Choosing and enrolling your teenager at secondary school

Your child, you and your whānau will find secondary school very different from primary, kura or intermediate school.

This is a time of big change for your child. They'll need to get used to new routines, new teachers and kaiako, new support people, different school hours, new friends and a new school system. It's important to begin thinking about the move to secondary school as early as you can - start planning 12 to 18 months ahead of time.

The booklet Going to Secondary School [PDF, 1.8 MB] can help you as your child moves to secondary school and gives you information about:

  • what happens to the services and support your child currently receives
  • what to expect when you child starts secondary school
  • choices of schools
  • what to look for when choosing a school
  • preparing your child
  • who the support people are at secondary school and
  • preparing to leave secondary school and planning for that early too.

You can also visit the secondary school area of this website to read more about secondary schools, your options, what children learn and how to be involved in your child's learning and in the school. 

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