North Canterbury News: January 11, 2024

NCEA level 1gains favour
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury secondary schools are
sticking with NCEA level 1.
While anumber of schools are
ditching level 1infavour of their own
qualifications, North Canterbury
principals say they still see merit in the
existing model.
Rangiora High School principal Bruce
Kearney said without arobust
qualification, year 11 would effectively
become asecond year 10.
‘‘If you do remove level 1, you really
need to have an alternative pathway or
qualification and Iwasn’t confident we
had that.
‘‘And Ireally like NCEA, Ithink it is a
good qualification and Idon’t believe in
postponing it because it is too stressful
because all you are doing is transferring
that stress to level 2.’’
Changes to level 1will see just two
internal assessments and two external
assessments for most subjects, instead of
the variety of assessments available
now.
External assessments can be an exam
or aportfolio of work which is assessed
externally from the school.
Students will need 60 credits to pass
level 1.
The new level 2assessments are not
due to be released until 2026, and level
3in2027, so students sitting level 1this
year will revert back to the old system
for level 2.
Mr Kearney said the rest of
curriculum refresh was ‘‘frustratingly
slow’’.
‘‘It is coming into schools at adrip­fed
pace, which is frustrating because we
wanted it to be anew curriculum.
Welcome to 2024
Term Office Hours -8:30am-3:30pm
Wednesday 31st of January
-Whole school 8:40am
(busschedules resume today)
-MihiWhakatau9:00am
Monday 6th of February
-Waitangi Dayobserved
(school closed)
Friday 15th of March -Teacher Only Day
(school closed)
Friday 29th of March - Good Friday observed
Monday 1st of April -EasterMondayobserved
(school closed
both days)
Friday 12th of April -End of Term 1
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Robust qualification ... Rangiora High
School principal Bruce Kearney says
sticking with NCEA level 1ensures a
pathway for year 11 students.
PHOTO: FILE
‘‘Some subject teachers are already
developing their learning resources,
while others are still waiting ­and then
we have anew government. It is quite a
difficult time for schools.’’
The Aotearoa New Zealand History
curriculum took effect last year, but
other curriculum changes were being
staggered out to 2027.
The social sciences, mathematics and
english curriculums have also been
released to be in place for 2025.
New curriculum for the sciences,
technology and the arts will not be
released until later this year, with
health and physical education and
languages curriculum not available
until next year.
Oxford Area School principal Mike
Hart said the slow rollout was
‘‘beneficial’’ for his school.
‘‘It means we can focus on alearning
area at atime and spend time
developing alocalised curriculum.
‘‘We take the themes and we localise
it. What does it mean in Oxford? How do
we connect it to our community and
what is our vision for our learners?’’
Kaikōura High School presiding
member John Wyatt said his school was
sticking with NCEA level 1.
He said it was achallenging time to be
in education.
‘‘What an enormous task our
educators have. We used to just train
people in [reading, writing and maths]
and set them on acareer path for life.
‘‘But the world is changing. In 25
years, they predict about 30 percent of
jobs will no longer be there.’’
Mr Wyatt said the new curriculum
needed to provide ‘‘a stepping stone for
tertiary education and for life’’.
Rangiora New Life School, Oxford
Area School and Kaiapoi High School
are also sticking with level 1.
Kaiapoi High School principal Jason
Reid said having less assessments will
reduce teacher workload, with fewer
assignments to mark.
He said students will need to be more
consistent across their subjects to
achieve the credits needed.
‘‘We still see the value of level 1
because some students may leave school
at the end of the year, so at least they’ve
got something to show for their time at
school.’’
All principals said the aim was to have
all students achieving at least level 2
NCEA.
LDR is local body journalism cofunded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Students gearing up for new school year
Summer holidays are still in full swing
for the youngest members of the
Hurunui District, but before long
they’ll be gearing up to start their new
school year.
Whether you live rurally or in the
district’s towns, please remember that
from the end of the month there will be
more children and teenagers walking
and scootering the footpaths, biking
the roads, and waiting for buses.
Remember the speed limit is 20km/h
when passing aschool bus that has
stopped to let children on or off.
This rule applies to traffic on both
sides of the road, including urban or
open roads.
This may seem like asnail’s pace,
but children can be unpredictable
therefore travelling at 20km/h reduces
the risk of harm if achild were to run
out on to the road.
Throughout Hurunui communities
there are Kea Crossings and during
school times there are controlled
crossings directly opposite schools.
Please be mindful of these areas
from 8am to 9am, and 3pm to 4pm.
School pools are also popular spots
for children, so keep your eyes peeled
as they navigate their way through the
pool gates to take adip.
Let’s start the school year as we
intend to continue –asafe and helpful
environment where everyone can get
to where they need to go, hassle free.
Back to school ... Students will soon be
walking, scootering, biking and catching
buses, as the new school year begins.
PHOTO: FILE
ACommunity that Cares Students who Achieve
Startdates for 2024!
Monday29January: 8.30am Office Open:Teacher Only Day
Tuesday30January: 9.00am Officeopen.:SurnamesA-L (+ Peer Support Leaders)
Course Confirmation(Yrs11-13) (ChurchAuditorium)
11.00am SurnamesM-Z:CourseConfirmation (Yrs 11-13)
(ChurchAuditorium)
12.00pm
All NetNZstudents
10am–3pm Peer Support Leader Training (Rm29) SmithBlock
Wednesday 31 January: 8:50amto3:10pm Whole school in uniform
9am–9.30am MihiWhakatauwelcome forall students
at Events Centre
Thursday1February: 8:50am –3.10pm Regular school day
Friday 2February: 8:50am–3.10pmRegular school day
Monday5February Teacher Only Day–school closed.
Tuesday6February Waitangi Dayobservance–school closed.
Moredetailed informationincluding stationery, busroutesetc.isavailableatwww.rnls.school.nz
Some spaces availablefor ChristianFamiliesin2024 in Secondaryonly.
PROVIDING QUALITY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
FOR YR 1-13 STUDENTS IN NORTH
Denchs Road, Rangiora: phone (03)313 6332
admin@rnls.school.nz |www.rnls.school.nz
BACK TO SCHOOL
The North Canterbury News, January 11, 2024
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17
ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL
TE KURA OHATOHOHEPA
30 LudstoneRoad,Kaikoura7300.
Phone (03) 319 5725
email office@stjkaikoura.school.nz
Principal: Judith Ford
First Day is
31 January 2024
The school office is open
from 23 January 2024.
We areaccepting new
enrolments for2024
WAIPARA
SCHOOL
commences on
Tuesday 30 th January 2024.
Office open on
Monday 29 th January 2024.
Please remember to bring sunhats
and swimming togs.
Enquiries and new enrolments to
Yvonne Blair, Principal
Ph 03 314 6814
principal@waipara.school.nz
www.waipara.school.nz
WaiparaSchool
Loffhagen Drive, Waipara
2629111 2630461
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