Principals Confused At Ministry’s ‘School Days’ Directive

Friday, 1 August 2025, 3:30 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

A recent Ministry of Education directive on school days has left North Canterbury school principals scratching their heads.

Principals say the new Ministry directive, which sets a higher bar for deciding if schools are ‘‘open for instruction’’, is confusing and unworkable.

Primary schools must be open for at least 382 half days, while area (year 1 to 13) and secondary schools must open for 376 days.

But a new Ministry directive advises a school is not considered to be open for instruction unless all year levels are present.

Rangiora High School board of trustees presiding member Simon Green said Ministry rules need to be flexible so schools can best support staff and students.

‘‘I understand the Ministry’s aim to protect learning time, but a one-size-fits-all directive doesn’t reflect the realities of how schools operate.

‘‘Longstanding practices like staggered starts and study leave are used thoughtfully to support both students and staff.’’

Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney said flexibility is essential for a large school managing nearly 1700 students.

He said it was unclear whether schools could finish early for events like parent-teacher interviews or how it affected exam leave.

It has been standard practice for secondary schools to run a staggered start to the school year, with different year levels starting on different days, he said.

‘‘But now they are saying all levels need to be at school, which then raises the question around exam leave for trial exams, because it technically means we are not open for instruction.’’

He said he suspects it is a ploy to remove teacher only days, which raises the question of how schools will do curriculum days (a teacher only day to upskill teachers on new curriculum) during term time.

Schools in the North Canterbury Kāhui Ako (communities of learning) have used curriculum days to bring primary and secondary teachers together.

Funding for Kāhui Ako was cut in this year’s Budget, but local schools said they planned to continue working together.

‘‘The ability to have year 7 and 8 teachers working with high school teachers is really powerful in supporting that transition to secondary school,’’ Mr Kearney said.

Rangiora New Life School principal Stephen Walters questioned whether the Ministry considered what the new directive would mean for area (year 1 to 13) schools.

‘‘If one of our year levels is not at school for any reason, it means the school won’t be open for instruction. Area schools have 13 year levels with different needs.

‘‘I’m hoping some common sense will come out, because there is a mismatch between practice which is well embedded and these interpretations.’’

In its guidance, the Ministry has told schools to continue with their usual practices this year, but the new interpretation would apply from next year.

Ministry of Education operations and integration Hautū (leader) Sean Teddy said 'open for instruction' can include online learning and school trips outside the classroom.

"Schools are able to have only some year levels and teachers on site for start of year activities but cannot count these toward their minimum half-day requirement unless online learning is also provided for students not attending in person, with teachers available to support their learning."

He said further guidance is being developed to provide clarity around exam leave.

Schools can continue with their usual practices this year, "so long as the study leave is only for students doing exams, is for a short period, and teachers are available to help students during this time".

Mr Teddy said schools need to be open for a minimum of four hours to count as a full day, which allows schools to close early for parent-teacher interviews.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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