Given the age profile of our clubs there will be few with school age children but many of us have school age grandchildren.
The current government has set in place a series of fundamental changes to education. Ask AI what the changes have in common and the answer is that “they are all part of a massive, synchronized national education reform sweep.” That sweep will involve a range of changes but two in particular will be obvious to students, paraents and grandparents over the next few years.
Very briefly [I’m very happy to give more detail if there are interested readers] those changes involve:
1. A new curriculum which will impact on all levels from Year 1 to Year 13. [For those who went to school a fair while ago that’s Primer 1 to Form 7.]
The Ministry of Education describe the new curriculum as knowledge rich. In simple terms that means there are a bunch of facts that kids need to be taught and learn. Teachers and other educators note that the amount of content that needs to be covered has increased and in many cases topics that were taught further up the year group have been moved to be covered by younger age groups.
It will be implemented progressively but some is already in place and being used in schools.
In addition in August 2026 the government announced nine new industry-led secondary school subjects. These are for Year 12 and 13 students. No one seems to know exactly how these will be included in the school programme but they are designed to provide a direct pathway into work, trades, training and university. Examples include:
- Applied Intelligent Systems
- Construction and Built Environment
- Energy and Infrastructure
- Next-Gen Manufacturing
2. Replacing NCEA with a new qualifications framework
In the governments words “we are building a new system that is clearer, more consistent across schools and internationally comparable so that when a student earns a qualification it genuinely signals, they are ready for the next step and reflects what they know and can do”.
Some readers might even understand what that means. There will be less ability to “count credits” with a focus on whole subjects tied to the national curriculum.
- NCEA Level 1 goes and is replaced with the Year 11 Foundational Award which requires students to pass basic skills tests in reading, writing and maths.
- Level 2 and 3 NCEA are replaced by the NZ Certificate of Education and the NZ Advanced Certificate of Education.
Students in Years 12 and 13 must study at least five subjects each year. Students must pass at least three of those subjects to earn their certificate and final marks will use a mix of classroom work (internal assessment) and traditional exams.
