New Zealand Education (part 2)
New Zealand School Terms
There are four terms in the school year. The year begins in late January or early February, after a summer holiday of about six weeks, and ends in December.
The four terms have breaks of two to three weeks between them. Secondary school students have slightly longer holidays.
New Zealand School System Structure
School in New Zealand is compulsory from age 6 to 16 years. Children follow the school system from primary to intermediate and then onto secondary school.
Children enter school at Year 1 and can go through to Year 13.
| Year | Age in February | Age in December |
| 1 | 5 – 5½ | 5½ – 6½ | | 2 | 5½ – 6½ | 6½ – 7½ | | 3 | 6½ – 7½ | 7½ – 8½ |
| 4 | 7½ – 8½ | 8½ – 9½ |
| 5 | 8½ – 9½ | 9½ – 10½ |
| 6 | 9½ – 10½ | 10½ – 11½ | | 7 | 10½ – 11½ | 11½ – 12½ | | 8 | 11½ – 12½ | 12½ – 13½ |
| 9 | 12½ – 13½ | 13½ – 14½ |
| 10 | 13½ – 14½ | 14½ – 15½ |
| 11 | 14½ – 15½ | 15½ – 16½ | | 12 | 15½ – 16½ | 16½ – 17½ | | 13 | 16½ – 17½ | 17½ – 18½ |
Primary school – Children must be enrolled by their sixth birthday but most attend from age five to 11 or 12 years old. Many schools have waiting lists so you may choose to pre-enrol your children. Depending on local options, children in their Years 7 and 8 either continue to attend primary school or move to a separate intermediate school. Intermediate schools operate only in urban areas.
Secondary schools – Students from age 12 or 13 (Year 9, formerly 3rd form) through to 17 or 18 (Year 13) attend secondary school. Usually students are grouped in classes, but have different teachers and go to different classrooms for each subject. Some secondary schools enrol students early and it is advisable to contact schools at least six months before the official enrolment date. Area schools – Also known as composite schools, these usually operate in rural areas and combine primary, intermediate and secondary schooling in one location.
State (government-funded) schools are co-educational at primary and intermediate levels. Some offer single-sex education at the secondary level.
New Zealand Schools Choices
 State schools – Most New Zealand students attend state-funded schools. State schools don’t charge frees but do seek an annual donation to fund improved programmes and services. Stationery and school uniforms are a cost to the parent. Integrated schools – These are schools that used to operate as a private institution but, in recent years, have been integrated into the state system. Although they follow the state curriculum requirements, all have retained their special religious or philosophical character. A small number of institutions, such as Montessori and Rudolf Steiner schools, are secular in character.
Private/independent schools – These schools receive only limited government funding so are almost entirely dependent on fees. Each school determines its own fee scale with fees generally being more for the senior years. Private school fees for New Zealand residents can range from NZ$4,000 to NZ$14,000 per child a year. Private schools are governed by their own independent boards but must meet government standards in order to be registered. They are also subject to the same ERO audits as state schools. Boarding schools – Boarding schools exist mainly at secondary level. There are currently 96 boarding schools operating in the state, integrated and private sectors.
Correspondence school – The Correspondence School teaches a full range of school-level courses.
Home-based schooling – Home-based schooling must meet the same standards as registered schools, and approval to exempt the student from regular schooling must be obtained from the Ministry of Education. A small annual grant is available for teaching materials. Home schooling accounts for less than 1% of school environments.
Links:
Ministry of Education
Independent Schools of NZ
NZ Boarding Schools Association
NZ Association of Private Educator Providers
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