Education in NZ - information for parents and teachers

[jenswaters]

Originally Posted by khuff22

Hello. I am new to this forum so hopefully I am going about things the right way. My husband, son and I will be moving to Palmerston North in June or July 2012. My son (6) will have just completed his Kindergarten year of school. Does anyone know what year he will enter when we arrive in NZ? There will still be half a year of school left. He is already an older child in his class. He will turn 7 in October. Just wondering about all this since the school calendars don't line up. Thanks.

Hi there

Sorry for the delay in replying. I think that it is quite likely that he will enter into Year 2 of primary school. Schools start with a Year 0, which children join through the year from the day they turn 5. My son turned 5 in the middle of the year (end of June), and he started Year 0. Then he will be 6 during Year 1, and 7 halfway through Year 2. There is flexibility either way if your son has particular strengths and is showing his ability then he can be moved up, or down, as you all agree is fit.

Hope that this helps

Jen

[brand180208]

Hello

I currently work in Cornwall in Education for Students (aged 14-19 years) who have been expelled or who can't progess in main-stream education due to behavioural or learning difficulties.
I wondered if there is a demand for this in Auckland, where I am looking at relocating with my Wife and Daughter.

Reading the site, it seems that we would have to come out and then look for employment but it seems daunting when I have a family to support!?!?
I noted that going around to Schools (we're looking at coming over for a "Holiday" and to check out the surrounding locations etc) is a good idea to meet people

Any more advise would be appreciated!

Kieren

[jenswaters]

Hi Keiran

There really isn't much more advice that I can give in all honesty!! I was in the same boat as you, and came out with neither of us having a job offer, or even any leads, and we had 2 very young children (3 and 1). It is quite daunting, but it really is a case of being here to move straight into a role. Things come up very quickly and out of the blue here, so schools quite often have a person in mind for these things. The best way to get that foot in the door is to be here and do some relieving work.

Your speciality would be quite interesting to a lot of schools out here. The Government initiative is trying to raise Maori achievement, and there is a lot of research and emphasis on this. There was a research initiative out here from Waikato University called Te Kohtahitanga, which focused on different teaching methods to raise Maori engagement and achievement. The funding for this is starting to be reduced, but it may be worth researching the schools that were involved in this intiative, and sending them your CV. If you are planning a holiday, you could arrange a meet-up while here. Having a face-to-the-name is huge here (so don't be afraid to stick a few fun pics of you on your CV)!!

Also, think about looking up a list of alternative education centres, and contacting them direct, attaching your CV. Explain when youa re out and that you would like to meet them and see their facility, and go from there. Try this link Schools / Homepage - Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) for possible schools to look into.

In NZ, everything is contacts, contacts, contacts. The old adage :who you know, not what you know" is so true!!!!

Hope that this helps in someway

Jen

[flying_kiwi]

Originally Posted by Ohio Steve

I'm new to this forum and my wife and I are just now starting to think about moving to New Zealand or Australia from the USA. Our daughter's education is, of course, extremely important to us, so I'm trying to learn everything I can about the different education systems, and this discussion has been very helpful. One thing that isn't clear to me about the documents I've read elsewhere is the meaning of the "decile" rating -- I mean, I think I understand that it's a measure of the economic status of the school's catchment area, but what is unclear to me is its relevance to the quality of education.

My fear is that it's something like the (completely insane) way they do it here in the USA, where the majority of school funding typically comes from local property taxes and is set by local voters. Here, wealthy suburbs usually have tremendously better schools than urban neighborhoods or rural districts simply because they have far more resources due to the higher property values, which causes families to want to move there, which increases the property values, which increases the funding, and so on.

I'm hoping you'll tell me that it's nothing like that in NZ, and the decile rating is just to give an indication of socioeconomic challenges that the student body may be facing. Thank you for any help you can provide!

I know this is an old post but in case anyone else is interested...
The decile rating does come from the economic status of the area around the school. The lower the decile, the more funding the school receives.

[Canuck2Kiwi]

Can someone tell me if I can get a MOE number before getting a job offer? From looking at the forms, it looks like I need a principal to fill out a portion of it and provide a signature.

Thanks

[Canuck2Kiwi]

Originally Posted by Canuck2Kiwi

Can someone tell me if I can get a MOE number before getting a job offer? From looking at the forms, it looks like I need a principal to fill out a portion of it and provide a signature.

Thanks

Nevermind, got the info I needed

[jenswaters]

Originally Posted by Canuck2Kiwi

Can someone tell me if I can get a MOE number before getting a job offer? From looking at the forms, it looks like I need a principal to fill out a portion of it and provide a signature.

Thanks

To get an MOE number you need to complete the "New Appointment Form For Teaching Staff" (ESP1), remember you need to include a bank deposit slip and the school will need to fill out some areas for you also. You can get this from the schools. You also need to complete the Salary Assessment Form (ESP7). Attach certified copies of appropriate documents and then ask the Principal to sign it for you. (Remember you need to complete the form before asking the Principal to sign it.) . This completed form with attached certified copies then needs to be sent by post (not faxed) to: The Salary Assessment Unit, PO Box 4044, Christchurch. YOU NEED TO POST THIS YOURSELF. This is very important because if Novopay do not know what your qualifications or experience are they won’t be able to pay you on the correct pay scale.

So, in summary, you can get an MoE number without a job, but you cannot get it until you are in New Zealand and have got your first day's relief at a school.

Hope this helps

[Canuck2Kiwi]

Thanks jenswaters

[jenswaters]

Originally Posted by Canuck2Kiwi

Thanks jenswaters

Yeah, apologies for the late response. I'm afraid "life" got in the way Still, useful information for other people. I hope that things are working out for you

Jen

[Friedkiwi]

I just applied to be a science teacher in NZ with the TCO form. Anyone else had experience with getting a license to teach with overseas training as a teacher?