Education ... the absolute best ways.

With Duncan Garner on the NZ Education Syetem

Alwyn Poole — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:28:34 GMT

Referenced by Duncan Garner on an important issue.

Alwyn Poole — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:35:06 GMT

LEAVERS data covering all NZ high schools

Alwyn Poole — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 22:20:34 GMT

I have just completed the annual data process I do that covers the LEAVERS data for every high school - as well as data aggregates. The raw data becomes available from Education Counts (a part of the Ministry of Education) in August. School leavers are those that leave a school during or at the end of the school year – from any level – and do not enrol in another school. It is a far more accurate indicator set than the cohort (Year Level) data that comes out in February.

I have made some significant improvements to the process from previous years. Please see the listings of the Excel sheets below.

Key Uses:

- Schools use the data for Reporting to BoT, Staff, Parents & Community.

- Schools use the data information for Goal setting and planning.

- Schools use the data for improved professional development contact between schools through seeing examples of positive change. Some school principals have based sabbaticals around the data showing clear examples of remarkable achievement/improvement.

- Schools, education interested organisations, politicians, researchers, media, parents use the data for improved individual and collective understanding of the NZ High-School system at this time of rapid change.

The seventeen sheets cover:

1. Base data by School Number

2. Base data by EQI

3. Listed by Size

4. Listed by L2 NCEA for leavers 2022 - 2025

5. Listed by L3 NCEA for leavers 2020 - 2025

6. Listed by UE for leavers 2018 - 2025

7. Listed by L3 NCEA to UE for leavers gap - 2028 - 2025

8. Listed by student retention until 17yo 2018 - 2025

9. Listed by Progression to L7+ degree study 2019 - 2024

10. Listed by UE results in EQI 10ths - 2021 - 2025

11. Listed by UE results with EQI coded - 2021 - 2025 (highlighted those doing well from higher EQI situations)

12. STATE only: Listed by UE results with EQI coded - 2021 - 2025

13. National Measures - Attendance & UE Means by EQI 10ths (2022 - 2025)

14. Broad Sector Measures - Overall, Ethnicity, Gender, School Governance, School Type, Geographical Area.

15. Boys’ School Groups (Super 8, South Island) - UE and Retention 2024 - 2025.

16. UE Data for 59 Impressive Improvers - 2023 - 2025.

17. Data Summary and Goal Setting Sheet for Schools to Use.

If you order the data for professional use I will send it immediately (with an invoice that can be paid in your payments cycle). The cost is $400+ GST.

For private use – a donation is a good thing – in recognition of the work and value.

In the next couple of weeks, I will detail some of the interesting aspects – for example – the huge improvements over the last three years from schools such as Auckland Girls Grammar, St Catherines (Kilbirnie), St. Paul’s Ponsonby, McAuley High School, etc.

Alwyn Poole
alwyn.poole@gmail.com

A Privilege to be on The Platform with Michael Laws.

Alwyn Poole — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:34:54 GMT

Priviliged to be published in Education Today: Australia

Alwyn Poole — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 03:12:19 GMT

We should leave no stone unturned to improve the education outcomes of NZ young people.

So much depends on that for the individual,family and nation.

A privilege to be published here on that: https://www.educationtoday.com.au/news-detail/The-Enigma-that-is-t-6844#

The Ministry of Educaton Data for student quaifications failure understated for 21 years.

Alwyn Poole — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 01:50:36 GMT

Myself, and others, e.g. Duncan Garner, Derek Cheng, etc – have recently highlighted that 15% of students leave our education system – after at least 13,200 funded hours – with no formal qualification.

For 2025 LEAVERS that would be 10,496 young people.

We were WRONG! It is much worse.

Despite what people - to the esteemed level of the current Minister of Education state – NCEA is easy to understand and clearly defined.

To get NCEA Level 1:
– you pass the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites (and earn 20 credits).
– you earn 60 credits in courses at Level 1, 2, or 3.

To get NCEA Level 2:
– you pass the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites (and earn 20 credits) at Level 1.
– you earn 60 credits in courses at Level 2, or 3.

To get NCEA Level 3:
– you pass the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites (and earn 20 credits) at Level 1.
– you earn 60 credits in courses at Level 3.

