Latest news with #secondaryschools
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Principals warn Education Ministry instruction on school opening hours 'not feasible'
Principals said secondary schools would struggle to find enough days in a year to operate under the new guidelines. (File photo) Photo: 123RF Secondary principals warn they cannot work with new Education Ministry guidelines that set a higher bar for deciding if schools are "open for instruction" . The ministry recently told schools they would not be considered "open for instruction" if only some year groups were present, or they were only providing supervision. Secondary principals told RNZ it was a serious problem because many secondary schools had a staggered start to the school year, bringing different year groups back on different days, and most allowed their senior students to study from home during secondary school exams at the end of the year. Secondary Principals Association Louise Anaru said if those days were not counted as "open for instruction", schools would not be able to find enough days in the year to operate. The ministry had told schools to continue with their usual practices this year but the new interpretation would apply next year. Asked by RNZ why the change was required it said: "While the regulations have not changed, the guidance has been developed to support consistent teaching and learning across the school system, making sure all students receive the minimum guaranteed time they are entitled to each year. "Further guidance is being developed to provide clarity for secondary schools around end-of-year arrangements and exam-related closures." The ministry did not say whether schools had been misinterpreting the rules and opening for too few days each year. The rules around school opening were based on half-days - periods of two hours or more in which the school was open. Schools had to be open for one half-day before noon and one half-day after noon each day of the school term. Primary schools must be open for at least 382 half-days and secondaries for at least 376 half-days, and no schools could be open for more than 402 half-days. Anaru said the ministry's guidelines would have a big impact on secondary schools. "We have sought legal opinion on it which also concurred that it just wouldn't be possible for secondary schools to comply with these new guidelines. "There's not enough days in the year to be open for instruction using these new guidelines and really it would just create a very confused situation for schools." She said the association's legal advice was that the ministry's interpretation was wrong. "The ministry's guidelines do not comply with the open for instruction requirements as part of the Education Act. It's an interpretation which is just not feasible for schools to implement," she said. Anaru said the association had not discussed whether to take legal action. Burnside High School principal Scott Haines said the new directive would have a huge effect on every secondary school in the country. "The new interpretation will have a seismic impact on both how this school, Burnside High School, operates and on how I think probably just about every other secondary school in New Zealand will operate because it represents a very different position and interpretation than has been the custom and practice for as long as I've been in education, which is now 25 years." Haines said a staggered start to the year was essential for a big school like Burnside. Under the new rules that would have to stop, or count as days outside the normal school year - but that would mean using some of the 10 days a year that teachers could be called back to schools when they were not open for instruction. "We're already leaning on those days with events such as parent interviews in the evenings, open evenings... so there's already a significant call on that resource. If the sense is that we need to rely more heavily on that then we're going to need more days in the collective agreement," he said. The guidance to schools also said teachers' collective agreements required unions to work with school boards to ensure schools remained open for instruction during paid union meetings. NZEI national secretary Stephanie Mills said its members recognised closing primary schools had a significant effect so it arranged its paid meetings accordingly. "We don't believe the situation with paid union meetings is even relevant to that guidance that the ministry's issued about 'open for instruction'. There's no change to the legislation in terms of their rights under the Employment Relations Act to paid union meetings and so we're just going to continue with business as usual," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The hardest secondary schools to get into in Bolton
The hardest secondary schools to get into in Bolton 2025/26 have been revealed based on the number of places available compared to first choice applications received. A total of six secondary schools in the borough get more applications than there are places available. Eden Boys' School, Wolfenden Street, is the most in demand, with only 121 places offered out of the 224 times it was placed as a first-choice option. The ratio means only 54 per cent of children are successful in getting into the Star Academy school. Eden Boys' School came out as the hardest to get in toMore: Bolton Muslim Girls School is good with outstanding features - Ofsted More: St James CE High School reach for the stars with GCSEs More: Canon Slade's Ofsted grade on the up In second place is St James's CE High School, Farnworth. Canon Slade was also on the list of oversubscribed schools The school had 359 first-choice preference applications, with 200 places being offered. That gives a success rate of 56 per cent for families hoping to get children into the school. Bolton Muslim Girls' School pupilsBolton Muslim Girls School had 258 first-choice preferences, of which 148 were successful. This was a 57 per cent success rate for children getting in. A total of 234 places were offered at Sharples School out of 355 first-choice preference applications. Pupils from Sharples SchoolAt Thornleigh Salesian College, 289 children had it as a first-choice preference, with 262 getting in. This was a 91 per cent success rate. A total of 297 children successfully got into Canon Slade, out of 320 hoping to - a success rate of 93 per cent. All the other secondary schools in Bolton had a 100 per cent success rate for children wanting to get in. Headteacher of Bolton Muslim Girls School Idrish Patel said: "Bolton Muslim Girls School is popular because it is a high achieving school with students going on to post-16 education and university. "We are in negotiations to increase places so more pupils are able to attend, but we are limited by the site of the school. We have parents ringing up asking why their daughter has not got in the school and it is frustrating for us too. "We have seen an increase in applications over the years and hopefully we will be able to take in more students in the future, that is our plan." Headteacher of Sharples School Caroline Molyneux said: "We are of course delighted that so many families are placing their trust in us by sending their child to Sharples School. "It is a testament to the hard work that goes on every day by our staff, to given every child the best chance of success."
