ISNZ Member Schools

Independent schools are subject to ERO reviews; however, these are different in scope to state and state-integrated schools. For independent schools, ERO will only report on whether a school is meeting the registration criteria as legislated in the Education and Training Act 2020. As a result, ERO reports for independent schools look very different to ERO reports for state and state-integrated schools. Further information can be found here.

In 2023, 64% of independent school members were Co-educational, and 28% were single-sex, with 41 different cultural backgrounds represented across ISNZ member schools.

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)

NCEA is the main qualification for secondary school students (Years 11-13) in New Zealand. It is a standards-based assessment that combines both internal and external assessments and is widely recognised by employers. It is used for selection by universities and other tertiary education providers in both New Zealand and overseas.

Cambridge Assessment International Education

‍The Cambridge Pathway is for students aged 5 to 19. Its wide range of subjects and flexibility gives schools the chance to shape the curriculum so that it is exciting and relevant for their students. Cambridge Pathway students have the chance to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to achieve at school, university and beyond. The four stages lead from primary to secondary and pre-university years. Each stage – Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary, and Cambridge Advanced – builds on the learners’ development from the previous one, but it can also be offered separately.

Five elements lie at the heart of a Cambridge education:

• International curriculum: Schools develop a curriculum that suits their context, culture and ethos, and that they can tailor to their students’ needs.
• Teaching and learning: Professional development for teachers to help them improve their performance and practice throughout their careers.
• Assessment: Assessment of students’ deep subject knowledge, conceptual understanding, and higher-level thinking skills.
• International recognition: Cambridge qualifications are widely recognised by universities and employers worldwide.
• Global community: Cambridge schools belong to a worldwide education community in which they can share views, information and resources and learn from one another.

International Baccalaureate

International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to succeed and who will build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect.

The IB programme:

• Encourages students of all ages to think critically and challenge assumptions
• develops independently of government and national systems, incorporating quality practice from research and a global community of schools
• Encourages students of all ages to consider both local and global contexts
• Develops multilingual students.
• Students are able to take responsibility for their own learning and understand how knowledge itself is constructed; this is further to the IB’s theory of knowledge (TOK) course. 
• Students are encouraged to try different approaches to learning and to take responsibility for their own educational progress.

IB programmes also encourage students to be active in their communities and to take their learning beyond academic study.

For more information, visit the IB site.

In addition to the New Zealand Curriculum, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge, several ISNZ member schools have developed their own bespoke curricula to meet the needs of their communities. Examples include specialised curricula focused on entrepreneurship and leadership, curricula that revolve around an awareness of environmental sustainability, and curricula which is dedicated to serving those with high learning needs. These bespoke curricula are designed to provide a well-rounded educational experience within a specific philosophy.

All teachers at independent schools must be registered with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. The criteria for registration are the same across all state, state-integrated and independent schools.