Even if you grew up in New Zealand yourself and went to school here, things have undoubtedly changed since you were little and if you can explain to your child what happens at each level of school, it’s a good thing. Navigating the journey from the first day to leaving the school gates forever as a teenager is exciting, but also can be challenging. Not just because of the learning your child will be expected to do, but also how they may feel as they approach different developmental milestones.
In New Zealand, all children aged 6 to 16 years must either attend school or be educated at home. Most Kiwi kids start school as soon as they turn 5. There are 13 ‘Years’ in the New Zealand school structure. The ‘Year’ denotes how long a child has been at school.
Schooling is divided into 3 stages: Primary, which is Year 0–8 if it’s a ‘full’ primary school or Year 0–6 if it is a ‘contributing’ primary school, Intermediate (Year 7 and 8) and Secondary (Year 9 to 13).
The primary years
Year 0/1
Year 1 is the biggest change for any child, as starting school is a big deal. The transition to school is often easier if a child has attended an early learning centre or preschool at aged 3 or 4. Preschools in New Zealand can be private or public Kindergartens, or Te Kōhanga Reo.
It’s common that preschools liaise with the local school when your child reaches the age of 4, so he/she can have school visits. Attending a local Kindergarten may also mean that your child has some friends to start school with.
Primary school teachers who teach the first year of school are specifically trained in welcoming new children into the classroom. If your child is particularly nervous, they will have a toolbox to share with you. Many primary schools have a ‘buddy’ system where an older child from a higher level is paired up with the new child so that they can answer any questions and be a general support.
The main thing your child will be getting used to in year 1 is shifting from play-based learning at Kindergarten to a more structured schedule. They will get familiar with the different aspects of school such as timetables, assemblies, and the layout of the school.
Year 2/3
As children are still at an early stage of learning, elements of the curriculum will be introduced by plenty of hands-on activities, such as science experiments, visits to the art gallery, and daily storytelling. Reading comprehension is a focus in these early years, learning to sight words, and basic grammar and spelling. Your child will likely have reading books to bring home that you can practise with them.
You can help your child develop their comprehension skills at home by asking questions as you read together. You could ask, “Why do you think he feels that way?” or “What might happen next?” It helps children think critically and also teaches empathy. Children will have spelling lists to learn. You can make this fun by doing spelling bees at home or by using the words from their spelling list into sentences, then asking them to spell specific words.
Children will also begin learning basic maths with 2, 5 and 10 times tables, while furthering their ability to add and subtract. Basic terms of weight and measurement, as well as fractions will also be introduced.
Years 4/5
Children will build on their vocabulary and spelling, as well as more complex grammar and sentence structures using prefixes, suffixes and pronouns. Their reading books will become more in depth and challenge them to check meaning. You can help them with this at home by not just reading the book together, but by talking about the characters, plot and themes.
In Maths, the times tables will take centre stage this year. Children will be expected to quickly recall most multiplication sets as these form the basis for much of their other numeracy work. It’s a great idea to stick times tables up around the house, or you can practise them together on car journeys. Make it fun by using them during shopping trips and in other real-life situations.
Year 6
Year 6 aims to build the confidence your child will need to transition to intermediate school. In the final year of primary school, students will be encouraged to work independently on reading, writing and math tasks. Continue to encourage your child to read widely, both fiction and nonfiction. Read signs and labels together to expand vocabulary even further. The final year of primary school is also often the first year in which students are invited to a ‘sleep over’ school camp.
Extended Primary or Intermediate School
Years 7/8
Before they prepare for the transition to high school, students are given even more independence in their learning, and tend to solidify their knowledge in literacy and numeracy. Your child will be encouraged to do as much for his or herself as possible. It’s a habit you can reinforce at home by asking them to pack their own things, help with the dishes, and take responsibility for their homework schedule.
In Maths, students will work to consolidate their knowledge of things like multiplication, but will also work on fractions, decimals and more complex division. Students will begin their first foray into simple algebra, and more complex geometry.
For English, verb types (could you? Would you? Must we?) will be introduced alongside more complex punctuation. Children learn and practise to write in complex sentence structures, taking a critical approach to texts, and finetuning spelling and grammar skills.
A key aspect of intermediate school is emotional and social development, as your child will learn to rely on organising themselves and working hard to achieve. Helping your child to increase their organisational skills and self-reliance is one of the best things you can do to equip them for the years to come.
High school
Year 9
It’s a whole new phase of learning (and social, emotional and physical development) for your child.
Children will now get used to moving between classes and teachers, they’ll also be exposed to a wider range of subjects and topics. They’ll have to be organised and prepared, following their timetable and ensuring they have the things they need for each class.
It’s possible that your child finds this challenging and even stressful at first. Go over with them each night what they need for the next day, help them plan their study and homework schedule. Gradually release your support as it is important that they learn independent study.
Starting college or high school can be daunting especially if they come from a small school and the high school has a much larger number of students. Make sure to check in on your child’s emotional wellbeing. If you’re concerned, all New Zealand schools have guidance counsellors who are experts at helping students at all levels with any anxieties or challenges that they may be feeling and encountering. Don’t hesitate to ask for support.
Year 10
Students will spend their time building on existing skills in English, your child will study classic and contemporary plays, journalism and poetry, while thinking critically about voice, representation and perspective. There may be school performances your child can get involved in. Maths will include equations and students will also begin statistics, introductory probability and single variable data analysis.
Year 11
This is the first year in which students are given a say in their own learning path. Although core subjects still exist (English, Maths, Science), your child will be given the opportunity to choose the rest of their subjects from languages, creative arts, history, economics, geography, technology and a range of other options that the school may offer.
Talk to your child about their elective choices and ensure they know how this might affect their workload and future study options for their senior years. Their choices are likely to influence what they choose to study for NZCA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement).
Your child may not yet know what career they want to choose, so it is always good for them to do subjects that they enjoy and excel at, while at the same time keeping a wide range of choices open. Encourage your child to seek input from teachers or their Year advisor. Students may begin to start studying for NZCA Level 1 in year 11.
Year 12/13
For most students, Year 12 is the most important year of high school. As soon as they turn 16, school is no longer compulsory but around this time, they will have to make some important choices about their transition to further education, training or a career. Year 12 students generally receive advice from teachers on career development as well as school visits from career advisors.
Your child will choose which subjects they would like to study for their NZCA levels one and two, as well as continuing with English, Maths and Science. What they choose for NZCA (the National Certificate of Educational Achievement) may affect their tertiary options in further education.
Encourage your teenager to compile study notes and help them find a system for learning. This is also the time to take advantage of after school study programs, groups and additional tutoring. Study notes should be compiled throughout the year, and you can help your child to get into the habit of weekly revision rather than trying to cram everything into two weeks before exams.
This year really is the beginning of adulthood for our young people, and as well as taking responsibility for their studying and exam results, other key learning in these years include developing a healthy work/life balance and learning how to handle stress. Exam years can be stressful, so it’s important to make sure your child is balancing all that study with regular exercise and some socialising, and that he or she has some extracurricular activities they enjoy.