To get University Entrance:
you pass the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites (and earn 20 credits) at Level 1.
– you earn 14 credits in 3 “accredited courses” and meet other basic literacy and numeracy requirements.

Itn turns out that the Ministry of Education has been fudging the numbers … SIGNIFICANTLY.

John Gerritson for RNZ has discovered this:

“The figure has been under-reported because since 2004 the Education Ministry has counted students half-way to a level two or three NCEA certificate as if they had a qualification, even if they didn’t.”

What it means is this … we were reporting that just over 10,000 young people (15%) were leaving our system with no formal qualifications and a very limited future. The true number is 18.59% (13,159 students) last year.

This is a significant scandal in two ways.

1. The statistics are deeply appalling.

2. The Ministry and Ministers have been complicit in hiding the true situation.

How have we got to this place?

Alwyn Poole

alwyn.poole@gmail.com

The All Blacks and Touring South Africa

Alwyn Poole — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:08:21 GMT

I was introduced to sport when I was 8 years old in 1974 by watching Ali fight Foreman and through many of the thrilling events of the Christchurch Commonwealth Games.

The following year I watched the 1975 All Blacks play the “water-polo” test at Eden Park against Scotland – and was hooked.

Most will remember that up until August 1995 rugby was amateur. So, the All Blacks that travelled in 1976 – with 24 games - going from June 30 until September 18 had a massive amount of time off work. The current “greatest rivalry” tour has seven games for full professionals. The 1976 squad has 30 players – with a couple of tour replacements later. The current squad has 44 players. In 1976 there were no “subs” – you only came off the field if near death.

We did not have much reading material in my home growing up so I devoured the tour magazine – from memory sponsored by Rothmans – and can name to squad from memory due to my attention as a ten year old. Bay of Plenty stalwarts still say the Greg Rowlands should have gone and would have won the series as NZ lacked a true goal kicker – and Kit Fawcett only promised to “score more off the field than on it.” Many people with huge future contributions were on the tour – Laurie Mains, Sir Bryan Williams, Grant Batty, Bruce Robertson, Bill Osborne, Sid Going, Andy Leslie, Ian Kirkpatrick and so on.

On thing to keep in mind is that any Maori/Samoan player (e.g. Bee Gee, Bill Bush) travelled as “honorary whites” with the permission of the South African government.

The All Blacks lost the test series 3 – 1. They also lost three provincial games. I watched all live on our little tv – and listened to as many as were available on the radio in the middle of the night.

It is somewhat stunning to note that just 5 years later no player from that tour what playing the infamous final test at Eden Park.

The 1986 Cavaliers tour is another drama between the two nations.

1996 is famous in rugby circles for being the first time the All Blacks won a test series in South Africa. Officially it was 2 – 1 and South Africa had, somewhat secretly, designated the first test played as the tri-nations final only. NZ won that too, so let’s call it 3 – 1 and note it was the first time neutral referees were used. Recently Sean Fitzpatrick rated it as a greater achievement than winning the 1987 World Cup.

Until recently I did not realise that there had not been an All Black tour to South Africa for 30 years.

The importance of rugby to our nation is an going debate but events like this do capture the attention of many and can bring a sense of unity that few other things do.

Two Good Indicators and Two VERY bad indicators for NZ Children and Young People

Alwyn Poole — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:32:37 GMT

The Good

1. There has been a positive and statistically significant improvement in full school attendance for Term 2 2026 compared to the previous 10 years.

2. I was asked about Erica Standford’s engagement with schools. I therefore took the time to go through her Minister of Education diary for the last three years. I found that she has directly visited …

Another look at the provision of school lunches.

Alwyn Poole — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:16:55 GMT

It is clear – from school feedback and an Auditor General’s report that the current school lunch programme is beset with issues.

Societally it is controversial as our history in this area has been parents providing the lunch box. On a Friday, when I was at primary school, you could order fish’n’chips and you could get plate sized potato fritters for 5 ce…

How to improve our system

Alwyn Poole — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:02:14 GMT

As well as the article below - this week I am researching why countries in Europe have school lunch programmes. Finland, and others provide for EVERY child. The reading so far are compelling.

Below was in the post last week.

Where the Government should be focusing to lift education achievement.

