Support for the mission

Provision of high quality data and relevant information is a core strategy to achieve the Ministry's mission of "shaping an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes".

Purpose

Education Counts' vision is "to be the first point of contact for easy access to statistical data, quantitative information and research about education and education services in New Zealand".

Objectives

The objectives of Education Counts are to:

• create an effective online "doorway" to statistical data, quantitative information, and research on education and education services in New Zealand
• ensure all information is presented in a clear and cogent way
• offer ways for clients to obtain additional information, including making specific information requests
• provide a clear pathway to www.education.govt.nz and other Ministry of Education, and Ministry sponsored, websites.

Audience

Members from all of the Ministry of Education's audiences visit Education Counts; however, the main focus is on visitors wanting statistical data, quantitative information, and research on education and education services in New Zealand.

Our audience includes:

• researchers
• education providers
• Ministry of Education analysts
• parents/whānau
• government agencies
• governance bodies
• sector interest groups.

Approach to the audience

The site is open to all audiences, in that all external users can access the same information. It is not designed to have closed communities, that is, no parts of the site beyond the Ministry of Education firewall require specialised registration and 'logging-in'.

Audience navigation

The primary method for organising information is structuring through information type, which is reflected in the main navigation system.

• Education Counts homepage: Acts as a main communication page, offering quick access to commonly referenced content on the website.
• Know your region: An online tool where users can select a particular regional council or territorial authority. Users can access data on student population, student engagement, student attainment and school financial information.
• Find your nearest school: An online tool where users can search for a particular school in New Zealand and find its profile, including contact details. Users can also access student population, student engagement and student achievement data for the school.
• Early learning services: An online tool where users can search for a particular early learning service/centre in New Zealand and find its profile, including contact details.
• Directories: Lists of education institutions and their key profile and contact information.
• Publications: Provides access to research publications and publications with a data or quantitative information focus.
• Statistics: Provides access to statistical information about education and education services, including simple reference lists.
• Topics: Includes pages to help users navigate the site and some specialised pages where analysis has synthesised information to identify new findings.
• Data services: Provides information to assist users to understand and use other information provided on the website. Information includes a glossary, data dictionaries and descriptions of data sources.

The search facility allows users to search across the Education Counts site. A specialised search facility for publications is also available. Specialised navigation pages for key themes can be found under Topics.

Content and services

Education Counts is an audience website that combines text based information with access to online applications. Content inclusions include:

• demographic information, specifically tailored for use in the education sector
• contextual information, such as labour market information, for assisting with the interpretation and understanding of education information
• reference lists, including address and service details of New Zealand's education institutions
• collections of statistical information obtained through Ministry of Education processes, including data on achievement, participation, and resourcing
• analysis of education information, including education sector indicators and detailed examination of key education themes
• publications, such as research and evaluation reports, Iterative Best Evidence Syntheses, regular monitoring reports, and specialised analysis
• pathways to other Ministry of Education and Ministry supported websites
• technical info to support the use and interpretation of data and information, including data dictionaries, glossaries, FAQ's, defined standards, and descriptions of analytical techniques.

Content exclusions are:

• the Ministry of Education's corporate information
• information created about a specific topic and aimed at a specific audience for which a specific alternative website exists.

Content management

Content is generated by Ministry business groups, particularly Data and Insights.

Content is developed and written in accordance with Education Counts design and style guidelines.

Every effort is made to present text documents as HTML pages. These pages may also be available as downloads, such as PDF. In line with disability guidelines, text alternatives are associated with non-text content, such as graphs and images.

Assigned Ministry personnel (content owners) are responsible for sign-off of content. Publication production cycles, with version control, are used to support content approval.

Non-Ministry of Education content

Education Counts applies a quality assurance process prior to adding links to external material. This ensures all referenced content meets agreed Ministry standards. Routine investigation and maintenance of links is undertaken to ensure agreed standards are met.

Look and feel

Visual designs comply with Education Counts design and style guidelines.

High level branding reflects Ministry of Education standards.

Visual design expresses the following attributes:

• direct
• evidence-based
• connected
• comprehensive
• accessible.

The Education Counts site complies with e-government standards, including NZGLS. The site is accessible to technology aids for disabled users.

Tone and manner

Information shows positive and negative aspects of education and education services. The audience feel both good and bad news is available here. The site is perceived as honest and apolitical. The audience perceive that this is a site that provides facts and truth.

The audience recognises the site is comprehensive, with a wide range of topics and issues covered.

The writing is factual, informative and explanatory. Plain non-jargonistic language is used. The audience feels they can easily understand what is presented, without the feeling it is over-simplified for them.

Communication functions

Education Counts is the main communication channel about education statistical data, quantitative information, and research findings. Education Counts:

• allows interactivity, for example, dashboards allow the audience to query data directly and generate their own indicators
• enables visitors to provide feedback on the site via email.

Capability for multi-visitor conversations, for example, chat rooms and discussion boards, is not available.

Security

The entire site is publicly accessible and does not require secure log-in.

Distribution/access

Education Counts is an open access website with its own url. High level entry points support role-based and topic-based access.

Responsiveness

Dedicated staff are provided to handle audience enquiries and feedback. All email queries are logged, instantly acknowledged, and a personalised response is sent within two working days.

Relationship with other Ministry channels

A link to www.education.govt.nz is available from all pages. That site is acknowledged as the main Ministry of Education website and visitors are offered every opportunity to access the site, with a link on every Education Counts HTML page. A link is also provided to other Ministry of Education and Ministry supported websites.

Other Ministry of education websites provide reciprocal links to Education Counts.

Relationship with non-Ministry of Education channels

A number of non-Ministry of Education national education bodies exist, for example, ERO and NZQA. These agencies maintain a relevant online presence. Description of the roles of these agencies and links to their websites are incorporated in Education Counts.

Links are also provided to other relevant non-Ministry of Education websites, such as the OECD.

Compliance with guidelines

Education Counts complies with Ministry of Education and NZ e-Government guidelines and standards.

Education Counts has documented style, design and technical guidelines relevant to its content and business processes.

Delivery roles