School Roll Return Guidelines Data Services
These guidelines are for helping schools complete their school roll returns.
Latest Update: February 2024
Description
These guidelines are for all New Zealand schools including state schools, state-integrated schools and private schools.
Current Roll Return GuidelinesUpdated: February 2024
- 2024 Roll Return Guidelines [PDF 992kB]
- School Roll Return Cheat Sheet [PDF 107kB]
- School Roll Return Data Quality Report Guide [PDF 198kB]
- ENROL Data Quality Report Guide [PDF 171kB]
How to send the dataUpdated: March 2023
All approved Student Management Systems have an eReturns functionality, meaning you can send the Ministry your electronic roll return file directly from your SMS. Please contact your SMS vendor if you require any further assistance on how to do this.
Alternatively, roll return files can be submitted via the Ministry’s Secure Data Portal – just ensure that you select ‘School Roll Return’ when choosing the file type. The Secure Data Portal must be used by schools without an SMS submitting the Excel template roll return form.
- Secure Data Portal Instructions [PDF 655kB]
Eligibility to Enrol in New Zealand SchoolsEducation Circular: November 2020
This circular is about the eligibility to enrol in New Zealand Schools
Auditing of Roll ReturnsEducation Circular: March 2013
This circular is about the requirements schools need to take into account when preparing accurate roll returns for resourcing purposes and the documentation schools need to keep in order to provide a clear audit trail.
Electronic Attendance RegistersEducation Circular: December 2012
This circular sets out the requirements for all schools using, or intending to use, an electronic attendance management system to manage student attendance and create electronic attendance registers.
Roll Returns 1 March and 1 July Education Circular: December 1998
This circular provides principals and Boards of Trustess with guidance in preparing accurate roll returns and in keeping documentionation which will provide a clear audit trail.
- Circular 1998(48); Roll Returns 1 March and 1 July [PDF 1.7mB]
- Circular 1998(48); Roll Returns 1 March and 1 July [MS Word 73kB]
Alternative Attendance RegistersEducation Circular: March 2003
This circular applies to those schools that have Ministry of Education approval to use an alternative attendance register it sets out the requirements for schools using computers to manage their attendance records and prepare their roll returns.
- Circular 2003(01); Alternative Attendance Registers [PDF 1.4mB]
- Circular 2003(01); Alternative Attendance Registers [MS Word 73kB]
Historical Roll Return Guidelines
2023 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2023 Roll Return Guidelines [PDF 983kB]
2022 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2022 Roll Return Guidelines [PDF 996kB]
2021 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2021 Roll Return Guidelines [PDF 994kB]
2020 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2020 Roll Return Guidelines[PDF 1.2mB]
2019 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2019 Roll Return Guidelines[PDF 2.0mB]
2018 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2018 Roll Return Guidelines[PDF 1.3mB]
2017 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2017 Roll Return Guidelines[PDF 873kB]
2016 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2016 Roll Return Guidelines[PDF 711kB]
2015 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2015 Roll Return Guidelines[PDF 872kB]
2014 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2014 Roll Return Guidelines: All Schools[MS Word 872kB]
2013 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2013 Roll Return Guidelines: All Schools[MS Word 696kB]
2012 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2012 Roll Return Guidelines: All Schools[MS Word 1.0mB]
2011 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2011 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[PDF 515kB]
- 2011 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[MS Word 867kB]
2010 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2010 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[PDF 403kB]
- 2010 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[MS Word 855kB]
2009 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2009 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[PDF 316kB]
- 2009 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[MS Word 729kB]
2008 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2008 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[PDF 656kB]
- 2008 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[MS Word 736kB]
2007 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2007 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[PDF 565kB]
- 2007 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[MS Word 661kB]
2006 School Roll Return Guidelines
- 2006 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[PDF 571kB]
- 2006 Roll Return Guidelines: Primary and Intermediate Schools[MS Word 633kB]