Articles tagged with Schools
Government Boosts School Maintenance Funding with 50% Increase from 2026
1 week ago | 91 viewsThe Government is significantly increasing school maintenance funding for the first time since 2010, raising the Five Year Agreement (5YA) base rate by 50% and doubling the minimum allocation for small schools starting July 2026. This investment aims to ensure classrooms are safe, warm, and dry, allowing schools greater certainty and flexibility to plan essential upgrades and modernizations over the long term. Additionally, a $58 million package has already provided over 2,400 schools with one-off grants to address urgent maintenance needs, receiving positive feedback from school communities.
Tags: Erica Stanford school property maintenance funding 5 Year Agreement school capital funding classroom upgrades small schools government investment school maintenance taxpayer moneyGovernment Cell Phone Ban in Schools Boosts Student Focus, Achievement, and Behavior
1 month ago | 163 viewsNew research from the Education Review Office shows that banning cell phones in schools has improved student focus, behaviour, achievement, and reduced bullying. Despite these positive outcomes, about a third of senior students still break the rules, mainly to message parents, highlighting the need for parental support and updated school guidelines. The government is considering expanding the ban to include smartwatches and continues to support schools in implementing policies that enhance student learning and wellbeing.
Tags: Education Review Office Erica Stanford cell phone ban student achievement bullying reduction student behaviour secondary schools digital distractions school policy technology in educationNew Zealand Education Reform Bill Advances to Improve Teacher Training and School Standards
1 month ago | 123 viewsThe Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill aims to strengthen New Zealand’s education system by improving initial teacher education quality, aligning system-level settings, and enhancing school property management through a new Crown agency. It introduces updated curriculum requirements, tighter school attendance rules, enhanced oversight of private schools, and expanded support for charter schools to increase educational options and innovation. The bill also mandates participation in international assessments, recognizes micro-credentials, and refines processes to better support student success and system responsiveness.
Tags: Erica Stanford Seymour Education Minister Teaching Council Ministry of Education Education Review Office TALIS report NZQA OECD Charter schoolsEducation Reform: Enhancing Student Achievement, Attendance, and Freedom of Expression with New Bill
1 month ago | 177 viewsThe Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) has passed its third reading in Parliament, focusing on lifting student achievement, improving education workforce governance, and upholding freedom of expression in universities. Key changes include prioritizing educational achievement for school boards, extending notice period for strike action, implementing attendance management plans, strengthening teacher education requirements, and requiring universities to develop freedom of expression statements. The legislation aims to improve outcomes for young people, enhance academic freedom, and promote critical thinking and diversity in universities.
Tags: Government schools student achievement attendance education workforce governance freedom of expression Education and Training Amendment Bill Erica Stanford unions universitiesNew School Lunch Programme to Provide Affordable Nutritious Meals to 242,000 Students Daily from 2026
1 month ago | 193 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced a new school lunch program starting in Term 1 of 2026, providing affordable, nutritious lunches to around 242,000 students daily in contributing primary schools. Ten suppliers have been contracted to deliver lunches to 188 schools, catering to standard and special diets with sustainable packaging and efficient ordering systems. The program aims to save taxpayers $145 million in 2026 by utilizing a regional approach, offering meals at an average cost of $3.46 per lunch without requiring additional funding.
Tags: David Seymour school lunch programme suppliers nutritious meals primary schools affordable taxpayers funding studentsNew Sisters United Academy Charter School Empowering Pasifika Girls for Success in 2026
2 months ago | 216 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced the opening of Sisters United Academy in Term 1 2026 as a charter school, focusing on personalized education for Pasifika girls. The school will offer tailored curriculum, including traditional activities and Pasifika languages, with a mix of learning opportunities such as internships and overseas study. Charter schools aim to provide innovative, community-driven educational approaches with a focus on flexibility, accountability, and student success.
Tags: David Seymour Sisters United Academy Pasifika girls charter school education students learning tools community ideas charter schools state schoolsKiwi Kids Learn Cycling Safety with Expanded Bikes In Schools Program
2 months ago | 215 viewsNew funding of up to $3.5 million from the NZ Transport Agency will support the Bikes in Schools programme, allowing primary and intermediate students to access bikes and tracks in their schools. The programme, aimed at teaching cycling safety skills to kids, is supported by the Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust and helps build confidence and key biking skills in a safe school setting. Since 2010, over 400 schools have participated in Bikes in Schools, with the funding secured to continue the programme until June 2027.
