Education
Watch: School reports to focus on reading, writing and maths
Twice-yearly standardised report cards will rank primary and intermediate children's achievements on a five-point scale. Audio
Government unveils new school report card system
The government has revealed its new school report for students aged five to 15 and has said it will give parents clearer more consistent information on how their children are progressing. The report… Audio
NCEA hurdle trips up 15,000 students
Thousands did not reach critical new reading, writing and maths benchmarks last year.
Why are school uniforms so expensive? And do we need them?
With the start of term, families are grappling with familiar uniform dilemmas.
Concern over thousands of students not reaching NCEA standards
More than 15,000 senior secondary school students failed to reach the critical NCEA reading, writing and maths benchmark last year. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports. Audio
One in five ERO-scrutinised schools needs external support or intervention
Twenty-one recently published Education Review office reports say the schools need statutory managers, a commissioner or guidance.
Morning Report Essentials for Friday 30 January
Concerns over the stability of our hospital's IT systems after another outage. Chris Bishop joined us with an update on plans to repair roads damaged by last week's storm. New prescription rules mean… Audio
Two new specialist schools to open
Two new specialist schools will be built to support children with high and complex needs - almost 50 years since the last one was established in 1977. Rosehill School is a specialist school in… Audio
How to build your child’s confidence as they start school
Practise using bags and lunchboxes and get in the groove of the new morning routine.
Families rely on donations to fund back-to-school costs
Pencils, pens, textbooks and a full uniform might seem like the basics for any school student, but many families are struggling. Audio
Two new specialist schools to open for children with high needs, disabilities
The announcement comes as school starts back for 2026.
Families relying on donations to fund uniforms, stationery
Pencils, pens, textbooks and a full set of uniform might seem like the basics for any school student, but many families are relying on donations to start the school year. Several schools across the… Audio
Navigating the pros and cons of school uniforms
Otago University's Dr Johanna Reidy researches the impact of school uniform design and policy on health and educational outcomes. Audio
'I was asked to disregard the evidence': Ex-staffer on new school curriculum
"I watched colleagues run back and forth to the Beehive for approval, watched academics and sector experts be removed," she says.
Morning Report Essentials for Thursday 29 January
This morning we spoke to our reporter at Mount Maunganui for an update on the recovery mission. There's confusion over changes to rules for people travelling to the UK. We were joined by the British… Audio
MPs told bill assumes 'unfettered political control' can replace schools' expertise
Submissions to Parliament's Education and Workforce Select Committee nearly all spoke against the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill.
Students learn better in uniform, headmaster says, brushing off cost concerns
The head of an Auckland high school is defending high uniform costs, arguing it is in students' best interests - and cheaper for parents overall. Audio
Parents hit by growing cost of school uniforms
Depending on what school your child goes to, a full school uniform set - including shoes, blazer and PE uniform could set you back about $600. Westlake Boys High School headmaster Paul Fordham spoke… Audio
Why do we have 'meet the teacher' days and how do you get the most out of them?
A 15-minute window to meet your child's teacher may seem brief, but get it right and you'll get the school year off to a good start. Here's how to make the most of it.
Teacher who dragged crying preschooler by the wrist struck off, hit with $20k bill
The child was upset and distressed and complained, 'Kaaren hurt me'.
