School Leavers
This is the main index page for school leavers data. School leavers data is derived from the March roll returns. From here you can access data on school leavers, publications and analysis based on the data, and documents pertaining to the collection, including the roll return collection forms, guidelines for completing the roll returns, and code tables relevant to the roll return.
Introduction
The Ministry of Education carries out statistical collections (roll returns) from all schools in New Zealand at 1 March and 1 July each year, in line with the statutory requirements as detailed in the Education Act 1989.
School leavers data is collected as part of the March roll return. School leavers are secondary school students that have finished their schooling.
School leavers data includes the number of school leavers, by highest attainment, year of schooling, gender, and ethnicity.
The data around highest attainment is particularly useful for analysis. Also, the number of school leavers forms an easily understood cohort that acts as an accurate denominator at a crucial stage in the education system.
Key Findings
Data on school leavers can be accessed via:- the school leavers summary documents. These reports focus on the number, and qualification attainment level, of school leavers. Data tables are also available from these linked pages.
- the indicator School leavers with little or no attainment and its associated data tables
- the indicator School leavers with NCEA Level 2 or above and its associated data tables
- the indicator School leavers with a university entrance standard and its associated data tables
- the indicator School leavers entering tertiary education and its associated data tables
Publications
School leaver attainment data is used in a number of analytical publications and can be found in:
- the publication Education Statistics of New Zealand
- the publication School Roll Summary Reports
- the publication State of Education in New Zealand
Data Collection
Collection Forms
Copies of the collection forms used for the March School Roll Return (including school leaver data) are available as either MS Word documents or PDFs.
Roll Return Guidelines
These guidelines have been updated and expanded to help schools to prepare the data needed for the March and July roll returns. They are designed to help Principals and their administrative staff to ensure that roll returns are completed accurately, whether they use a computerised student management system or complete their returns by hand.
Select the latest roll return guidelines.
Code Sets
Copies of the code sets used in roll return.
Coding Guidelines
Reducing Iwi Coding Problems provides guidance on how to reduce the number of Iwi coding errors by highlighting the problem areas, and providing the recommended code to use.
The Ethnic Group Code includes a section on how to convert multiple ethnic groups into a single ethnic group (prioritisation).
SMS Roll Returns
Specific information for SMS Vendors regarding school roll returns. This information is provided to allow SMS vendors to ensure their systems are accurate prior to schools submitting their rolls.
Contact Us
If you would like to know more about school leaver data please email us at one of the following addresses:
For questions about the reporting, publications and use of data: Information.Officer@minedu.govt.nz
For questions about the collection and coding of March School Roll Returns: School.Returns@minedu.govt.nz
Related Pages on Education Counts
Data Collections: a description of different data collections.
