Kia orana,
We hope you are keeping warm!
This pānui is to inform you of some key dates regarding curriculum and assessment:
Teacher Only Day: Curriculum
The Ministry of Education has approved two Teacher Only Days in 2026 in order to engage with the new curriculum. We have changed our previously advertised date of August 31st, as we will not yet have the latest curriculum updates. Our curriculum Teacher Only Days are now confirmed as follows:
Teacher Only Day #1: Friday 18th September
Teacher Only Day # 2: Thursday 12th November
This is in Term 4. Many Canterbury schools have chosen this day so that collaboration is possible. NCEA exams will still run as usual.
Students are expected to remain home on these days.
NCEA Assessment Week:
In Week 9, from Monday 14th September until Thursday 17th September, we will be having an NCEA Assessment Week. During this time, normal classes will not run for our Year 11 - 13 students. Classes will run as normal for our Year 9 and 10 students.
Across these four days, for each of their subjects, Year 11 - 13 students may have:
An external exam (CAA for Literacy and Numeracy).
A practice external exam, which provides a ‘derived grade’ for if a student misses the external exam at the end of the year (due to sickness or other adversity).
An internal assessment, or opportunity to catch up on internal assessments.
Another form of assessment (e.g the PED101 class are going to Mahi Tahi gym for a practical session).
Each day there will be two assessment sessions:
A morning session commencing at 8.45am. This session will finish by 11.45am at the latest.
An afternoon session commencing at 12pm. This session will finish by 3pm at the latest.
Students will be expected to:
Attend all of the assessment sessions for their subjects.
Attend school in regular school uniform (unless advised otherwise).
Revise at home when they do not have an assessment session (not at school).
A timetable will be provided to students and whānau closer to the time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this pānui.
Ngā mihi mahana,
The Senior Leadership Team
