23 June 2005

Media Statement

School "tournament week" kicked into touch

Education Minister Trevor Mallard has announced a revamp of the secondary school year including removing the sports "tournament week" as a school holiday.

Last year in response to secondary principals’ concerns over the impact national sport tournaments were having on schools, the minister agreed to create a week's break in the third term for national tournaments.

However, secondary principals then found the implementation of a tournament week was problematic and recently requested the minister revisit its inclusion in the school calendar.

Trevor Mallard says the days made available with the removal of the tournament week holiday will be used to increase the end of term one holiday and where applicable, to increase the school year to the usual 380 half-days - the school year having in recent times shortened by a day.

"Secondary sector groups indicated that they wanted a rethink of their original proposal for a sports week," said Trevor Mallard. "In the circumstances that seemed sensible."

As previously announced, the key change for all schools from 2006 will be starting the academic year after Waitangi Day and finishing later in December.

The new school dates will be gazetted and will apply from 2006 to 2009.

Trevor Mallard also announced that for 2006, secondary and composite schools will be requested to use one of the “call back” days contained in the teachers’ employment agreement to conduct further professional development on NCEA in the holidays.

This will complement two NCEA training half-days recently announced by the minister to take place during term time. The new professional development day will have no effect on the length of the school year.

SEE ALSO ATTACHED NOTES

State and State Integrated Schools Terms and Holiday Dates for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Flexibility of Dates

The Minister of Education has announced the new format for school terms and holiday dates for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Current policy is for all schools to observe the same term dates. However, many schools need to exercise some flexibility to accommodate local events. As in previous years, a board of trustees may close a school for teacher-only days, local gala or show days, and in-service training days.

Where a board exercises this flexibility and closes the school, the time will need to be made up by opening the school for instruction on other days outside the approved term dates. Boards must ensure that schools are open for instruction for the recognised number of half-days in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 as prescribed.

- This flexibility is limited to no more than 3 days in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. (In recent years such flexibility has been 5 days.) If there was variation of more than 3 days, some schools could have difficulty completing the correct number of half-days before Christmas Day.

- Teacher Preparation and Teacher-Only Days

Teacher-only days are planning and preparation days. Instruction is not provided for pupils on these days. Teacher preparation and teacher-only days, including "jumbo days" where a number of schools combine for in-service training, are not included in the calculations of half-days when schools are officially open for instruction.

It is recognised that teachers work on professional development and general school and class room planning during times when schools are not open for instruction, including the period of "call-back" days provided for in the primary and secondary teacher collective employment contracts.

Dates Do Not Need To Be Notified To The Ministry Of Education

Boards of trustees do not need to advise the Ministry of their school term dates.

Local Anniversary Day Holiday

If the local Anniversary Day holiday falls within school term dates, a school will need to stay open for an extra day to ensure that it meets the requirement to be open for instruction for the required number of half-days.

Responsibility To Be Open for Instruction

Section 65A(2) of the Education Act 1989 requires that every board of trustees shall ensure that each school it administers is open for instruction every year on the number of half-days set by the Minister of Education. Schools must be open for instruction accordingly.

The Minimum Number of half-days that schools are required to be open 2006-2009 is listed.

Year Primary and Intermediate Schools Secondary and Composite Schools

2006 394 380

2007 392 380

2008 394 380

2009 392 380

Emergencies

Under section 65E of the Education Act 1989, a board of trustees may close a school at any time because of epidemic, flood, fire or other emergency. Ministry of Education consent to close a school in an emergency is not required although the local Ministry office should be notified. However, if the emergency will result in the school not being open for the required number of half-days in that year, approval to reduce the number of half-days open must be obtained from the Manager at the nearest office of the Ministry of Education.

Enquiries: For further enquiries please contact the appropriate local office of the Ministry of Education.

2006 - PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Tuesday 7 February

To

Thursday 13 April (96 half-days)

Term 2 Wednesday 26 April To Friday 30 June (94 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 17 July To Friday 22 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 9 October

To Wednesday 20 December (104 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 394 half-days in 2006.

2006 - SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Tuesday 7 February

To

Thursday 13 April (96 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 1 May To Friday 30 June (88 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 17 July To Friday 22 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 9 October

To Thursday 14 December (96 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2006.

