Source: Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (NZSTA)
Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – The New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) is welcoming the findings of the Education Review Office’s (ERO) new report on school attendance, describing it as a positive reflection of the care and commitment schools across Aotearoa are showing their young people.
NZSBA President Meredith Kennett says it’s encouraging to see both attendance rates returning to pre-COVID levels and a clear positive shift in how students view being at school.
“Getting attendance back to where it was before COVID is no small achievement,” Ms Kennett said.
“Schools and boards have worked incredibly hard to rebuild routines, reconnect families, and remind students that being at school every day really does matter.”
Ms Kennett said it was particularly pleasing to see how strongly students now value attendance.
“What a fantastic result that eight out of ten students now believe going to school every day is important,” she said.
“Even more encouraging is that nearly 30 percent of students say they never want to miss school. I remember maybe one or two of my own classmates feeling that way – but definitely not 30 percent.”
Ms Kennett said the improvement is a direct reflection of the care that schools and boards show their students, in ways that go well beyond the classroom.
“In some schools, that care looks like providing practical support – helping with uniforms, food or transport,” she said.
“In others, it’s about setting clear expectations and goals that motivate students to attend. But across all schools, the biggest driver is the same: students feeling connected to their school and community.”
From 2026, every school board in New Zealand will be required to have an attendance plan in place. Ms Kennett said that for newly elected boards, reviewing ERO’s findings is an ideal place to begin.
“I’d encourage all boards to start by considering the specific barriers to attendance within their own communities,” she said.
“The strength of our school boards lies in their local knowledge. They know what’s going on for their students, and while many schools face similar challenges, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”
Ms Kennett also urged boards and principals to engage in open conversations about the report’s recommendations.
“Boards will need to be able to clearly and confidently support the message that every day matters,” she said.
“If there are aspects of the recommendations you find challenging, talk them through together. Build a shared understanding and a message that your board is comfortable standing behind.”
NZSBA commends the continued focus on attendance and the collective effort across the education sector to ensure every student in Aotearoa New Zealand feels supported to attend and engage fully in school life.
