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Key dates
31 March: Due date for submitting annual financial statements to the auditor.
31 May: Due date for submitting annual report (including the annual financial statements) to us.
31 December: End of financial year for all schools and kura.
What schools must report on#
All schools and kura must prepare an annual report under section 134 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
Education and Training Act 2020 – New Zealand Legislation
The report shows how school boards have applied their financial resources to achieve the goals set out in their strategic plan in the previous year.
It may be read by:
- parents and the wider community of the school
- the Ministry of Education
- Members of Parliament.
You can use our annual report template to help you complete the components of your annual report. Annual reports have no set template, and the use of this template is optional. You can amend this template to meet the needs of your school or kura and your community.
Annual report templateThe financial statements component of the annual report has a template with a format that you must use. The school annual financial statements page explains how to prepare these.
Annual report checklist#
Make sure that you can check off each of the items below before you submit the annual report to us. Details of what your report should cover for each of these items are in the annual report template.
- Presiding member/principal’s report [OPTIONAL].
- List of all school board members [OPTIONAL].
- Statement of variance.
- Evaluation of the school’s students’ progress and achievement.
- Report on how the school has given effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Statement of compliance with employment policy.
- Other reports on special and contestable funding [MAY BE NECESSARY].
- Statement of KiwiSport funding.
- Annual financial statements.
Annual financial statements must include:
- Statement of responsibility signed and dated.
- Statement of comprehensive revenue and expense.
- Statement of changes in net assets/equity.
- Statement of financial position.
- Statement of cash flows.
- Notes to the financial statements.
- Independent auditor’s report signed and dated.
Timeline for preparing and submitting an annual report#
If you have questions about preparing your annual report, contact the school finance adviser in your region.
Submitting an annual report#
Up until 30 April 2025#
Submit your annual report to us using the Secure Data Portal. The audited financial statements must include the required signatures (presiding member, principal) and the independent auditor’s report.
Secure Data Portal (SDP) – Applications and Online Systems
Effective from 1 May 2025#
Submit your annual report to us using the School Planning and Reporting Application. Guidance is available within the application.
School Planning and Reporting Application Login – Ministry of Education
The School Planning and Reporting Application uses your Education Sector Logon (ESL). You will need to request access to the School Planning and Reporting Application by contacting your school’s ESL Delegated Authoriser.
Delegated Authorisers will need to set up the School Planning and Reporting role for users as shown below.
Detailed guidance for Delegated Authorisers on how to set up new roles for users is available online.
ESL: Support for Online Delegated Authorisers - Ministry of Education
Technical Support for ESL and the School Planning and Reporting Application is available from the Education Service Desk.
Freephone (NZ only): 0800 422 599
Excel spreadsheet version of financial statements#
In addition to the single PDF file, your school can also upload an Excel spreadsheet version of annual financial statements. This is optional.
The process for uploading the Excel version of the annual financial statements is the same as for uploading the PDF annual report.
Publishing your annual report online#
Your school board must publish the annual report on your website. We recommend that you publish the annual report at the same time as you submit it to us.
If you do not currently have a website, we can host your annual report on our Education Counts website. Send us your request to host your annual report along with the school board's approval.
Email: [email protected].
It is the school board’s responsibility to ensure your annual report does not contain any information that may breach an individual’s privacy before you make it publicly available.
