Senior Secondary Curriculum and Qualification Changes
This page includes a summary from our May Curriculum update newsletter and also our webinar on June 3rd, focused on the changes in senior secondary schools.
- Updated timeframes for changes
- Qualification changes and implications for EfS
- Phase 5 curriculum consultation - released in three groups from May - August
Updated Timeframes
2026: Phase 5 (Yr 11 - 13) consultation from May - August (4 weeks for each group), with final documents available by October.
Final Phase 1 - 4 curriculum documents due for release in early Term Three (July).
2027: Yr 9 - 10 must use the new curriculum for all learning areas.
Yr 11 - 13 continue to use NZC and NCEA (including EfS standards).
Consultation on the new Industry-led subjects (drafts released for feedback).
2028: Yr 11 must use new curriculum for all learning areas.
New Foundational Certificate (English and maths) replaces NCEA.
Yr 12 - 13 NCEA standards can still be used.
2029: Yr 12 must use new curriculum and new qualification: NZCE
2030: Yr 13 must use new curriculum and new qualification: NZACE
Qualification Changes
Read the latest MoE update with the full details on Tāhūrangi here: New senior secondary qualifications.
Implications for Education for Sustainability and environmental education integration across senior secondary:
- Everything will be subject based, requiring students to complete the full subject curriculum and assessments within one school year. This includes the new Industry-led subjects (details still to come about these, with consultation next year).
- Schools and providers will not be able to create integrated or 'short' courses using a range of standards from different subjects. There won't be standards anymore, just complete subjects. This is why the current consultation on the Phase 5 drafts is so important, because these will be the subjects that are mandated from 2028 onwards.
- All senior subjects for Yr 12 and 13 will include at least one exam, along with internal assessments. This includes the Arts subjects, Industry-led subjects and other areas that currently use portfolios for external assessments.
Phase 5 Curriculum Consultation Yr 11 - 13
The Phase 5 (Yr 11 - 13) curriculum drafts are being released in three groups between May - August, with each open for feedback for four weeks. They are roughly grouped by subject area. Below we have included the subjects we think are most relevant to Education for Sustainability (EfS) / environmental education.
A reminder that EfS was not included as a subject, so we need to give feedback across multiple subjects to assess whether or not the content, skills and opportunities for student action are incorporated.
Open for consultation now, closing June 15th:
Click here for the Science subjects consultation page.
- Science Yr 11
- Biology | Mātai Koiora Yr 12 - 13
- Chemistry | Mātai Matū Yr 12 - 13
- Earth and Space Science | Ao ā-nuku Ao ātea Yr 12 - 13
- Agricultural & Horticultural Science | Mātai Whenua me te Ahumara Yr 12 - 13
Click here for Social Sciences subjects consultation page.
- Geography | Matawhenua Yr 11 - 13
- Civics, Politics & Philosophy Yr 12 - 13
- Economics | Te Mātai Ōhanga Yr 12 - 13
- Sociology Yr 11 - 13
Click here for Health & PE subject consultation page
- Health Education Yr 11 - 13
Note: Physical Education is coming out in the next group.
Between these subjects there are more than 400 pages to read! This is a huge amount of work to complete in the timeframe provided, which is why we have taken a high level approach and used keyword searches for our initial analysis:
Download PDF summary of Group 1 subject keyword analysis.
If you work in one of these subject areas and have time to review the content and provide feedback, then we encourage you to do so. The consultation feedback survey is one big survey for all subjects, and you can also just attach a copy of your written feedback at the end of the form. Link to Phase 5 Survey.
The next two groups of subjects will be released for consultation as follows:
Group Two subjects: June 15 - July 15
Will likely include Technology subjects and maybe PE? Also some of the remaining SS subjects, like History.
Group Three subjects: July 15 - August 15
The Arts and Languages subjects, maybe Pacific Studies (new subject)
We will update this list when we receive confirmation from the MoE about the Group 2 and 3 subjects and also provide analysis / guidance when these drafts are released.