Tags: Kiwi kids cycling safety skills bike tracks Bikes In Schools programme Transport Minister Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency primary students intermediate students Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust Paul McArdleNew Charter Schools Announced for 2026: Aotearoa Infinite Academy, Te Aratika High School, and Altum Academic
2 months ago | 519 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced the opening of Aotearoa Infinite Academy, Te Aratika High School, and Altum Academic as charter schools in Term 1 2026, emphasizing the importance of providing tailored education opportunities. Aotearoa Infinite Academy offers online education to overcome barriers to attendance, while Te Aratika High School in Hawkes Bay focuses on vocational training for disengaged Māori and Pacific students. Altum Academy in Wellington aims to address the equity gap by offering a Classical Education approach based on the Trivium method, preparing students for critical thinking and communication skills.
Tags: David Seymour Aotearoa Infinite Academy Te Aratika High School Altum Academic charter schools education students innovation Māori PacificNew Teacher Bonding Scheme: Incentives to Support School Recruitment Challenges
3 months ago | 391 viewsThe new Teacher Bonding Scheme, announced by Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford, aims to support schools facing recruitment challenges by offering incentives of up to $40,000 over five years for teachers who remain at eligible schools. This initiative will help attract and retain great teachers, ensuring all children receive quality education. The scheme, set to start in October, will replace the existing Voluntary Bonding Scheme and BeTTER Jobs Programme, with a focus on addressing regional and urban recruitment disparities.
Tags: Teacher Bonding Scheme teachers incentives schools recruitment challenges Minister of Education Erica Stanford students education investmentGovernment Initiative: Learning Support Coordinators to Benefit 101,000 Year 1-8 Students and Teachers
3 months ago | 362 viewsStarting from Term 1, 461 schools will benefit from a new Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) staffing entitlement, part of the Government's $192 million Budget 2025 investment to ensure all primary and intermediate schools have access to LSC support over the next three years. LSCs will provide direct support to both staff and students, focusing on neurodiverse students and those with additional learning needs, while also helping schools and families navigate specialist support when necessary. The phased rollout over three years aims to address inequities in LSC access across regions, benefiting close to 300,000 students in 1131 schools by 2028.
Tags: Education Minister Erica Stanford LSC Learning Support Coordinator students teachers parents schools Government training literacyGovernment-Funded Infrastructure Projects Worth $6 Billion Set to Boost Economy and Create Jobs Nationwide
5 months ago | 987 viewsBillions of dollars in government-funded infrastructure projects are set to begin in the next few months, creating thousands of jobs and driving economic activity nationwide. The projects include new roads, hospitals, schools, and government buildings, aimed at improving infrastructure quality to boost the economy and help with the cost of living. The Infrastructure for Growth work program has delivered on actions to strengthen the infrastructure pipeline, with future projects totaling $207 billion planned across various sectors.
Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop infrastructure projects economic activity jobs roads hospitals schools construction government buildingsAuckland Schools Receive $120M Investment for New Classrooms and Schools
5 months ago | 1029 viewsThe Government is investing over $120 million to build 137 new classrooms in Auckland, creating space for 3,014 additional student places in schools facing growing rolls. The investment includes cost-effective repeatable designs and offsite manufactured buildings to maximize funding impact. Additional projects include establishing new schools in Pōkeno and Chapel Downs to accommodate future growth and ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students in Auckland.
Tags: Erica Stanford Simeon Brown Auckland classrooms students schools education Budget 25 funding infrastructure constructionHealthy School Lunch Programme: Positive Feedback Soars, Complaints Plummet, Taxpayer Savings of $130 Million
5 months ago | 1387 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is pleased to see the Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu has received positive feedback from three quarters of students, and complaints have fallen by 92 per cent, while at the same time taxpayers are saving over $130 million. “The menu for Term 3 is being tested with students across the lower North Island. The result is 73 per cent positive feedback.
Tags: David Seymour Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu students taxpayers meals feedback schools Ministry savingsHealthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 Success: 73% Positive Feedback & $130M Taxpayer Savings
5 months ago | 1538 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is pleased to see the Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu has received positive feedback from three quarters of students, and complaints have fallen by 92 per cent, while at the same time taxpayers are saving over $130 million. “The menu for Term 3 is being tested with students across the lower North Island. The result is 73 per cent positive feedback.
Tags: David Seymour Healthy School Lunch Programme students taxpayers meals feedback schools menu Term 3 savings