We answer some questions you may have as a new migrant on topics like qualifications, homework, school attendance, discipline, school terms and much more.

All children in New Zealand must go to school from the age of six to 16 but most children start school when they turn five years old.

Education overview

New Zealand has primary, intermediate and secondary schools:

• Primary/Intermediate - children aged 5-12class Years 0-8
• Secondary - children aged 13-19, class Years 9-13

While primary and intermediate schools are usually combined, some urban areas have separate primary and intermediate schools.

Most schools put children in classes according to their age, although some also consider the student’s learning needs. Talk to your child’s teacher about what is normal for their age. Students who have missed years of schooling before coming to New Zealand, and those who are just beginning to learn English, may have a few classes with younger students.

You will find that some things in New Zealand, like school attendance, homework, school lunches, stationery, uniforms, discipline, school terms and holidays, may be different from schools in your home country. Different schools work with students who are learning English in different ways.

School attendance

You are responsible for making sure your child is enrolled. You are also required by law to make sure your child attends school. If your child cannot attend school on a particular day you need to tell the school by calling the school office and sending a note with your child when they return to school.

If you do not want your child to have religious or sex education classes, please talk to their teacher so that they can make other arrangements. If there are any sports activities, such as swimming or gymnastics, that you would prefer your child not to do for cultural reasons, please discuss this with your child’s teacher.

Homework

Each school has rules that explain the amount and type of homework that students will be expected to do. Ask your child’s teacher if your child will bring work home to complete after school and how you can help them.

The Ministry of Education also has a booklet called Families Learning Together (pdf 1.5MB). It has ideas for families about getting involved in their children’s learning and how to make it fun. It is available in Arabic, Somali, Amharic, Farsi, Khmer, Chinese, Korean, Hindi and English.

School lunches

During the school day there are breaks at morning tea and at lunchtime when classes stop and your child can have something to eat and socialise. In New Zealand, parents are responsible for providing their child with morning tea and lunch to take to school. Many schools have a shop where students can buy lunch.

Providing stationery

Schools provide text books for children to learn from.

When your child starts school their teacher will give them a stationery list. This tells you what type of exercise books, pens and rulers and other stationery you need to buy. You will also have to pay for school trips and school uniforms. If you have difficulty paying for these things, you may be able to get financial support such as Family Support payments.

Wearing uniform

If your child is at a school where a uniform is required with a compulsory uniform policy, they will be expected to wear the uniform.

In some schools, the students may choose whether to wear the uniform or not. If your child has to wear certain clothes for cultural reasons, such as head scarves, please talk to their teacher.

Discipline

Staff in New Zealand schools are not allowed to hit, cane, slap or physically punish students in any way. School boards may approve discipline methods such as setting extra homework or keeping a student after school (detention). If your child is kept after school hours, the school must contact you beforehand.

If a student behaves badly or is likely to harm or be a danger to others they may be stood down or suspended. This means they are not allowed to attend school for a certain period of time. There is a formal process the school must follow when a student is stood down or suspended – and the school must provide the student’s parents with information about this.

School terms and holidays

There are four school terms. Students have a six-week holiday in summer and three other holidays (about two weeks each) every year.

• Term 1: Early February – mid April
• Term 2: Late April – early July
• Term 3: Mid July – late September
• Term 4: Mid October – early December

If there are certain cultural holidays that you observe, please tell your teenager’s teacher so that they are aware of any special requirements such as fasting during Ramadan.

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