What they learn
Education is constantly changing to ensure young people have the knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s world. It is no longer enough to know facts and figures, students also have to know how to process information, relate to other people and make informed choices and decisions.
The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa form the national curriculum. These set the direction for teaching and learning in Aotearoa New Zealand schools and provide guidance for schools to develop a curriculum that meets the learning needs of their students.
The New Zealand Curriculum applies to all English-medium state schools (including integrated schools). Its vision is that young people will be confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners. It includes values, key competencies and learning areas.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa applies to teaching in Māori-medium settings. The aspiration is 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 New Zealand Curriculum
There are eight learning areas in The New Zealand Curriculum: English, The Arts, Health and Physical Education, Learning Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Science, Social Sciences, and Technology. The key competencies which sit alongside these 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.
Within each curriculum area, students progress through eight levels. Each level represents a learning stage in that subject. Most Year 1-8 students will be learning between levels 1-5.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
There are nine learning areas in Te Maurautanga o Aotearoa: Pāngarau (mathematics), Putaio (Science), Hangarau (Technology), Tikanga-a-iwi (Social Sciences), Nga Toi (The Arts), Hauora (Health and wellbeing, Te Reo Māori (Māori language and literature), Te Ro Pākehā (English language) and Ngā Reo (learning languages).
The learning areas ensure a broad general education, and lay a foundation for later specialisation.
The level at which each child is learning will vary by age and curriculum subject. Your child will progress to the next level in a particular subject when they have mastered most of the skills, knowledge and understanding required at their current learning stage.