Teachers as data navigators is a study that aims to provide a national snapshot of primary and intermediate teachers’ data capabilities, and to understand how schools use data when making decisions aimed at improving teaching, learning, and equity. 

The research question that guided our study was: How do primary and intermediate teachers perceive their data capabilities and their use of data when making decisions about improving teaching and learning? 

A ...

This first report from the 2025 National Survey of Secondary Schools provides a snapshot of secondary principals' perspectives amidst a period of significant change for the education sector. A second report covering findings from secondary teachers will be available soon.  

In this publication, NZCER presents findings from a survey of 106 secondary principals in Aotearoa – a broadly representative sample of the wider population. The next national survey of ...

This report was produced by NZCER for the COVID-19 Lessons Learned Royal Commission | Te Tira Ārai Urutā. It provides an evidence-based view of whether COVID-19–related school disruptions have affected student learning in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

To do this, NZCER has analysed Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) data for mathematics and reading comprehension to estimate the effect of COVID‑19–era school closures on achievement in Aotearoa New Zealand. Auckland is compared ...

How schools report to parents and whānau has a statistically significant impact on schools’ approaches to supporting positive behavior, wellbeing, and attendance – three crucial support systems identified in the 2024 National Survey of Schools.  

In this research brief, NZCER explores how assessment and reporting practices shape and influence these support systems, with a particular focus on attendance – one of the five Common Components (updated from four ...

This research brief examines teacher data from the 2024 National Survey of Primary Schools – specifically, how school leadership practices shape teachers’ interest in becoming a principal. Our findings show that early-career teachers are more open to leadership roles than those later in their teaching careers. This highlights the need to better understand how we can sustain leadership aspirations throughout a teacher’s career. 

We found that strong leadership practices (reflected ...

In 2024, the Ministry of Education contracted Te Wāhanga, the Māori research unit of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), to carry out a kaupapa Māori research project to inform the development of Tīrewa Mātai. The overarching research question for this study is: What are key issues for the Ministry of Education to consider when developing Tīrewa Mātai?

To answer this question, the Ministry of Education ...

This report presents the findings of a small, exploratory research project carried out by NZCER for the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa (the National Library) in 2025.

The research involved a case study of one full primary school participating in the pilot PLD programme Pūtoi Rito: School Communities of Readers offered by the National Library in 2025. The programme aims to support reading for ...

This report provides analysis of public feedback on a draft relationships and sexuality education (RSE) framework, developed as part of The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh. The feedback covered the content of the framework as well as the positioning and delivery of RSE programmes. Feedback was gathered from 11 April to 9 May 2025 using an online survey form and from email submissions sent to the Ministry of Education.

The method ...

This rangahau explores how mana motuhake is lived, learned, and led within kaupapa Māori education. Drawing on kōrero with Pou Māori across four kura—Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae, TIPENE, Kia Aroha Campus, and Te Kura Māori o Porirua—the rangahau reveals diverse, yet interconnected, perspectives of Māori leadership in action. 

Through pūkōrero with tumuaki, ākonga, graduates, kaiako, and whānau, the findings ...

This literature review examines the concept of high-expectations leadership within educational settings. We analysed 15 studies to explore:  

• the notion of having high expectations  
• the relationship between school culture and teacher expectations 
• key practices related to high-expectations leadership  
• enabling and constraining factors.  

Findings highlight the importance of a broad concept of high expectations for students that spans across all areas of student development, including academic achievement ...