This is based on my opinion and experience only:
I had a lot of queries lately regarding NZ Schools. I will do a full run down to suit hopefully all of you. Now to give you some background. I was living in SA up to the age of 20 then we moved to NZ. I did all my tertiary studies here.
My kids were born here, and they are now 12 and 14 years old. My comparison is with me being in a South African schooling system and comparing the differences my kids have here in New Zealand.
Personally, I wish I grew up here, due to the many opportunities kids have in NZ and they actually enjoy school and it is a very balanced up bringing.
School starts here the day you turn 5 (on your birthday). Now if your birthday is after term 1 (April/May onwards) you will first do a year 0. If your birthday is first term(before April/May) you will slot into year 1.
This basically give you a 2 year age different with kids in the same year. For example, my son is a march baby, so he is a young year 8 student. (he started in straight in yr. 1) my daughter is an august baby so she had to do the year 0, she is currently an older year 9 student.
You get 3 types of schools here.
State schools – depends on your address, which local school you are zoned at (free – a admin cost of $200 may apply for the year) , most places in nz have good schools. https://www.govt.nz/browse/education/school-and-college/school-zones-reviews-and-decile-ratings/
Semi private schools – you pay around $3000 a year per child but they are semi private only because of a specific reason, this is called a special character. Most of these schools the reason is that it is a Christian school or catholic or special curriculum, other that the NZ curriculum. These schools are not zoned and you have to apply by application and have to proof your religion or say why you prefer a different curriculum
Then you have private schools. They are around $10000 per year plus and they mostly only differ due to the curriculum they follow. Instead of NZQA(NZ curriculum) they do the UK (Cambridge curriculum)
A lot of people would say Cambridge Curriculum is better than NZQA system, the fact of the matter is, it doesn’t really matter what curriculum you end up finishing school with in NZ due to the enless opportunities. Any student can go to university, tech colleges or some form of trade, the system has way more opportunities for your kids here, way more choices and way more career opportunities. They will slot in somewhere.
School is from yr. 0 to yr. 13. Yr. 0 to 6 is primary. Yr. 7,8,9 is intermediate and yr. 10 to 13 is college or (secondary). Yr 13 is optional. The system give you enough opportunities to either finish school in year 12 or 13 depending on your own efforts.
All school here focus to bring kids up with a balanced life. Academic is 30%, culture/music 30%, sport 30%, morals is rest. Therefore I love NZ schools, it is very balanced schooling, life is more than just results on test like in SA. Here it is everything, sports, music, culture, value , so many opportunities, any child can slot in somewhere or everywhere
Primary is very laid back, you don’t really get homework and you do not have any tests, they do assessments every term in school time to get an understanding if your child is still on nz standard. If you don’t hear from the teacher, your child is on track, if you do they require some extra attention, which is sorted by school .The standard is measured on a scale. See link https://parents.education.govt.nz/
If English is your child second language all schools have a special program that is called ESOL. Make use of it, it is free and awesome program
Then comes intermediate school – they then start to have a lot more work , not really homework still but way more things on , bit of everything, sport, productions, camps, academic extra’s and so on. Again year 7 and 8 is mainly tests in school time that are not studied for, it is just to assess them and see if they are still on track
Year 9 they have a practice ncea exam at the end of the year to prepare them for the ncea system that starts in yr 10 to 13. This is where you start with exams and it counts towards levels 1 to 4/5 that will give you entry into your after school options (university or tech or trade or whatever you want to do) kids can apply for their own student loans for their tertiary studies that even pay you weekly payments for you to cover your cost of living while studying. https://www.studylink.govt.nz/
Schools have a lot of giving back programs within the schools, to teach older students to help younger students, to improve their social relationships. Teaches kindness and giving a helping hand
In NZ you have term 1 is mainly cross country(long distance running), everyone is part of it, term 4 is athletics, everyone is involved. Term 2 is either camps or productions (everyone is involved) term 3 is speeches writing.
Yr 10 to 13 is definitely homework and assessments and end of year ncea exams.
Reports for year 0 to 9 is very different to sa , you do not have % or scores, they give you and indication on a sliding scale if your child is on the recommend standard. I love it because it shows balanced kids. Some of my SA friends find it hard not to see percentages. Kids are very happy at school and grow up to be well rounded adults.
Primary mainly focus on math, writing and reading. The rest is bits of everything. Which is introduced by activities. For example history would be a trip somewhere, food would be planting veges in the school garden, art would be different paint and building something with sticks etc
Base subjects for yr 7 – 9 would be English, math,science, social living, physical education and my kids are in Christian school so they have Christian living.
Year 7 & 8 they introduce kids to 8 new subjects over the 2 years, so they can get a feel for what they are interested in. (these subjects is for all students it is , woodwork, cooking, sewing, computer studies, European languages, moari, art , drama, music
Year 9 they narrow the subjects even more. And every year after that even more.
in Year 12 and 13 all schools have a dedicated department that help students with career choices. For example if you want to work in hospitality they will place you with companies to get real life work experiences, while you are still in school to give you the opportunity to see if this is the right career path you seek. or horticulture they would place you in an orchard or if you want to study business after school they would look at best tertiary study options and help you enrol
In my opinion nz schools is very laid back but way more balanced. The reason is that you don’t come to nz for money , or a fancy car or a fancy house. you come here to enjoy life. It is all about what you do after work hours and your hobbies. Not about the job. The job just pay for the fun stuff. And if you can find a job you like even better. Kids can achieve whatever they want to here, as much or as little as they want to.
Its not about who got the highest mark in school, its about the overall opportunities in any area of life.
