PM rates Parata 6/10, Shearer's a 5

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

After dodging questions over growing calls for Education Minister Hekia Parata to resign, Prime Minister John Key has rated her performance only slightly above that of the Labour leader.

In a review of the year, Mr Key told Newstalk ZB that Ms Parata's performance was "more than what you guys all think" at six out of 10.

Labour leader David Shearer and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters received his lowest rating - five.

Among those to receive his highest performance ratings were ministers Tariana Turia, 8, and Peter Dunne, 8.

The shock resignation of secretary for education Lesley Longstone was announced on Wednesday, with calls for Education Minister Hekia Parata to also stand down following from opposition parties.

Both the minister and secretary have presided over an embarrassing year in education, including the class size backdown, the Christchurch schooling restructuring, the Novopay salary system and most recently, the decision to close a school for girls with special needs and expose them to mainstream education.

Mr Key also rated the Government's handling of a number of issues, giving Pike River 9, the Bain case 8, Dotcom 5, and their handling of the economy 7.

Mr Key told the radio station his dream Christmas gift was "spending time with the family".