Recognising high achievement with 'endorsements'

When students perform consistently above the 'Achieved' level, their result(s) can be 'endorsed' to reflect that high achievement. This can occur at either the Certificate or individual course level.

Certificate endorsement

For an NCEA certificate to be endorsed with Excellence a student must gain 50 credits at Excellence at the level of the certificate or above. So, if a student has 50 Level 1 credits at Excellence they may have their Level 1 certificate endorsed with Excellence. Likewise, if a student gains 50 credits at Merit (or Merit and Excellence) at Level 1 their NCEA Level 1 certificate may be endorsed with Merit. Endorsement awards show on the Record of Achievement.

Certificate endorsement is calculated in January each year on the release of external results.

Course endorsement

Course endorsement provides recognition for a student who has performed exceptionally well in an individual course.

Students will gain an endorsement for a course if, in a single school year, they achieve:

· 14 or more credits at Merit or Excellence, and

· at least three of these credits from externally assessed standards and three credits from internally assessed standards. Note, this does not apply to Physical Education, Religious Studies and Level 3 Visual Arts.

Girls can monitor their progress towards Course endorsements using their student/ parent portal or their NZQA log-on.