Education
A key factor that comes into decision making about a new home is the quality of the education available. A number of secondary and primary schools serve urban and rural communities throughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty, many offering standards of education that rate well on a national scale. A good range of other educational institutions in the Eastern Bay’s main centres offer everything from tertiary education courses to development of skills in a diverse range of activities such as building, construction, commercial fishing and the hospitality trade.
Waiariki Polytechnic (based in Rotorua) has a Whakatane campus offering a variety of tertiary education courses while Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi (University of Awanuiarangi) in Whakatane offers degree and post-graduate courses.
Other private training establishments provide tertiary education opportunities in teacher, early childhood and teacher aide training.
New Zealand Schooling
New Zealand schooling is categorised into Primary (Years 1-6, age 5-10); Intermediate (Years 7 and 8, age 11-12); Secondary - High Schools and Colleges (Years 9-13, age 13 to 17). School is compulsory from the age of six to 16 (about Year 11), although most carry on to Year 12 or 13. State education is free in New Zealand from the age of five to 19, although parents are asked to pay school fees as a donation.
The school year usually runs from the end of January to mid-December and is split into four terms with a long Christmas break (about 6 weeks). There is a compulsory national curriculum from Years 1 to 10.
More information about New Zealand’s education sector is available from the Ministry of Education, including information for international students and parents.
Tertiary
A wide range of other educational institutions in the Eastern Bay's main centres offer everything from tertiary education courses to development of skills in a diverse range of activities such as building, construction, commercial fishing and the hospitality trade. Waiariki Polytechnic (based in Rotorua) has a Whakatane campus offering a variety of tertiary education courses while Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi (University of Awanuiarangi) in Whakatane offers degree and post-graduate courses.
Other private training establishments provide tertiary education opportunities in teacher, early childhood and teacher aide training, along with Trade Education in automotive and carpentry.
Secondary
Timetables in secondary schools tend to be arranged around subjects. National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) are New Zealand’s national qualifications for senior secondary students. NCEAs are recognised by employers and universities overseas. Students can specialise and begin vocational courses while at school especially in Years 11 to 13.
Secondary schools in the area include:
- Whakatane High School
- Trident High School
- Edgecumbe College
- Kawerau College
- Opotiki High School
- Rangitahi College
- Rangitaiki Independent School - Years 1 - 10
Visit the Education Review Office’s website for the latest report on the quality of education offered by each school.
Primary
Most children start their local state primary school on their fifth birthday. There is a range of good quality primary schools in the EBOP. For information on choosing a primary of intermediate school for your child visit teamup.co.nz.
When choosing a school it may also be helpful to read the latest Education Review Office (ERO) report on the quality of education for each school.
