Sector Update - August 2026

Changes to school planning and reporting

On Tuesday, it was announced that the Government is changing school planning and reporting regulations.  These intended changes aim to strengthen the focus on educational achievement and simplify some existing requirements.  

It is expected that the finalised regulations will be published by the start of term 4. We will let you know when this happens so you can ensure your strategic plan meets the new regulations.  

In the meantime, the intended changes are that a board’s strategic plan must: 

• Include a minimum of three strategic goals, developed in consultation with the school community, for meeting the paramount and supporting objectives.  

• Include at least one goal on educational achievement that addresses one or more of reading, writing and mathematics, or pānui, tuhituhi, and pāngarau.  

• It is no longer a requirement to include information about how your strategic goals link to any relevant national education strategies or plans. However, you may still include this if it is relevant to your school’s plan. 

In all your planning and reporting documents, the following will apply: 

• For any educational achievement goal, use targets, measures, and reporting that are informed by your school’s judgement about student results from any relevant specific assessment tools, including the SMART tool or Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT).  

• For other strategic goals, you may use your own targets, evidence and evaluation methods.  

• You may also use qualification system data alongside curriculum-based information where appropriate, when planning for and reporting on the performance and achievement of senior secondary students. 

There are also some intended changes to Annual Report requirements. Have a look at the guidance from the Ministry of Educationopen_in_new that provides more details.

Strategic plan timeframes

The updated regulations are expected to be finalised by the start of Term 4, 2026, and the changes will need to be reflected in your next strategic plan. 

Your next strategic plan, effective from 1 January 2027, will be in place for 2 years (2027-2028) to realign strategic plan timeframes with the school board triennial elections. You will then need to develop a new, 3-year plan effective from 1 January 2029. 

Resources and guidance

More information about the changes and interim guidance to support boards is available online. 

• GovHub Resource Centre - Strategic Planning & Reportingopen_in_new  
• Ministry of Education website - The school planning and reporting frameworkopen_in_new 

Strategic Planning & Reporting – Turning Priorities into Progress webinar 

To support you in understanding the strategic planning and reporting process (including the intended changes), we are delivering a webinar on Wednesday, 9 September, 7pm – 8.30pm. 

Whether you're new to strategic planning or looking for a refresher, this webinar will build your understanding of one of your board's most important responsibilities.  

Register for our webinar today Strategic Planning & Reporting – Turning Priorities into Progressopen_in_new  

Changes to reporting to parents and whānau 

Regulation changes are also proposed to provide greater consistency in how schools and kura report student progress to parents and whānau. These changes are in line with reporting to parents and whānau guidance released earlier this year. 

From 1 January 2027 schools will need to provide parents with twice-yearly reports about their child’s curriculum and qualification progress and achievement, that include: 

• access to any relevant assessment or aromatawai results 

• the use of Progress Descriptors, including student progress and achievement 

• information about how the school is supporting the student if they are at risk of not meeting curriculum expectations 

• the student’s attendance (except for distance schools) and 

• the student’s next learning steps. 

Remember, while it’s your board's responsibility to ensure this reporting happens, it’s the school's teaching staff who prepare and send out these reports. 

To read more about this, visit: 

• GovHub Resource Centre – Monitoring of and reporting on student achievementopen_in_new 
• Ministry of Education guidance NZC – Reporting to parents and whānau – Tāhūrangiopen_in_new 
• TMoA – Reporting to parents and whānau – Tāhūrangiopen_in_new 

Term 3 Learning Opportunities

This term’s workshops and webinars are now underway, providing valuable opportunities for boards and principals to build their knowledge and capability. 

Upcoming eventsopen_in_new include: 

• Concerns & Complaints – When Issues Arise, Process Matters 

• Strategic Planning & Reporting – Turning Priorities into Progress 

• Navigating Surplus Staffing – Part 2  

Browse online for your local events and register today. 

• Northlandopen_in_new 

• Aucklandopen_in_new 

• Waikatoopen_in_new 

• Bay of Plentyopen_in_new 

• Central Eastopen_in_new 

• Central Westopen_in_new 

• Wellington/Wairarapaopen_in_new 

• Nelson/Marlborough/West Coastopen_in_new 

• Canterburyopen_in_new 

• Otagoopen_in_new  

• Southlandopen_in_new 

The GovHub Resource Centre website has been redeveloped!

The new site features an updated look and feel, improved accessibility and enhanced functionality, while retaining all resources currently available to board members. 

You will continue to find the Resource Centre at resourcecentre.org.nzopen_in_new.