEA in 2024, such as Cambridge or the International Baccalaureate (IB), you can complete the international assessments collection form available through the Secure Data Portal (SDP). If you have not yet received the form in the SDP, contact us immediately at [email protected].

The due date for the submission of the international assessments collection form is 3 April. Complete this so that the achievement data of your school leavers is accurate.

Health, safety and wellbeing

School camp season starts with safety

WorkSafe wants to remind you to pay close attention to outdoor education risk management, as the new school year gets underway. Schools must manage their risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and boards have due diligence obligations.

Read more guidance from Education Outdoors New Zealand here:

EOTC Safety Management Plan Template & Toolkit Forms – Education Outdoors New Zealand

Workforce and resourcing

2025 supports for beginning principals

A range of supports and services are in place for 2025 through Evaluation Associates and Te Akatea.

Read about what’s available to beginning principals – including ‘The Principals’ podcast and eLearning modules – here:

Professional learning support for beginning principals – Ministry of Education

Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programme

Registrations are available for the first of four 2025 webinars (the fifth overall). In this webinar mentors and Pou Tautoko will be introduced to the programme and explore how to lay the foundation for strong relationships with mentees.

Webinar dates:
Tuesday 18 March, 3:30 PM
Wednesday 19 March, 7:00 PM

Te Poipoi Kaiako – Tātai Aho Rau – Core Education
Te Poipoi Kaiako – 2025 Webinar 1 (5) – Humanitix  

March roll return

This year the March roll count date is 28 February with returns due no later than 7 March.

The 2025 school roll return guidelines are now available on Education Counts. There is also an information sheet for staff completing a roll return for the first time. We have updated the roll returns to specify which collections charter schools are expected to complete.

School Roll Return Guides – Education Counts

Preparing to complete your roll return

If you have students in secondary-tertiary programmes, check with the programme providers and record the correct details in your Student Management System (SMS). Schools using an SMS should check they are using the latest version of the roll return:

School SMS Roll Returns 2025 – Education Counts

Schools not using an SMS should complete the Excel template provided on Education Counts and submit it to us via the Secure Data Portal. Read the instructions tab in the template for more information.

School Roll Return Forms (March 2024) – Education Counts

If you have any questions about the roll return process, email [email protected].

2025 staffing roll increases

The confirmed rolls and staffing entitlements will be visible in Pourato on 27 March.

If your roll grows after 1 March, you may be eligible for a staffing roll increase. Refer to our website for further information:

Request a staffing roll increase when your school's roll grows – Ministry of Education

Applications for roll increases can be accepted from 27 March.

Banking staffing

End of the banking staffing year 2024

The 2024 banking staffing year has closed. Funding code changes can no longer be accepted.

The balancing period runs from pay period 23 to pay period 26 (22 January 2025 to 18 March 2025) and helps you manage your banking staffing to achieve a nil balance.

We will advise schools of their 2024 banking staffing balance in early April and recovery or reimbursement will occur in the Q3 operational grant. Reimbursement of under-used staffing will be made to Kaupapa Māori and Māori Medium Education only.

2025 banking staffing recovery rate

The 2025 banking staffing recovery rate has been set at $96,000 (GST exclusive).

The 2025 banking staffing reimbursement rate has been set at $77,000 (GST exclusive). Please note that reimbursement only applies to underused staffing for Kaupapa Māori and Māori Medium Education.

For advice on managing your banking staffing, contact your school financial advisor. See our website for further information:

Managing staffing usage (banking staffing) – Ministry of Education

Additional relief teacher funding reminder

We can provide additional relief teacher funding (ARTF) in certain situations when schools incur double costs due to hiring relief cover for a teacher taking eligible paid leave.  ARTF for sick leave is designed to reduce excessive demands on your relief teacher funding budget when:

• a teacher, or a dependent of a teacher, experiences a long-term or recurring illness during a year, and
• the teacher has been on paid sick leave, and 
• a reliever has been hired to replace them.

When claiming ARTF for sick leave, your school must pay for the first 8 days of the first ARTF claim for each teacher, each year. You must also provide acceptable medical documentation for all days being claimed, including the first 8 days.

You can find out more about ARTF, including what other types of eligible paid leave we provide it for here:

Additional relief teacher funding – Ministry of Education

School lunch collective – return of Cambro Go-Boxes

The School Lunch Collective (SLC) has notified us that a number of Cambro Go-Boxes have gone missing, and we are seeking your help to return these.

The number of boxes delivered to schools is recorded and it is important that these insulated boxes are returned each pickup to ensure there are enough for the next day’s lunch delivery.

If there is not a secure place to leave your boxes for pick up, or you have boxes to be returned please contact your SLC Area Manager.

Governance, planning and infrastructure

New charter schools open

The first seven new charter schools | kura hourua have opened for the start of Term 1.

More new charter schools that could open later this year or early 2026 will be announced soon.

The Charter School Agency will also start an expression of interest process for existing state schools that are interested in becoming charter schools.

Read more about The Charter School Agency:

About charter schools | kura Hourua – Charter School Agency

Gangs Act 2024

Since November 2024, Police have had new powers to disrupt and directly target gang activity through the Gangs Act 2024. Police can now arrest anyone wearing gang insignia in any public place, which includes schools.

More information about the new Act can be found here:

What you need to know: Gangs Act 2024 [PDF, 684 KB]

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the new legislation, or enforcement of the Act, contact your local Police station:

Find police stations by map – New Zealand Police

2024 Notional Lease available

This information is required to prepare your year-end financial statements – you do not need to pay this amount.

The 2024 Notional Lease information is available through the Property portal:

Property portal – Ministry of Education

Lease charges should be treated as an expense in your Statement of Comprehensive Revenue and Expense, offset by a corresponding income entry in the same statement. The net impact on the ‘bottom-line’ is zero.

How the lease amount is calculated

The ‘notional’ lease amount is calculated by applying 5% to the value of Ministry-owned school property. This figure is then adjusted by any lease costs directly paid by the Ministry.

The rate of 5% is the current Government cost of capital rate which is consistent with the previous year.

For further information email [email protected].

Property Project and Programme Management panel briefing session recording

Thanks to everyone who joined the Property Project and Programme Management (PPPM) panel briefing session on 13 February. You can watch the session’s recording here:

Property Project and Programme Management (PPPM) Panel – Vimeo

From 3 March you will only be able to engage property project managers from the PPPM Panel, as will we.

More information on how to hire a property project manager will be made available on our website by the end of the month.

Hiring a project manager or administrator for a property project – Ministry of Education

Contact your Property Advisor if you have questions.

Buying wood pellet fuel

We have established a contract with Azwood through which South Island schools using biomass boilers can purchase wood pellet fuel.

We have secured favourable pellet-pricing and terms and conditions for schools. Azwood pellets are ENplus A1 certified, meaning they meet the top-grade A1 premium-quality standards.

Refer to our website for further information including how to join and use the wood pellet fuel contract:

Buying wood pellet fuel – Ministry of Education

You can also contact [email protected].

New land transport rules

As part of the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024, the reduction of speed limits on specified roads will be reversed by July and schools will be able give feedback on others that may possibly be reversed.

Additionally, by mid-2026, all schools with gates on state highways will have electronic variable speed limits (60 km/h or lower) during drop-off and pick-up times.

More details are available on NZTA’s website:

Speed reversals and consultation - transitional changes in 2024-25 - NZTA