Those considering a New Zealand visa
for studying should read about all the benefits of the country's
education system. New Zealand visas for study are available, so to find
out if you are eligible click on the above link for a free assessment.
The New Zealand Education Act (1989)
provides free education in approximately 2,700 state schools which are
administered by Boards of Trustees. Each Board of Trustees has a large
measure of autonomy in its governance of its school.
Government-funded schools (state
schools) do not charge tuition fees however parents are expected to meet
some minor costs such as uniforms, stationery and some extracurricular
activities such as sports trips or school camps.
In some circumstances children are
required to attend the school they are zoned for. If one chooses to live
outside the zone of the preferred school, children may not be eligible
for a place in that school. Any spare places at popular schools are
generally allocated by ballot.
Exceptions to zoning may include attendance at a school with a special character - such as a religious school.
Sectors of schooling
The New Zealand education system is broadly divided into the following categories:
- Early childhood (preschool and kindergarten);
- Primary school starting at age five (year 1 to 6);
- Intermediate school starting at age 11 (years 7 to 8);
- Secondary school starting at around age 13 (years 9 to 13) and finishing at age 17 or 18;
- Tertiary or vocational higher education.
Early childhood children usually
attend preschool between the ages of two and five years old. Attendance
at preschool is not compulsory however it is common for parents to enrol
their children in early childhood programmes.
New Zealand has a wide range of
early childhood services, including both state-funded and private
preschools. Many are run by private operators, community church groups
and voluntary agencies.
Kindergarten
Kindergartens are an alternative to
preschools and provide early childhood education for children from the
age of three to five years.
Children attend either morning or
afternoon sessions which are informal and focus on developing social
skills and learning through play.
Most kindergartens have two or three
trained teachers but parents are expected to help out both with class
supervision and with fundraising and committee work.
Kindergartens usually do not charge fees but donations are generally expected.
Primary School
Children must be enrolled at a
primary school by their sixth birthday, however the majotiy of children
attend primary school once they turn five years old.
A number of primary schools also
take children through to the completion of intermediate school (Year 7
and 8). Depending on local schooling options, children in Years 7 and 8
can either stay at their primary school or move to an intermediate
school for these two years.
The primary school curriculum covers
English language (oral and written, reading, handwriting and spelling),
mathematics, science, social sciences, the arts (including music),
technology, and physical health and well-being.
At intermediate level, workshop
craft and home economics are also studied. Maori language and culture is
also taught widely in schools.
Secondary School
There are 440 secondary schools
throughout New Zealand. Although the largest schools have around 2000
students, the average school size has about 1000 students.
Attendance at secondary school is
compulsory up to age 16 (Year 11 or 12). The majority of students remain
in school until the age of 18, however students can attend secondary
school until the end of the year they turn 19.
Secondary school is also known as
high school or college and covers ages 13 to 18 (Years 9 to 13). In some
rural parts of New Zealand primary and secondary schools may be
combined to form what is known as an Area School.
Tertiary Education
Nearly a quarter of New Zealanders
have some form of tertiary education and currently about 40% of school
leavers go directly to tertiary training.
Tuition fees are not fully covered
by the state, and students are expected to contribute to these. Tertiary
education fees vary considerably depending on the course of study and
the chosen provider of the course.
University
There are eight government-funded
universities in New Zealand and all have internationally respected
academic and research standards. At university, students can work
towards bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.
Career and Vocational Training
New Zealand has 25 polytechnics
providing a very wide range of courses up to and including degree-level.
Polytechnics also provide short courses, pre- employment courses and
vocational education training courses.
Types of school
The majority of students in New
Zealand attend state-funded schools, however there are a number of
schooling options available to parents, caregivers and students.
In general a child can attend any
state school, even one that is not the closest to where they live. It
should be noted however that this is not always the case.
State schools
State schools are co-educational
(mixed sexes) at primary and intermediate level, but some offer
single-sex education at secondary level. Lessons are based on the New
Zealand Curriculum.
Special Schools
Special schools are state schools
that provide education for students with special education needs. The
curriculum is the same as at other state schools.
Integrated Schools
Integrated schools are schools that
used to be private and have now become part of the state system. They
teach the New Zealand Curriculum but keep their own special character
(usually a philosophical or religious belief) as part of their school
programme.
Designated Character
Designated Character schools are
state schools that teach the New Zealand Curriculum but have been
allowed to develop their own set of aims, purposes and objectives to
reflect their own particular values.
Independent (or Private) Schools
Independent (or private) schools are
governed by their own independent boards, but must meet certain
standards in order to be registered.
Independent schools may be either
co-educational or single-sex. They charge fees, but also receive some
subsidy funding from the government.
As at July 1 2004 3.8% (29,150 students) attended private schools.
Boarding Schools
Boarding schools may either be
independent or part of a state-funded school. There are a number of
boarding schools in New Zealand and all charge boarding fees.
Enrolling children in school
To enrol children at a school, it is best to contact the school directly by telephone or in person.
Applicants should provide their visa
or entry documents, proof of date of birth and any papers including
school reports relating to their previous education.
Applicants may also need to provide the school with immunisation documents.
If a family is planning to send
their child to a public school, their choice may be somewhat limited by
where they choose to live.
Similarities and differences between New Zealand and UK education
The New Zealand system of education
and teaching is essentially similar to the UK, although there are some
differences worthy of note:
- New Zealand's education system is based on a nationwide statement of student learning policy that all schools adhere to.
- Instead of the UK's prescriptive and content dominated and assessment based National Curriculum, curriculum strategies in New Zealand are intended more as guidance than requirements for schools.
- New Zealand schools have more freedom to focus on developing children's learning and thinking skills.
The school year
The school year runs from February to December and has four terms. Each term is roughly ten weeks long.
Summer holidays (December to
February) last about five and a half weeks at primary schools and about a
week longer at secondary schools. The autumn, winter and spring
holidays each last two weeks.
The school day generally runs from 9am - 3pm for primary school or 9am - 3.30pm for secondary school.
Further information
Detailed information about schooling
in New Zealand can be obtained from New Zealand Embassies and High
Commissions or from the Ministry of Education in New Zealand. Find out
further information on our Healthcare page.
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