Foreword

This Government has a vision for a country where all our young people have access to effective education and the ability to achieve at a high standard, academically and otherwise. By providing all students with a good education throughout their schooling years, our nation“s youth will be better prepared for further education and employment.

The 2010 year was one of changes and challenges in the New Zealand schooling system. The National Standards policy was in its first year of implementation for English medium schools, Ngä Whanaketanga Rumaki Mäori (standards for Mäori medium settings and kura) were in development for implementation in 2011, and Christchurch schools were having to recover from a major earthquake. The performance of Christchurch schools following the 2010 earthquake, and the subsequent major earthquakes in 2011, has demonstrated the organisation, resourcefulness and resilience of our schools and their staff.

Parents understand the importance of basic numeracy and literacy skills in our increasingly knowledge-based society and, along with teachers, are often heavily engaged in their child“s learning. National Standards have been designed to support The New Zealand Curriculum. The standards are aimed at establishing high expectations for students at the national level. The 2010 year was the first in which schools reported to parents on their child“s progress and achievement against the National Standards (English medium). This reporting gives parents feedback on areas where they may need to help their children and what they may need to discuss with teachers. Schools are setting targets in 2011 based on National Standards data they have collected in 2010.

Our Youth Guarantee programme continues, and new trades academies have opened throughout the country to provide opportunities for 16- and 17-year-olds who are disengaging in traditional school settings. These trades academies mean that, for zero fees, students get further education and worthwhile qualifications that make the move into employment or continuing education more likely.

This report shows that the New Zealand school sector is performing well, but there is still room for improvement. The spread of achievement of our students is expansive. Too many pupils do not achieve to their full potential because the system does not engage and support them in their learning. Progress is being made towards a number of goals that have been set in previous years, and with the introduction of the National Standards and other initiatives we expect to see continuing progress towards addressing achievement disparities. The Government“s emphasis will continue to be on lifting educational standards so that the students of today can be the talented adults of tomorrow, contributing to New Zealand“s society and economy in a meaningful way.

I am pleased to present to Parliament New Zealand Schools Ngä Kura o Aotearoa - 2010.

Hon. Anne Tolley
Minister of Education