Northland College cuts chronic absence, posts best NCEA results in years

Northland College now outperforms similar schools at all three NCEA levels.

A school once battling chronic absence is now celebrating its best attendance figures in five years and a sharp rise in NCEA success.

Commissioner Dr Shane Edwards said Northland College has recorded its highest NCEA achievement rates in at least four years, with a dramatic drop in chronic student absence.

Edwards was appointed as commissioner late last year following ongoing concerns from the Ministry of Education about student outcomes and overall schools governance.

The decision was based on an Education Review Office (ERO) review, which identified significant concerns across key areas, including attendance and low NCEA achievements.

In a message to staff, students and whānau, Edwards said Term 4 delivered the highest attendance rates in five years, with chronic absence dropping to its lowest level over the same period.

“To put it into perspective, in Term 4 2023, just under 80% of learners at Northland College were chronically absent. For the same period in 2025 that figure has been reduced by nearly 60% ... Anecdotally, the Ministry of Education leadership has advised that this is the best performance for at least seven years,” he said.

The attendance improvement coincided with stronger NCEA results.

In 2025, 73.5% of students achieved NCEA Level 1, up from 25.8% in 2023. At Level 2, 59.6% achieved the qualification, and in Level 3 there was 74.4% attainment, a significant increase from the 29.4% the previous year.

When measured against schools in the same equity band, Northland College performed above comparable schools at all three NCEA levels

Edwards said the results reflected collective effort from staff, whānau and students, adding that “90% of success in any part of life is just about turning up”.

The school has maintained a continued focus on attendance in 2026, with clear responsibilities set for leadership, teachers and parents.

He urged parents to send children to school every day, engage with teachers and promote educational success at home.

Teachers are expected to closely monitor attendance data, follow up unexplained absences and celebrate positive attendance.

Alongside academic gains, the school is expanding curriculum options. The number of students studying subjects virtually has more than doubled from five in 2025 to 12 this year, broadening course availability.

Professional learning and development priorities for staff are also being confirmed, alongside a school-wide teaching and learning philosophy.

Edwards said the focus remained clear.

“The school, its leadership and staff are totally and collectively focused on the young people enrolled at Northland College succeeding,” he said.

“Together the school and whānau can achieve anything.”

He said a school-wide teaching and learning philosophy and approach is being set in place and some exciting additions to curriculum choices are on offer.

“I wish to congratulate the Northland College community, the hard-working teaching and management staff, the parents and caregivers for getting their children to school and most of all to the learners for being teachable.”