OPINION: As a teacher, former principal and long-time research…

On School Lunches – A Response to Jonathan Ayling (in the NZH):

Alwyn Poole — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:40:43 GMT

(My response to his words in point-form).

“More than lunches, children need parents – Jonathan Ayling”

– Clearly a truism.

“While there has been much talk about the quality and cost of school lunches, the debate misses a larger point, argues Jonathan Ayling – why is the Government in the business of feeding our children at all?”

– Because through the abject…

Again – some recognition and help re pre-school but the Minister still misses the key point.

Alwyn Poole — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:23:33 GMT

This week Erica Stanford made an announcement to expand a programme to enhance oral language skills in pre-school children. For those it will reach it appears positive.

The issue is the “those it will reach” part.

From the article:

“In 2025, 36% of children aged 0-4 were in ECE, with participation rising with age; 83% of 4-year-olds attended ECE for 10 hou…

From NZH: “Gap grows in maths, writing: More than 90% of poor children fall behind by Year 3”

Alwyn Poole — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 03:03:39 GMT

Derek Cheng writes:

“Almost all socio-economically disadvantaged children fell behind in maths last year by Year 3, with 95% below curriculum level and 70% more than a year behind.

The proportion for this cohort of disadvantaged kids was almost as high for writing: 91% were already below curriculum level in Year 3, with 80% already more than a year in are…

Maybe the GREATEST author few know of in 2026.

Alwyn Poole — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 02:48:43 GMT

The proposed senior English curriculum in NZ – with the design led by Elizabeth Rata – is deeply dull and narrow. It is also ideologically aimed – by her own admission – to prevent the success of any “decolonisation” in our schools.

It is limiting in terms of the fact that great literature can come from any culture across the globe.

No one doubts that C. …

Austerity? The Public Service Size Increased Again

Alwyn Poole — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:26:38 GMT

In the March Quarter the Public Service workforce grew from 63,657 FTEs to 64,535. A quarterly increase of 1.4% and 12 month increase of 2.1%.

Ironically the Ministry for Regulation FTEs grew 11.6%.

The Ministry of Education grew by a whopping 341 FTEs up 8.9%. That total now stands at 4,176 and is approaching the June 2024 total of 4,387. That is in comp…

How to Actually Improve Education in NZ.

Alwyn Poole — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:23:20 GMT

On a NZ blog site recently a reader responded to my criticism of the NACT education plan/progress with a frank: “What would you do?”

My credentials to suggest another pathway.

- a child of a genuinely low income and significantly problematic childhood. A solo mother, born in 1934, into a family with 11 siblings, might give you an idea of my platform. Add …

Martin Crowe Honoured at Lords

Alwyn Poole — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:03:05 GMT

Test cricket is the true game. Without doubt the greatest sport in the world. Even honoured by Douglas Adams in his trilogy of five parts.
When my first son was growing up we autograph hunted a dream NZ team on a bat. The names are: Turner, Wright, Fleming, M. Crowe, Astle, Coney, C. Cairns, Smith, Hadlee, J. Bracewell, Morrison, and Jeff Wilson as the 1…

A Chickens and Eggs Parable for NZ Education

Alwyn Poole — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:44:21 GMT

Until three weeks ago we had 12 Brown Shaver chickens. We got them when they were 12 weeks old.

They are fully free-range on a property that is 10 hectares. There is grass, forest, vegetable gardens to raid (not encouraged), a house to try and get into daily to steal the dogs’ food (discouraged), and one has found its way onto our bed twice to have a goo…

Education … everyone knows change is needed but …

Alwyn Poole — Sat, 30 May 2026 01:37:11 GMT

… there are so many signals that the current government is going about most things education related in the wrong way.

1. It is highly predictable that the teacher unions and most of the teaching sector will oppose most changes proposed by a center right government. However the Minister has neither reduced their power – or engaged well if she is not will…

The Opening of Forest Charter School (Orewa)

Alwyn Poole — Sun, 24 May 2026 23:30:36 GMT

A privilege to attend the above event last Friday.

As opposed to ill-informed assertions that “every brain learns the same” world leading Neuro-Scientist David Eagleman (Stanford University);

“ … suggests that while the basic neural architecture is similar across brains, individual brains learn and adapt in unique ways due to life experiences and genetic …