Visit a High School in New Zealand with Go To New Zealand

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

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

For more information of our free High School New Zealand services, please contact us.

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

For more information of our free High School New Zealand services, please contact us.

Schools will assess each student’s English and academic levels on arrival in New Zealand and place the student in the Year level most appropriate to their abilities. Most secondary schools are government established but there are some private or integrated schools. All secondary schools offer national qualifications that are recognised by all New Zealand tertiary organisations.

Many international students enrol at secondary schools for senior studies in Years 11–13, aged 15–18 years in preparation for tertiary studies in New Zealand or in other English-speaking countries. New Zealand secondary schools provide a sound education to students aged 13-18 years. Some schools have classes for students aged 11 and 12 as well.

Most secondary schools are government-established but there are also a number of other schools that have special philosophical or religious traditions. These schools are either private or integrated schools. Integrated schools were privately funded in the past, but are now government funded. The entry requirements, courses and educational standards of all secondary schools are similar and prepare students for the same national qualifications.

As an alternative to completing studies in a college or high school, some international students select one of the foundation programmes that are offered around New Zealand to directly prepare students for university study.

Secondary School New Zealand

Students are advised to enrol in courses approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority for which the issuing of student visas have been approved. These courses meet international standards and are recognised world-wide.

Secondary schooling is compulsory in New Zealand until the age of 16 years. Most secondary schools are government established but there are some private or integrated schools that have special philosophical or religious traditions. They are allowed by law to teach particular religious values, but must also conform to the nationally set curriculum.

All secondary schools offer national qualifications that are recognised by all New Zealand tertiary organisations.

Students attend secondary school for 5 years and can enrol from Year 9 to Year 13. The school year begins early February and finishes early December. Because students take the National University Entrance Bursary examination at the end of Year 13 most schools will not accept new students into Year 13 from after May or June. Even at this time students may not complete sufficient of the course to qualify to take the Bursary examination.

Students can begin at secondary school in Years 9-12 at anytime of the year however if you are planning to arrive from September it is better for you to attend English school until the end of January when the new secondary school year begins. This is also because much of the school time in October and November is spent on examination preparation and then the long summer holiday is in December and January.

It is important for ISSL to have a good idea of your English level as this will assist in recommending a school which best meets your needs. It is not necessary for students to attend an English school before proceeding to secondary school but it can help those students who have very limited English. Schools will assess each student’s English and academic levels on arrival in New Zealand and place the student in the Year level most appropriate to their abilities.

Secondary school students must complete Year 13 and pass the University Entrance Bursary examination to qualify for Entry to University. All secondary schools are Government registered and there are several different types of secondary schools to choose from.

There are many private training establishments in New Zealand providing a wide range of tertiary and vocational courses. Short-term English language courses use modern teaching methods, including laboratory work and conversational classes.  Many polytechnics, institutes of technology and universities also offer English language training.