We have had a number of parents discuss with us recently the decision other schools in our region have made to remove NCEA Level 1 from their Year 11 qualification. We would like to affirm our robust dedication to the New Zealand curriculum and NCEA at all three levels. We have written a brief outline of reasoning behind our position below.

NCEA provides a flexible assessment structure to reflect the wonder of the New Zealand Curriculum. Both the Curriculum and the flexibility of NCEA encourages context and cohort tailored learning opportunities and allows us to develop programmes of learning that are a best fit for us.

An NCEA qualification provides a pathway for our students both nationally and internationally and our girls flourish with this qualification wherever they chose to continue their learning journey. Our students achieve at the highest levels and we remain committed to the pursuit of individual excellence within the framework of NCEA. Our teachers are experts in NCEA assessment.

NCEA’s strength is that it encourages and assesses skills and attributes that are not subject specific – research, analysis, critical thinking, for example. Standardisation, rote learning and regurgitation, hallmarks of previous, and some alternative, assessment systems, do not prepare students for the future, whatever that might be. We need to be mindful of pathways into further education and the workforce that will require capabilities such as creativity and collaboration. Students need opportunities at all levels of school that allow them to practice these.

Rangi Ruru will be continuing to offer NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications. Completion of the Level 1 Certificate allows your daughter to achieve and flourish in her subjects. She can see the requirements of learning using standards-based assessment outcomes and can then scaffold seamlessly into Level 2.

Level 2 is a high stakes qualification – it is the highest qualification that students have as they are in Year 13 applying for Halls places, University Scholarships, limited entry courses, for example. We want your daughters to be well prepared for this level of qualification and experienced with NCEA.

Year 11 students:

• need to experience academic success and failure to develop wellbeing and resilience.
• need to learn to manage their time in a learning programme, scaffolded with support from classroom teachers.
• need to practise a variety of assessment modes – written, oral, portfolios of evidence, tests etc.
• need to practise sitting External Examinations – there is no other situation that can prepare them for this.
• need to have a base of knowledge that is identifiable, to build on for the future.
• may want to study something in Level 1 and start a new subject in Level 2. They will have NCEA credits that demonstrate their learning in the Level 1 subject.

Background/Additional points:

• We know that within the flexible framework of NCEA Level 1, we can offer a robust and valuable curriculum and assessment programme.
• Level 1 as a qualification has always been optional – this is not a change.
• Change is being made nationally to the details of courses, assessments, and subjects in order to try to simplify the structure and have fewer, larger assessments.
• Rangi Ruru Level 1 Courses have been limited to 19 credits for several years. By limiting the number of assessments, our aim is to focus on quality learning over assessment outcomes and credit gathering.
• Academic success is something to be proud of and students can succeed at their level. This contributes positively to their sense of confidence, achievement, and wellbeing.
• The flexibility of NCEA allows us to deliver Level 1 learning that is personal, engaging, and empowering.

See the document link below for more information on why we love NCEA at Rangi.

Juliet Collins
Assistant Principal - Curriculum