The National Curriculum

The New Zealand Curriculum has eight learning areas: English, The Arts, Health and Physical Education (PE), Learning Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Science, Social Sciences and Technology. Students develop key knowledge, skills and concepts in each area and learn how to apply them in their lives.

The vision is young people as confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners. It gives schools the flexibility to develop learning programmes that ‘work’ for all students. It provides broad principles, values and key competencies to be explored and adopted through the teaching of eight learning areas.

The key competencies which sit alongside the learning areas are designed to encourage enjoyment of learning, the ability to think critically, manage self, set goals overcome obstacles and get along with others – the attributes they need to succeed as adults.

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa has nine learning areas: Te Reo Māori, Pāngarau (Maths), Pūtaiao (Science), Hangarau (Technology), Tikanga-ā Iwi (Social Sciences), Ngā Toi (Arts), Hauora (Health and Physical Education), Ngā Reo (Languages) and Te Reo Pākehā (English).

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa aims to develop successful learners, who will grow as competent and confident learners, effective communicators in the Māori world, healthy of mind, body and soul and secure in their identity, and sense of belonging. They will have the skills and knowledge to participate in and contribute to Māori society and the wider world.

The whānau, the community, and the iwi of learners contribute to their education. For them to experience success, the school, the whānau, hapū, iwi and community must work together effectively and consistently. The curriculum upholds the cultural identity and heritage of learners and their families.

Schools and kura working with families, whānau, communities and iwi to use Te Marautanga o Aotearoa as the foundation to build a school curriculum or marautanga-ā-kura that reflects their own unique identity, values and vision to meet their students learning needs.

Your child’s school or kura should provide regular opportunities for you to have your say on how the curriculum is taught. Talk to your teacher about how you can be involved.

For more information on the National Curriculum and different subject areas visit the Curriculum area on the Ministry of Education’s TKI site.

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Education outside the classroom

Education outside the classroom (EOTC) is any curriculum-based activity that takes place outside school such as a museum or marae visit, sports trip, outdoor education camp, or rocky shore field trip. EOTC programmes provide your child with hands-on experiences which support their learning and achievement.

Comprehensive EOTC guidelines are in place for schools covering health and safety, legal responsibilities, staffing and supervision. The guidelines have been developed for both Māori and English-medium settings with examples that reflect these contexts for learning included to ensure relevance for all schools.

For more information about EOTC visit the EOTC parents and whanau section on the TKI website.

What they learn at each year level

Both The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are organised in eight levels (stages of learning). When your child or teen can show most of the skills, knowledge and understanding for a level, they move to the next level.

Your son or daughter may also be working at different levels in different learning areas or parts of learning areas - often depending on the interests or particular experiences they may have had. Ask their teacher if you’d like more information about this.