Information for ākonga and their whānau

NCEA information and tools intended to empower parents, whānau and communities to collectively engage in decisions around the NCEA learning for their tamariki.

Resources for ākonga, parents, whānau, and communities.

Whānau Pocket Guide | Aratohu Pūkoro NCEA mā te Whānau

Written for whānau.
Current and future state NCEA information.
A planning tool for goals, aspirations and support.
Helpful conversations with Kaiako (teachers) and within the whānau.

You can access the Whānau Pocket Guide by clicking on the different language links below.

Oku Wawata | My Aspirations Pocket Guide for Ākonga

Written for ākonga.
Current and future state NCEA information.
A planning tool for identifying goals, aspirations and support.
Helpful tips for learning conversations with Kaiako (teachers) and within the whānau.

You can access the Ōku Wawata Pocket Guide for Ākonga by clicking on the different language links below:

Whānau Mini Guides | Aratohu NCEA mā te Whānau

Information about the changes to NCEA and what it means if your tamaiti is in a pilot school.
QR codes for Pilot videos from whānau and ākonga about being part of a Pilot subject.

You can access the Whānau Mini Guides by clicking on the different language links below:

Whānau Toolkit Wall Planner

A visual planning tool to facilitate communication and emphasize the importance of a collective, whānau-centred approach to NCEA:

Helps track assessments and important events.
Editable to keep up to date.
Provides useful study tips.
Spaces to set goals.
Opportunities to reflect on learning.

You can access the Whānau Toolkit Wall Planner by clicking on the different language links below:

Whānau Toolkit Photo Frame

A whānau centred visual tool to combine whānau and learning values and priorities.

You can access the Whānau Toolkit Photo Frame by clicking the link below.

English and Te Reo Māori [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Fact Sheet: Changes to strengthen NCEA | Ngā panonitanga hei whakapakari ake i te NCEA

A concise overview of the seven changes being implemented as part of the NCEA Change Programme.

You can access the Fact Sheet: Changes to Strengthen NCEA by clicking on the different language links below:

NCEA Videos for Ākonga and Their Whānau

A video with helpful information about the 7 NCEA Changes and what this means for ākonga. Also it provides practical advice for how whānau can support tamariki with their learning.

Tamatea – Changes to NCEA(external link)

Video: My experience piloting an NCEA subject

Five secondary school students share their experiences of piloting NCEA Level 1 English and Te Ao Haka, the new Māori Performing Arts subject.

Transcript: My experience piloting an NCEA subject

[Student 1]

First year NCEA and my experience has been pretty good. I’ve loved having one assessment each term. It’s easier to get my head around. It’s easier to understand.

[Student 2]

By comparison I find it, for me, less stressful because I only have to do one assessment during the term.

[Student 1]

I think it takes pressure off students when there’s more learning and we get more time to prepare and stuff like that, and then have an assessment.

[Student 3]

And if you have more time to learn you can have more understanding time of what you’re supposed to do.

[Student 2]

Starting NCEA subjects this year was at first a bit challenging.

[Student 3]

Expectations just go up like one hundred per cent compared to doing junior work.

[Student 4]

It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be. You know, I thought it was this big, scary, you know...Everyone dreads it. But it actually hasn’t been too bad so far.

[Student 5]

While they may be daunted by how hard it may be and it is not easy, but if you apply yourself and work hard, you will be able to achieve excellence. Yeah!

Aku wheako o te paerete i tētahi kaupapa NCEA

Te NCEA tau tuatahi, otirā he tino pai aku wheako.

He tino pai ki au kia kotahi noa te aromatawai i ia wāhanga o te tau. He māmā ake te whai whakaaro ki tērā. He māmā ake hoki te whai māramatanga.

I runga anō i te whakataurite, ki a au, he iti ake te ahotea nā te mea kotahi anake te aromatawai

hei mahi māku i te wāhanga o te tau.

Ki a au, ka mahea ngā taumahatanga i runga i ngā ākonga i te wā he nui ake ngā mea hei ako ā, ka whai wā mātou ki te whakariterite, me ngā āhuatanga pērā, kātahi ka mahi i te aromatawai.

Ā, mēnā he roa ake te wā ako ka nui ake hoki te wā whai māramatanga o ngā mahi e tika ana kia mahia.