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
More Hong Kong schools at risk of closing as authorities tighten class size rules
Hong Kong education authorities will tighten the requirements for public secondary schools to continue operating as the student population declines by raising the minimum enrolment number and cutting some of the alternative options allowing them to survive starting in September. Members of the sector said on Tuesday they expected the new measures would speed up the closure of less popular schools, while students with poor academic performance might even be asked to repeat the same grade to meet the enrolment threshold. The Education Bureau, which announced the measures in a circular to secondary schools, said the move aimed to protect students' interests. 'The Education Bureau estimates that the number of Form One students aged 12 will drop from 58,800 in 2025 to 49,800 in 2031,' Ida Lee Bik-sai, Ida, deputy secretary for education, wrote in Insider's Perspectives, the bureau's online blog. 'The Education Bureau must … revise the arrangements related to class structure and support measures to safeguard students' learning interests.' The measures included raising the minimum number of students required for secondary school to operate a Form One class from 25 to 27 starting in the new term in September. The threshold will be further raised to 29 in 2026-27.
RNZ News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Rugby drop plan to establish under-18 team
A number of secondary school principals opposed to NZR's move to establish an under-18 team. Photo: New Zealand Rugby has dropped a plan to introduce a national under-18 side following an outcry from secondary school principals, who were concerned the move would undermine the traditional New Zealand Secondary Schools team. In March, New Zealand Rugby announced it was introducing an under-18 men's team which would be the pinnacle of the age grade competition and would play two games against Australia under-18s in September and October. The New Zealand Secondary Schools side would play games against New Zealand U18 Māori and New Zealand Barbarians U18 teams, with those games essentially acting as trial games for the under-18 team. NZR was looking to establish the team in an effort to widen those eligible for the age grade team. At the time NZR general manager Chris Lendrum said "we know from our registration data that nearly 30 percent of U18 eligible players were playing at clubs in 2024 and we want to include those players in what we believe is a crucial step in our pathways programme." However, a large number of school principals opposed the move believing a New Zealand U18 team would see their elite pupils move out of secondary school rugby and into the NZR's elite pathway to the detriment of their education. NZR general manager Chris Lendrum. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi NZR has now dropped its controversial plan for 2025 at least. "We have listened to the principals' group and acknowledged the concern that our proposal had the potential to unwittingly lead to some of our youth leaving school early. While we believed there was merit in a more inclusive selection criteria, we remain committed to supporting schools as the primary vehicle for young people to develop academically, holistically and as rugby players," Lendrum said. The NZSS team will be selected under the same criteria as it was in 2024, but with an eligibility exemption for under-18 players who are playing club rugby due to the absence of a first XV programme at their school and who cannot access a combined school team. Lendrum said a joint review would then take place at the end of the season "there is also a commitment to look more broadly at the governance arrangements relationship between NZR and schools, with a shared desire to have greater alignment with the wider rugby system in New Zealand". Otago Boys' High School Rector Richard Hall, representing school principals, welcomed the decision. "The retention of the NZSS side as the pinnacle of school rugby was vital for schools, it remains a significant motivation that we can use to enhance rugby players development as people and for those involved in coaching being part of that team offers an elite coaching pathway." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Application for direct school admission to secondary schools, JCs opens from May 7
SINGAPORE – Students who wish to apply for direct admission to secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs) may do so from May 7. Those who wish to apply for early admission to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) can start doing so from May 20. Application for early admission to polytechnics starts on June 2. The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on May 6 that the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme allows students to enter secondary schools and JCs based on their interests and aptitudes, beyond their performance at the national examinations. Students will be considered by the respective schools they have applied for. Schools can admit up to 20 per cent of their students through the DSA, said MOE. According to checks by The Straits Times, 142 secondary schools and 20 JCs will be participating in the DSA exercise. Students applying for DSA must still sit the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or O-level examinations. If a DSA offer is made to them by their selected school, students have until the indicated deadline to accept the offer, which will be before the release of the national examination results. For students moving on to secondary school, they will be guaranteed a place in their selected school, provided they accept the offer and their PSLE result meets the minimum requirement for a posting group that the school admits students from. MOE posts students to secondary school through three posting groups: PG1, PG2 or PG3. PG1 roughly corresponds to the previous Normal (Technical) standard, PG2 to Normal (Academic) standard and PG3 to Express standard. Similarly, those who apply to JCs will be guaranteed a spot provided that their O-level results meet the minimum requirements for admission. Once students accept a DSA offer, they will not be eligible to participate in the Secondary 1 posting exercise or Joint Admissions Exercise. They are also not allowed to transfer to another school after obtaining their examination results. Primary school pupils and their parents may submit DSA applications via from 11am on May 7 to 3pm on June 3. Applicants need to fill in only one online form, and can select up to three choices of school and talent area offered by the school. Applicants can indicate the same school up to two times in their application. Students applying for DSA to JCs can go to for more information, or visit the JCs' websites for the application period, procedures and selection criteria, as these vary between schools. The Early Admissions Exercise (EAE) is applicable for those wanting to further their education in an ITE or polytechnic. Under the EAE, applicants are considered based on their aptitude and interest in a specific course, as well as relevant work experience for working adult applicants. Applicants may need to submit portfolios or undergo interviews and take aptitude tests as part of the selection process. Graduating secondary school students who would like to enter ITE can go to for more information on the application procedure and entry requirements for the courses they are interested in. Applications will open from May 20 to 26. Meanwhile, graduating O-level students who would like to enter polytechnic can submit their EAE application from June 26 to July 2, while final-year ITE students can submit their EAE application from June 12 to 18. Applicants can find more information on the application procedure and entry requirements at Those successful will be given an offer by the chosen ITE or polytechnic before receiving their final examination results. They must meet the minimum entry requirements for the selected course in order for the offer to be confirmed. Those who accept a place via the EAE cannot participate in other ITE or polytechnic admission exercises. Working adults can also apply for EAE to enter ITE or a polytechnic. They must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents, and have at least two years of relevant work experience. EAE applications for working adults into ITE and polytechnic will open from May 20 to 26 and June 2 to 29 respectively. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
