Common questions about school 

What do I have to pay for when my child goes to school?

Education in state schools across New Zealand is free. However, many schools ask parents or caregivers for donations. Donations are a voluntary contribution to help pay for costs not covered by government funding, such as extra sports equipment. If you do not make donations to the school, your child may be excluded from school field trips and special activities.

If you want to enrol your child in a private school, you will have to pay fees.

It’s normal for parents to provide their children with the materials needed for class- things like exercise books, pens, pencils etc. When your child is enrolled in school, the school should give you a list of what they will need. From time to time you will be asked to pay for things like school trips or camps. The school should always ask you first, and you have to agree to pay the charges. If you have any concerns or problems with this, talk to your child’s teacher.

Many intermediate and secondary schools have compulsory school uniforms. The cost of uniforms varies – your school will be able to tell you everything you need to know about it. In many cases school uniforms are available much more cheaply second-hand. Schools can be quite strict about what shoes students can wear, so find out what’s allowed before buying any.

You'll also need to pay fees for your child to be assessed for secondary school qualifications such as NCEA and Scholarship (see our information about school qualifications).
 
If you are having problems paying for education costs, you could seek free budget advice or see if you are eligible for family support from WINZ.
 

Is my child allowed to wear a religious item of clothing to school, even though it’s not part of the regulation uniform?

Legally, your child cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of race, gender, culture or ethnic origin.

Students are allowed to wear items of cultural and religious significance. So, for example, Maori students may wear taonga (cultural treasures such as tiki pendants) at school even though all jewellery may be banned by the uniform code. See this YouthLaw factsheet for more information about your rights regarding school dress codes.

I don’t believe in homework. Does my child have to do his/her homework?

The policies and practices of schools and individual teachers vary a lot when it comes to homework. Schools may argue that because you have chosen to enrol your child at the school, you have accepted the school’s policies on homework. So if the school gives out homework, they will have reasonable grounds to enforce its completion.

It’s a good idea to talk to your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about homework. You may feel your child is at a disadvantage, because you are unable to provide help at home, especially if English is not your first language. You might be able to come to an agreement or a compromise. If you have problems dealing with the teacher, you can try talking to the principal.

If you feel strongly about this issue, you should make it a priority when choosing a school. More information on how to choose a school is dealt with in our question - where can I find information about schools to make sure I make the right choice for my child?

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I don’t want the school to teach my child about sex. What can I do?

Many schools teach sex education in Health class, and it is normal for this to be taught to young people in their first and second year of high school. The class is intended to teach young people how to approach sex safely, and help them cope with the choices they will have to make as they grow up.

If you don’t want your child to be educated about sex by the school, talk to your child’s teacher. You can arrange a meeting, and find out more about what the teacher will talk to the children about. Once you see the content, and understand what your child will see, you might feel more comfortable about school sex education classes. If you still feel unhappy about it, you could write a note to the teacher and ask that your child not attend class on this topic. The Ministry of Health puts out A Compact Guide to Sexual Health.


What is a walking school bus and how do I find one in my area?

A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It can be as informal or formal as you want it to be- it can be a couple of parents and a few kids, or it can have timetables, meeting points, and schedules.

To find a local walking school bus, you could ask teachers or administration staff at your child’s school, or ask other parents from the school. You can also talk to your neighbours to try to find one in your area.

If there are no walking school buses close to you, you can start one up. Get in touch with other parents, the school principal or board, and the local road safety co-ordinator- you could put a message in the school newsletter and organise a meeting.

More information and tips are in this New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) publication.


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My daughter has severe allergies and is about to start school. Do I have the right to ask her teacher to impose hand-washing rules and restrictions on what foods other kids can bring to school?

If your daughter is allergic to certain foods, you should first and foremost make sure she understands her allergies and what they mean for her. This includes

• what an allergy is
• what foods could harm her
• any symptoms she should worry about
• what could happen if she comes into contact with the things she’s allergic to
• what to do if she has an allergic reaction e.g. who to go to for help, medication to take, or a phone number to call

Schools make policies that suit their students and the student’s needs. If the school has a large number of students that have severe allergies to different things- for example, children that may be seriously ill if they’re exposed to peanuts- then they might choose to protect the children in ways such as banning peanut butter and any nut products from the school.

Schools are allowed to ban certain foods and drinks if they consider them harmful to their pupils. Before your child starts school, you should talk to your child’s teacher and develop a plan involving the class if an emergency does happen with your child’s allergy. If you need more help, or can’t come to an agreement with the teacher, you can take your request to the principal.

Allergy New Zealand offers good resources for handling severe allergies in New Zealand schools and pre-schools online. It includes an online guide and risk management plan for students with severe allergies, along with a lot of other material that may help.

Can I go back to high school in my 20s?

Going back to high school is a big commitment, so you should talk to a careers advisor to make sure that you would leave with the qualification you need to move onto the career path you want. There are several different options for adult education, which may be preferable to attending school when you’re older .

The correspondence school provides a nationwide school by mail service that is available, for a fee, to students over 19 years old. Correspondence school works by sending you workbooks in the subjects required for your qualification, which you complete and return by an agreed time.  This means you can do the work when it suits you, and can fit it around work and other commitments. 

For more information see the New Zealand Correspondence School website.

There may also be institutes in your region that are set up for full time adult education or night classes for high school level qualifications. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau for information about adult education services near you.

You may also be able to take a bridging course at a University. These are specifically designed for students who do not have the required high school qualifications, but who can gain special admission because they are over 20.  Also look at our information on your tertiary options.