Police are investigating one of the country's top school principals over a physical confrontation with his former wife.

It's not the education system that is at fault, but the economic and social systems which, if they were doing their job, would be identifying and helping those who start life on the back foot.

Wanganui Collegiate School has gained integration into the state network of schools, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

The charter schools advisory group wants those who have no teaching qualifications to be given official registration - a call at odds with Govt policy.

Lesley Longstone doesn't look particularly "beleaguered" sitting in her expansive office at the Ministry of Education in Wellington.

About 200 parents, grandparents, students, teachers and principals packed a Christchurch school gym last night to protest the Government's plan to close the school and others across the region.

A final decision has been made on the future of two South Island residential schools catering to children with intellectual disabilities - they will close.

Education commentators have been aghast this week that the Education Secretary doesn't consider our education system "world class" -but her comments must be heard.

Comments by the Secretary for Education that New Zealand does not have a world leading education system is at direct odds with the Education Minister, the Education Institute says.

The Cambridge exam system is under spotlight as prestigious schools are called to meeting with the country's largest university.

A former deputy principal has been sentenced to nine years in jail for sexually abusing a young girl.

Mt Hobson Middle School principal Alwyn Poole says he is looking at west Auckland and potentially Whanganui to set up charter schools.

Kohanga Reo National Trust wants a halt on any new policy decisions by the Education Ministry that affects it after a report found government policy had put it in crisis.