Education in New Zealand is at par with international standard. However, a quality regulatory body, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) had been formed to ensure that education is imparted uniformly at a particular level to all students. All schools, colleges, and universities in New Zealand are assessed regularly to provide similar standard of education at their respective levels. For any information on the assessment, standards, or regulations, students can get back to the NZQA website for clarification and reference.

Role of NZQA in NCEA
Secondary students or students studying in high schools in New Zealand need to qualify for the National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) certification. The certification is awarded to successful students in three levels – level 1, level 2, and level 3for the Year 11 at 15 years of age, Year 12 at 16 years of age, and Year 13 at 17 years of age respectively.

There are about 40 subjects which are assessed by various authorities to impart secondary education to the students. A part of the assessment is done internally by the institute where the student had been studying. Another part of the assessment is done externally -- by NZQA. It is the vital responsibility of NZQA to ensure that schools provide similar standard of secondary education and that the students are assessed by a common standard. The results of NCEA certification is judiciously key-in databases and published in the NZQA website.

NZQA Responsibilities
The NZQA would:

1. Manage the qualifications framework of New Zealand
2. Manage and monitor the NCEA assessment system
3. Monitor and review the quality and standard of teaching of non-university education providers
4. Review and set education standards from time-to-time

…And, NZQA is not alone in implementing its tasks. It reports to the Minister of Education as well as the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment. It acts according to the Education Act (1989) and the Industry Training Act (1992).

NZQA Review Analyses and Assessments
Many international students often require checking the performance reports or better known as Managing National Assessment (or MNA) Reports, of the high school they wish to study. The assessment reports of schools, performance statistics, and customized reports can be retrieved from the NZQA website. The reports are generated every 3 years. Detailed reviews are done to ensure that the high schools provide fair, consistent, and accurate secondary education to the pupils at all times.

The NZQA decides the following factors for assessment tests:

1. Standards to assess what a student requires to know
2. Ways to assess a student, such as by assignment or verification. This would show whether the student has achieved the competence on the subject.
3. Topics to be covered during a course

…The NZQA has materials and resources which help to assess a student as well as determine the efficacy of a course. The Industry Training Organizations (ITOs) and education providers are given the required permission to assess standards by NZQA. Once permission is granted, the assessing bodies carry out the assessments. The assessments could be “moderate assessment”, “design assessment”, and “verify evidence for assessment”.

Assessment through QAAM
The NZQA has also formulated a quality assured assessment materials (QAAM) trademark through which secondary schools and students are assessed. The materials with QAAM-certified trademark would have:

1. An assessment activity where students need to follow instructions and perform certain tasks.
2. Assessment schedules where students need to understand the evidence, judge the evidence, and provide a sufficiency statement.

…And, by using QAAM certified materials, the teachers would be able to know the right standard to assess a student

High School New Zealand

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New Zealand's High School Abroad Program provides students with an opportunity for a unique, rewarding experience that they will remember for a lifetime! New Zealand High Schools have welcomed international students from Brazil, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam which have immeasurably enriched the cultural life of the NZ school community.

Small class sizes, a safe environment and a commitment to multiculturalism make New Zealand High Schools an ideal choice for international parents wishing to place their children in a international school.

New Zealand High Schools offer many opportunities to fee paying foreign students. As they pay appr. NZ$13,000 each per year, they constitute a significant part of the school's income.

New Zealand High Schools have strong academic, sporting and cultural traditions.

Participants spend a semester or academic year living with a host family, attending a local high school, and experiencing day-to-day life in New Zealand.

Where: all locations in New Zealand
When: all year
Time frame: flexible
Age: flexible

We welcome enquiries from interested parents - and hope you find this section of our website a useful and informative starting point.

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The National Certificate of Educational Achievement offered by New Zealand high schools is recognised locally and internationally by both employers and tertiary institutions alike.

Opportunities to study high school in New Zealand come in two different forms. There are the Government-funded, state-run high schools, and the fee-funded, privately-run high schools.The particular school must be accredited by the Government in order to take international high school students.

The state schools give priority to placing New Zealanders first before taking full fee paying international students, while the private schools have the same priority for the locals and the overseas applicants.

In order to study at high school in New Zealand you will need a student visa. To get this visa you need to personally meet government requirements for prospective students. The course also needs to meet government requirements.

We can answer all your questions about courses and visas and help you to apply.

Once in New Zealand, you may be able to change your course of study or the provider, or you may want to start working while you study. The course you change to will need to fit within the time allowed on the original permit and the option to work is subject to various conditions.

You can even apply for a visa if you intend studying part time, but this option is also subject to various conditions.

AA Education Network will help you explore the work and part time options further if you’d like to know more.

If you are aged between 13 and 17 years and are attending years 9 – 13 at high school, you can choose to have your parent or legal guardian accompany you by applying for a guardian visa.

If you’re younger than 13 at the time of applying, you are required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

You need to be sure to adhere to the conditions of this visa, otherwise it may be revoked.

Contact AA Education Network today and one of our counsellors will answer your questions and help you explore your options for High School study in New Zealand.

We will also assist you with planning and organising your study arrangements and making the visa and study applications to help you realise your goals of travel and study in New Zealand.

High School New Zealand Applications

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High School New Zealand Programs – Ways to Enhance All-Round Education through Recreation in Students

High schools in New Zealand are fun, especially if you are studying in New Zealand. Untouched natural beauty, picnic spots, and cultural entertainments ensure that students enjoy learning in a different way and also have fund during their holidays. Various summer camps are organized by high schools in New Zealand where students learn Maori culture as well as get a fulfilling holiday in the bargain. International students too, get to learn more about the Kiwi culture through cultural exchange programs, which are done primarily during summer vacations.

