Latest update below and timetable (attached)

The disruption caused by COVID-19 has resulted in some anxiety amongst students and families about the impact on their progress toward NCEA and UE. NZQA have announced changes to NCEA and University Entrance (UE) requirements for 2020. We believe that the changes announced recognize the work undertaken by students and teachers through the lockdown period, provide a fair and equitable opportunity for students to achieve their qualifications, and still maintain the integrity of the qualifications gained.

Students will gain additional credits, based on the number of credits that they achieve through the school year. For every 5 credits a student achieves toward their NCEA Level (external or internal) they will receive 1 additional credit (to a set maximum). These additional credits are called Learning Recognition Credits (LCR).

For ease of reference, we have outlined below how this will work at each level of NCEA, and for UE. We have also outlined the impact on endorsements.

NCEA LEVEL 1

To gain NCEA Level 1 a student needs 80 credits from Level One (or higher). This year this can be attained as follows:

80 Level 1 credits (or higher); OR

70 Level 1 credits (or higher) plus 10 LCR.

NCEA LEVEL 2

To gain NCEA Level 2 a student needs 60 credits from Level Two (or higher). This year this can be attained as follows:

60 Level Two credits (or higher); OR

52 Level Two credits (or higher) plus 8 LCR

NCEA LEVEL THREE

To gain NCEA Level Three a student needs 60 credits from Level Three (or higher). This year this can be attained as follows:

60 Level Three credits (or higher); OR

52 Level Three credits (or higher) plus 8 LCR

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE (UE) REQUIREMENTS

Current UE requirements have been reduced from 14 to 12 credits in three UE-approved subjects. Students still need to attain NCEA Level 3 AND meet usual UE Literacy (5 Reading plus 5 Writing credits) and numeracy requirements. Further information about the impact on Grade Point Averages required for limited entry courses will be forthcoming for Year 13 students.

ENDORSEMENTS

Students will be awarded a certificate endorsement if they achieve 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, rather than the usual 50. Students achieving 12 credits at Merit or Excellence level in a course – rather than 14 – will be awarded a course endorsement.

We are of the opinion that these changes now provide surety for students and staff alike, as such we now have a solid platform on which to build for the remainder of the academic year. As always though, we encourage our students to seek the heights, original targets should still be first and foremost in students' minds.