Education Minister Hekia Parata said this morning members of the wider education profession would play a key role in further developing school leadership initiative.

A "free" state education in NZ will cost the average parent nearly $35,000 by the time their child finishes secondary school, a survey claims.

The leadership of New Zealand schools has been overhauled, with the Government creating new roles including 'executive principals' and 'expert teachers'. The change was announced today by Prime Minister John Key in a state of the nation-style speech in Auckland

A student learning expert has suggested a top-level review of the schooling system after international testing showed 15-year-olds had slipped in maths, science and reading.

PISA envy is rife at the moment as we find NZ has slipped. This should be a shot of reality and force us not to be complacent with the status quo.

Editorial: It is highly appropriate that NZ officials have been to Asia to identify the key points of the successful programmes there. But implementing their findings on what works will require political will.

New Zealand educational achievement has dropped significantly in the core subjects of science, maths and reading, according to a OECD report.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is preparing for an embarrassing drop in New Zealand's education rankings in an international survey next week.

Primary and intermediate school teachers are being overworked and some subjects are prioritised at the expense of others, says a study into National Standards.

The Government is providing $10.5 million in extra school funding to improve student achievement in maths and science.

Teachers of students as young as 5 will soon have access to new sexuality education guidelines addressing issues such as identity and relationships.

New Zealand is among the top 10 best places to be a woman, according to a worldwide report on gender equality.

Every New Zealand classroom will soon have access to digital devices - opening up huge learning opportunities, but also a risk of another "digital divide".

New Zealand's school curriculum has been hollowed out of knowledge as academic learning is increasingly abandoned for a misguided focus on skills and the process of learning, an academic claims.

Of the kids who start at Takanini School each year, only 20 per cent have had early childhood education experience.

Contrary to the claims of your columnist Rodney Hide last weekend, the self-described anti-theist, I don't believe prayer to be hocus-pocus.

When Tristan Cosio started school a fortnight ago he was ready and prepped. New school bag? Yes. New lunch box? You bet. Ministry of Health B4 School Check? No.

Primary school students spend nearly an hour each night doing homework, a national survey says, but some parents and teachers question the value of after-school study.

Acting Secretary for Education Peter Hughes has been appointed head of the Ministry of Education.

A pay deal has been signed between the union representing primary and intermediate teachers and the Govt to introduce an allowance for 800 expert teachers worth $4 million.

The report plans for the creation of a "Finishing School for New Zealand Political Aspirants - the Cabbage Boat Academy", writes Toby Manhire.

Anthony Harrison and Latoya Uerata were all smiles this week at Kelvin Rd School as the nationwide roll-out of free dental kits began.

Bullrush and other potentially bruising activities are returning to play as research points to the long-term benefits of scraped knees and the odd broken bone.