Our research

Starting school is a major childhood event. It can be an exciting time for children and their families. But it is a big change, and so it can also be an uncertain time. A good start at school sets children up to succeed at school. We looked to see how changing to cohort entry impacts on children, their peers, and whānau, as well as their schools and early childhood education services.

Starting school is a major childhood event. It can be an exciting time for children and their families. But it is a big change and can be an uncertain time. Since 2018, schools have been able to have children start in groups at certain dates during the year. This is called cohort entry. ERO found that cohort entry has a range of benefits for children’s wellbeing and learning, schools’ ability to structure transitions more easily, and for teachers due to fewer disruptions and more time to teach.

The disruptions caused by Covid-19 over the last two years have been challenging and long lasting. Auckland in particular has had many lockdowns and is where the majority of Pacific learners live.

Pacific communities have faced the challenges of Covid-19 with resilience and schools have put in a range of responses to support Pacific learners through the disruption. This report shines a light on these challenges and shares successful strategies.

The disruptions caused by Covid-19 over the last two years have been challenging and long lasting. ERO’s new report, Learning in a Covid-19 World: The Impact of Covid-19 on Pacific Learners, looks closely at the achievement, attendance, mental health and wellbeing, school contexts, and education pathways of Pacific learners over this time. The report shines a light on challenges and shares successful strategies.

Ko tā te pūrongo nei, he whakatakoto i ngā whakaaro huritao o ngā Kōhanga Reo mō tō rātou ake huarahi mātauranga. Kua kapohia atu ō rātou wawata ngātahi ki te whakarāpopototanga o ngā āhuatanga i whakaraupapahia ai ki te Whanaungatanga, te Rautaki, ngā Tikanga Māori, te Whakarauora i te Reo Māori, ngā Kaumātua, te Ako: Te Whakaako me te Ako, me te Ārahitanga.

This report is the reflection of Kōhanga Reo on their particular educational approach. Their collective aspirations are captured within the summary of conditions outlined as Whanaungatanga, Strategy, Tikanga Māori, Te Reo Resurgence, Kaumātua, Ako: Teaching and Learning, and Leadership.

E whakaatu ana tēnei pūrongo i te huarahi i whāia e Ngā Kura ā-Iwi ki te whakawhanake i a rātou anō ā-tangata takitahi, ā-whānau, ā-kura hoki. Kua kapohia atu ō rātou wawata ngātahi ki te whakarāpopototanga o ngā e kīia ana ko te Ako: Te Whakaako me te Ako; ko Te Whānau me te Whai Hononga; ko ngā Tikanga Māori; ko te Tuakiri. Ka whakatakoto tēnei aromātai i ngā whakaaturanga whai wheako e pā ana ki ngā Manu Pīrere, ki ā rātou whakatutukitanga, ā, ka tautohu i ngā āhuatanga puta noa i tō rātou huarahi ako.

This report is the reflection of Kura ā-Iwi on their developmental journeys, both as individuals, whānau and as kura. Their collective aspirations are captured within the summary of conditions outlined as Ako: Teaching & Learning, Whānau & Connectedness, Tikanga Māori (Māori process and protocol), and Tuakiri: Identity.

Kei te pūtake o tēnei pūrongo, koia ko te whakaaro huritao tahi o ngā kura kaupapa Māori i whai wāhi mai, arā, ko te huarahi i whāia ā-whānau kura, ā-tangata takitahi hoki, he kōrero mō ngā wawata o te katoa i whakatinanahia ai ki te whakatūnga, te whakapakaritanga, me te tiaki tonu hoki o ō rātou ake kura, me ā rātou ake kaupapa.

Central to this report is the common reflection of participating kura kaupapa Māori, that their journeys, both as individuals and as kura whānau, are stories of collective aspirations held within the narrative of establishment, building and subsequent maintenance of their respective kura and kaupapa.

I roto i Te Kura Huanui: Ko ngā kura o ngā ara angitu, ko ngā uiui me ngā whānau Māori, kaiārahi, kaiako, kaimahi, kaumātua hoki e tūhura ana i te ngākau titikaha o ngā hapori ki te whakarauora, ki te whakapakari hoki i te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori mō ā rātou mokopuna, tamariki, uri whakatupu anō hoki. 

Te Kura Huanui: The treasures of successful pathways and supporting documentaries explore the Māori-medium education pathway, through a rich collection of interviews and research conducted in partnership with early founders, whānau, leaders, graduates, kaiako, kaimahi and kaumatua.

ERO was approached by principals from Kahukura to document and evaluate their community of practice in Christchurch. This report identifies what is working well for this community of practice, areas where they might consider further enhancements, and lessons and insights into practices which could be shared with others.

This short report accompanies our report Exploring Collaboration in Action: Kahukura Community of Practice.  It looks at the lessons that can be learnt from the Kahukura community of practice, drawing out key lessons on collaboration and providing seven key implications for schools who are interested in collaborating to consider.

To support teaching science in the early years, ERO talked to 147 early childhood services across New Zealand to find out what is happening for learners, and to identify good practice. This short guide draws on this work to help early childhood education leaders and kaiako understand what makes a difference for science in early childhood education and identify how they could strengthen science teaching and learning in their service.

Learning science in the preschool years helps children become better problem solvers and critical thinkers. This short guide aims to help parents and whānau of children in early childhood education to understand why science matters for this age group, know what to expect for science teaching and learning for their child, and think about how they can support their child’s science learning journey.

This report shares teaching approaches and strategies for Year 5 to Year 11 that ERO has identified in a range of schools where students were found to be highly engaged in science. This report should be seen as a resource for leaders and teachers looking to strengthen their teaching of science. It looks at Years 5-11 as they are the critical years for science engagement before learners make final choices on whether to continue in science.

This national report is a companion report to Raising achievement in primary schools. It presents further findings of how some of the primary schools were using the Ministry-funded support projects - Accelerated Learning in Mathematics (ALiM) and Accelerated Learninig in Literacy (ALL) to accelerate progress and raise achievement.

The Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project aims to improve the mental health of young people aged 12 to 19 years. One initiative of this project is a national evaluation of the current provision of guidance and counselling in schools.

The Education Review Office (ERO) evaluated how well 44 schools and five wharekura provided guidance and counselling for students.

This report presents the findings of three online surveys about the current provision of guidance and counselling in schools with students in Years 9 to 13. This is the first phase of work being undertaken by ERO as part of the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project.