2006 - Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2006 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays:

Waitangi Day Monday 6 February

Good Friday 14 April

Easter Monday 17 April

Easter Tuesday 18 April

Anzac Day 25 April

Queen’s Birthday Monday 5 June

Labour Day Monday 23 October

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Anniversary Day Holidays 2006

Auckland Monday 30 January Within school holidays

Taranaki Monday 13 March Within Term 1

Hawkes' Bay Friday 20 October Within Term 4

Wellington Monday 23 January Within school holidays

Marlborough Monday 30 October Within Term 4

Nelson Monday 30 January Within school holidays

Canterbury Friday 17 November Within Term 4

Canterbury (South) Monday 25 September Within school holidays

Westland Monday 4 December Within Term 4

Otago Monday 20 March Within Term 1

Southland Monday 16 January Within school holidays

Chatham Islands Monday 27 November Within Term 4

2007 - PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Wednesday 7 February

To

Thursday 5 April (84 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 16 April To Friday 29 June (106 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 16 July To Friday 21 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 8 October

To Wednesday 18 December (102 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 392 half-days in 2007.

2007 - SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Wednesday 7 February

To

Thursday 5 April (84 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 23 April To Friday 29 June (98 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 16 July To Friday 21 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 8 October

To Thursday 14 December (96 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2007.

2007 - Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2007 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays:

Waitangi Day Tuesday 6 February

Good Friday 6 April

Easter Monday 9 April

Easter Tuesday 10 April

Anzac Day Wednesday 25 April

Queen’s Birthday Monday 4 June

Labour Day Monday 22 October

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Anniversary Day Holidays 2007

Auckland Monday 29 January Within school holidays

Taranaki Monday 12 March Within Term 1

Hawkes' Bay Friday 19 October Within Term 4

Wellington Monday 22 January Within school holidays

Marlborough Monday 29 October Within Term 4

Nelson Monday 29 January Within school holidays

Canterbury Friday 16 November Within Term 4

Canterbury (South) Monday 24 September Within school holidays

Westland Monday 3 December Within Term 4

Otago Monday 26 March Within Term 1

Southland Monday 15 January Within school holidays

Chatham Islands Monday 3 December Within Term 4

[

2008 - PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Monday 7 February

To

Friday 18 April (98 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 28 April To Friday 4 July (98 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 21 July To Friday 26 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 13 October

To Thursday 19 December (98 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 394 half-days in 2008.

2008 - SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Monday 7 February

To

Friday 18 April (98 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 5 May To Friday 4 July (88 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 21 July To Friday 26 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 13 October

To Wednesday 17 December (94 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2008.

2008 - Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2008 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays:

Waitangi Day Wednesday 6 February

Good Friday 21 March

Easter Monday 24 March

Easter Tuesday 25 March

Anzac Day Friday 25 April

Queen’s Birthday Monday 2 June

Labour Day Monday 27 October

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Anniversary Day Holidays 2008

Auckland Monday 28 January Within school holidays

Taranaki Monday 10 March Within Term 1

Hawkes' Bay Friday 17 October Within Term 4

Wellington Monday 21 January Within school holidays

Marlborough Monday 3 November Within Term 4

Nelson Monday 4 February Within school holidays

Canterbury Friday 14 November Within Term 4

Canterbury (South) Monday 22 September Within school holidays

Westland Monday 1 December Within Term 4

Otago Monday 24 March Within Term 1 (Easter)

Southland Monday 14 January Within school holidays

Chatham Islands Monday 1 December Within Term 4

2009 - PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Monday 2 February

To

Thursday 9 April (96 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 27 April To Friday 3 July (98 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 20 July To Friday 25 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 12 October

To Thursday 18 December (98 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 392 half-days in 2009.

2009 - SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1

Monday 2 February

To

Thursday 9 April (96 half-days)

Term 2 Monday 27 April To Friday 3 July (98 half-days)

Term 3 Monday 20 July To Friday 25 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 Monday 12 October

To Thursday 10 December (86 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2009.

2009 - Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2008 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays:

Waitangi Day Friday 6 February

Good Friday 10 April

Easter Monday 13 April

Easter Tuesday 14 April

Anzac Day Saturday 25 April

Queen’s Birthday Monday 1 June

Labour Day Monday 26 October

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Anniversary Day Holidays 2009

Auckland Monday 26 January Within school holidays

Taranaki Monday 9 March Within Term 1

Hawkes' Bay Friday 23 October Within Term 4

Wellington Monday 19 January Within school holidays

Marlborough Monday 2 November Within Term 4

Nelson Monday 2 February Within Term 1

Canterbury Friday 13 November Within Term 4

Canterbury (South) Monday 28 September Within school holidays

Westland Monday 7 December Within Term 4

Otago Monday 23 March Within Term 1

Southland Monday 19 January Within school holidays

Chatham Islands Monday 30 November Within Term 4

ENDS

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