An update from the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and important information regarding buses.

Dear Parents,

The staff are enthusiastically preparing for the return of students on Monday. Current results of the attendance survey indicate that most of our students are returning on Monday. Please be reminded that no face-to-face learning is scheduled on Friday to allow staff to prepare. Students must continue with assignments, set work and other distance learning tasks.

Today I received a letter from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) that will be a relief to Senior students, teachers and school leadership.

The key messages from NZQA are:

Immediate Changes

• External NCEA examinations and New Zealand Scholarship examinations will be delayed so they start on 16 November instead of 6 November, allowing further time for teaching, learning and internal assessment in Term Four. Examinations will now end on 9 December instead of 2 December, and an updated examination timetable is available on the website.
• Students with Visual Arts portfolios will be given more time to complete their portfolios
• The submission date for subjects which require students to submit a portfolio such as Design and Visual Communication is being extended from 28 October to 12 November 2020, giving students more time to prepare.

Additional Actions

University Entrance

NZQA is also consulting with Universities New Zealand on whether adjustments are needed to University Entrance, to recognise the disruption that has occurred.

KingsWay leadership aim to process the ramifications of this information in the next few days, before responding to the community and students. In the meantime, please maintain the excellent learning momentum established in the past few weeks and avoid speculation. KingsWay continues to be committed to supporting staff as they enable students to reach their full potential despite this disruption.

I have also been following up with the Ministry of Education regarding concerns of overcrowding on certain buses. The following letter from Auckland Transport outlines the measures taken to ensure health and safety on school buses CLICK HERE.
Please note that the operation of these buses is not under the school's jurisdiction or control.

Unless any urgent information materialises in the next day, I plan to provide another update on Friday afternoon with final arrangements for the return to school on Monday, 18 May.

Kind regards,

Graeme Budler
Executive Principal