Six for our Kids

Every decision about our schools – funding, staffing, curriculum, or governance – should be judged by one question: does it help children learn? Too often, other priorities get in the way. We’re calling for politicians, school boards, principals, teachers, and policymakers to ensure student progress and achievement remain the clear, overriding objective guiding school decisions.

Curia Research polling: Net support +47% nationally. Among Māori respondents: +32%.

The quality of initial teacher education (ITE) directly shapes the quality of teaching our children receive. When the Education Review Office (ERO) asked new teachers themselves, almost half – 49 per cent – said they had not felt prepared when they entered the classroom. Only 29 per cent felt prepared. Principals were even more concerned: 60 per cent said their new teachers were unprepared for the role.

We're calling for evidence-based teacher training standards, so every graduate entering a classroom is genuinely and explicitly prepared in literacy and numeracy instruction, classroom management, and the fundamentals of how children learn.

Curia Research polling: Net support +71% nationally. Among Māori respondents: +58%.

Equal-highest net support of the six policies.

Parents deserve to know clearly and objectively, with data points, how their child is progressing and achieving. We’re calling for common reporting and achievement standards across all New Zealand schools, so a school report means the same thing wherever your child is enrolled, and so problems are caught early.

Curia Research polling: Net support +71% nationally. Among Māori respondents: +69%.

Tied for the highest net support of the six policies.

Equality of opportunity means giving every child the support they need to reach their potential. We’re calling for more and earlier evidence-based funding and support for children who need it - before learning gaps become entrenched and disadvantage becomes destiny.

Curia Research polling: Net support +65% nationally. Among Māori respondents: +76%.

Highest Māori net support of any of the six policies.

Every family should have a genuine choice of the school that best suits their child, without unnecessary barriers imposed by rigid zoning and enrolment rules. We are calling for policies that give families greater choice - particularly between single-sex and co-educational secondary schools; access to high-performing state-integrated schools constrained by roll caps; and the ability for Years 1–6 schools to expand to Years 7 and 8 where there is clear parental demand.

Schools with falling rolls should not be protected by zoning rules that compel families to attend them when another nearby school would better meet a child’s needs. Equally, successful schools should not be prevented from growing when families want places.

Protecting empty classrooms should never take priority over parental choice or a child’s education.

Curia Research polling: Net support +40% nationally. Among Māori respondents: +27%.

Parents know better than anyone how their child’s school is performing, and their views should be heard and acted on. We’re calling for annual, published parent satisfaction surveys at every school, using mandatory questions set nationwide by the Ministry of Education. Survey results should be published on each school’s website. This would give parents a formal, transparent way to be heard and give schools clear feedback on what is working and what needs to improve. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Curia Research polling: Net support +40% nationally. Among Māori respondents: +39%.