That means delivering to clients not just what they wanted but also what they didn't know they wanted or needed or couldn't have believed was possible. That means proactively using information and analysis to influence education outcomes, and demonstrably achieving a benchmark of excellence in all our activities.

Education Counts aims to be a centre of excellence within the Ministry and within the sector as a whole. That means expertise:

• developed products that clients want
• intellect, skills and knowledge that customers are fighting to use.

We will position Education Counts as the data and information and knowledge 'one-stop-shop' for the education sector within New Zealand. Our core capability is in quantitative data and analysis (as a 'data co-ordination centre') but if we are to use that capability to best effect and maximum impact we also need to be actively engaged in international benchmarking and policy debate.

Our mission

Our mission is...

In achieving our mission we will use the following tools:

• wide knowledge base of education related information
• highly developed data collection and analytical skills
• partnerships with other Ministry of Education teams
• relationships with education providers and other agencies
• modern technology.

Our approach will be to focus on operational and policy issues of strategic importance. We will anticipate and respond to information needs, providing information, analysis, and expert advice. We aim to enable integration of information from different sources and to communicate analysis, issues and trends to the Ministry and to the education sector. We will also assist others to do as much as they can themselves through using the Web to increase their access to data.