Summer Camps with a Mission
Many summer camps are held in New Zealand cities which allow students to get an idea about the ethnic culture of the people in the area. Language training is an important curriculum in the camps where students go for out-of-class learning to understand the dialect, communication norms, and specific colloquial terms.

There may also be classes on art and specialized skills. For instance, classes on Maori craft work and cuisine preparations are taught to the high school students. If a summer camp includes adventure sports, don’t be surprised if you are taken for river rafting or hiking trips among the pristine forests, lakes, and rivers in New Zealand.

Programs with a Vocational Training
Many school programs impart curriculum which are vocational in nature. For instance, the students may be asked to visit an outdoor education center to get a hands-on training on communication and English language. At Christchurch high school, many training programs are organized during holidays for high school students to get a practical knowledge on catering, hospitality, and touring service. A program in the rural set up would involve how to organize a camp and plan a perfect itinerary for the guests.

High School International Programs
At Auckland each year, a high school program is held for international students. The students stay with the host families for 4-6 months, learn how to communicate with the people around and brush up on their language. Some take part in technical workshops, few others work on photography and studios, while others go for a course on graphics. There are scopes to take part in recreational activities, such as hiking, water sports activities, biking, and outdoor pursuits. There are travel programs organized by various high schools where students travel, learn, and enjoy a few days’ trip to New Zealand. Often, rural accommodations at dairy farms or wineries are hired or home –stays are booked for the international students.

New Zealand regularly organizes high school programs, especially during holidays where students from various parts of the world, such as Canada, the US, China, and Middle East come over to enjoy and learn in the country. Student exchange programs allow students from New Zealand to also visit the foreign countries and reside with a host family during their student exchange high school program.

An experience of this kind is a lucrative proposition for a student’s future as he or she is exposed to different cultural set ups.

High School New Zealand

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Please be advised that High Schools coast a yearly fee for international students. For further information please contact our student advisor via our application form.

High School New Zealand Application

High School in New Zealand is compulsory for students under 16 years of age. For those wishing to complete High School by sitting the senior years, these include Year 11, 12 and 13 which count towards your NCEA score. NCEA is the National Certificate of Educational Achievement, high grades in a students NCEA years will help them gain entry into University.

There are three levels of NCEA, one for each senior year. A student will complete level 1 in Year 11, Level 2 in Year 12 and Level 3 in Year 13. Marks are determined by a students work throughout each year, including grades in assignments, class work and participation. Each semester there are subject exams, the marks a student achieves in their exams will make the greatest influence on their final NCEA mark.

A student is given an amount of credits in each subject successfully completed. There are minimum credit requirements for students to gain University entry. There are required subjects also, each NCEA level has different requirements. In level 1 a student must achieve 14 credits in a Maths subject. In level 2 a student must achieve 4 credits in both an approved Writing and Reading course. Level 3 being the final year requires a student to have a total of 42 credits. This must consist of 3 approved subjects of the students choice and will require 14 credits from each subject.

There are also English Language courses available for International High School students prior to commencing further higher education. Many institutions and colleges offer language courses, leading to IELTS testing. A IELTS score of 5.0 or higher will help the student gain entrance into many courses in the future.

New Zealand offers world class education, a National Certificate of Educational Achievement proves the student has successfully completed high school. Having a NCEA Award will help a student obtain a place in a University, College or further education Institution. It will also help with any further job prospects

High School New Zealand

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Many high schools in New Zealand offer secondary education to both domestic as well as international students. Foreign students either come over as a part of the student exchange program, a semester break camp, or as a full-time student to study a regular course.

However, apart from the curriculum, the students studying abroad in New Zealand must take care of their accommodation. Parents often don’t entertain the idea of their wards staying independently or as a sitter in at the pet owner’s house. They look for a more secured environment. Here are some ways where the international students reside in New Zealand.

Hostel Accommodation – Often known as “Hall of Residence”, this form of accommodation is available in many high schools that offer courses for international students. The students either share a twin sitter bedroom or may have a single small room. There is a community dining hall, recreational center, sports complex, net service, and library facilities.

Sometimes, the students need to avail a hostel with self-catering facilities. About 6-8 students share the apartment. These apartments are in the campus or quite near to it. There are wardens to look after the administrative affairs of the hostel.

Some noted high schools which offer such facilities include St Mary's Diocesan School for Girls and Marlborough Girls' College. However, many schools may not provide hostels but prefer the students staying at homestays.

Homestays – Most high schools in New Zealand have the provision of homestays where students are allowed to live with the host family. Although there are rents required to be given to the host, you need to mingle with the family and learn the Kiwi culture. In fact, many schools only prefer homestays as they help the student to pick up the communicative English. The school authority ties-up with the host families, fix the rent charge, and monitor the student’s stay in the homestay. In fact, the rent must be furnished along with the tuition fees. The student cannot leave the premises without the permission of the school authorities.

High schools which have homestays include Rosehill College, Newlands College, Waihi College, Pompallier Catholic College, and Awatapu College. The rental charge could differ from one school to another. However, a typical long-term stay would cost around 1200 Dollars per year while short-term stay would be little more than 200 Dollars per week.

Designated Caregiver – The school authorities at times provide a caretaker for the student. Known as the designated caregiver (DCG), the caretaker cannot leave the student overnight supervised under any circumstances. An Indemnity document is a must to ensure this kind of accommodation is successfully obtained.

Pastoral care is the main objective behind top accommodation facilities to the students who are new to the place and may have set off to another country for the first time. Utmost care and well being is the top priority for the students.

High School New Zealand

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