I te tuatahi he āhua uaua te tīmata i ngā kaupapa ako NCEA i tēnei tau.

Ka piki ngā tūmanakohanga, pēnei i te kotahi rau ōrau ina tauritetia ki ngā mahi teina.

Kāore i pērā rawa te kino i ōku whakaaro i mua.

Otirā i pōhēhē ahau he taniwha weriweri tēnei, me kī... e mataku ana te katoa ki a ia.

Engari i tēnei wā kāore i pērā rawa te kino. Āe, ka whakaaro rātou he uaua, āe, he uaua rawa ka tika,

Engari ina ka aro, ka aro rawa, ka mahi i ngā mahi, ka whai koe i te kairangi. Āe.

Translations

Cook Islands Māori [PDF, 37 KB]

Fijian [PDF, 36 KB]

Gagana Tokelau [PDF, 36 KB]

Tuvalu [PDF, 35 KB]

Video: Advice to other NCEA students

We asked four students currently studying towards NCEA what advice they can give to other NCEA students.

Transcript: Advice to other NCEA students

[Student 1]

The advice I’d give to someone who’s just starting Level 1 is just to prioritise, prioritise, prioritise.

[Student 2]

Get your head down.

[Student 3]

Do the work. Do the mahi. Get it done.

[Student 1]

It’s not just about getting it done, it’s understanding what you’re doing, as well.

[Student 4]

Here is a proverb that we students use: Don’t sweep your work under the mat lest it be lost for the future.

[Student 1]

Don’t start like five days just before it’s due.

[Student 2]

And then it should be pretty easy. No stresses.

He tohutohu ki ētahi atu ākonga NCEA

Ko aku tohutohu ki tētahi atu kātahi anō ka tīmata i te Taumata 1 ko te whakaarotau, whakaarotau, whakaarotau.

Me ihuoneone.

Mahia te mahi. Mahia te mahi. Whakatutukihia.

Kaua noa ko te whakatutuki, engari me mārama ki āu mahi hoki.

Anei tētahi whakataukī ka kōrerohia i waenga i ngā tauira:

Kaua e tātai i ngā mahi ki raro i te whāriki, kei taka i te anamata.

Kei tīmata i te rima rā i mua o te rā tuku. Ki te kore e pērā, ko te tikanga ka tino māmā. Kāore he māharahara.

Translations

Cook Islands Māori [PDF, 34 KB]

Fijian [PDF, 35 KB]

Gagana Tokelau [PDF, 34 KB]

Tuvalu [PDF, 34 KB]

Video: Navigating my school or kura

Video: The experience of my tamariki piloting an NCEA subject

Video: Advice to other parents of NCEA students

Video: Navigating the school or kura of my tamariki

NCEA me te Whānau

The new Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) also run NCEA workshops for parents and whanau through their NCEA me te Whānau programme.

Find out more about the NCEA me te whānau programme on NZQA's website(external link).

Whānau Education Planner (WEAP)

The WEAP is a positive, education-focused tool focused on rangatahi and their whānau, their desires and aspirations:

Maps whānau education goals.
Defines a set of actions, timeframes and responsibilities
Creates a collective approach between schools/kura to support ākonga along their learning journey.

You can access the Whānau Education Action Planner by clicking on the link below:.

English [PDF, 597 KB]

A Guide for Facilitating an NCEA Change Wānanga with Whānau

This guide helps Kaiako facilitate a wānanga with whānau over the NCEA Changes and how they will affect their tamariki.

You can access facilitation guides by clicking on the different language links below.

English [PDF, 506 KB] | Te Reo Māori [PDF, 663 KB]

A Guide for Facilitating an NCEA Change Wānanga with Kaiako

This guide helps tumuaki facilitate a wānanga with Kaiako over the NCEA Changes.

You can access the facilitation guide by clicking on the different language links below.

English [PDF, 489 KB] | Te Reo Māori [PDF, 561 KB]

Whānau Toolkit Sleeve

A sleeve to hold all Whānau Toolkit materials, click below:

English [PDF, 9.6 MB] | Te Reo Māori [PDF, 1 MB]

Last reviewed: 21 March 2023Has this been useful? Tell us what you think.