Kia ora e te whānau,

You may have seen recent media reports that the government has confirmed the replacement of NCEA with a new qualification. Our current students in Years 10-13 are not impacted by these changes, and will continue on an NCEA pathway. The new qualification will be in place from 2028 – 2030, impacting our current Year 9 students.

What is changing?

First and foremost, the national curriculum is being refreshed, and the new qualifications will align with these changes. Updated curriculum content is already being implemented in Years 9 and 10 Mathematics and English, with other learning areas to follow over the coming year.

As part of this work, we are carefully reviewing our senior courses to ensure we continue to provide students with a broad and engaging range of subject options as the new curriculum is introduced from 2028.

Under the new qualification pathway, the current NCEA system will be phased out and replaced with a different structure: the Foundational Award in Year 11 from 2028, the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) in Year 12 from 2029, and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) in Year 13 from 2030.

It has also been confirmed that students in Years 12 and 13 will study a minimum of five subjects each year, with passes in at least three subjects required to gain each qualification. All subjects will use a six-point grading scale ranging from A+ to E, and will include both internal assessment and at least one external examination.

From 2028, Science will become a compulsory Year 11 subject nationwide alongside English and Mathematics. In addition, NZQA is currently reviewing the minimum requirements for University Entrance, and we will continue to keep track of national decisions relating to tertiary pathway requirements as further details are confirmed.

The government’s info sheet about the new qualification is linked below.

The impact for Wellington College

At Wellington College, we are committed to providing a coherent and rigorous programme of learning that prepares our ākonga (students) for success both at school and beyond.

Wellington College is well placed to respond to these changes to assessment and the curriculum. Our staff are experienced, agile, and proactive in adapting programmes so that they continue to meet the needs of every learner. You can be confident that, as the national qualification evolves, we will remain focused on delivering an education that is rigorous, relevant, and purposeful, ensuring that all students are equipped to thrive in the next stage of their journey.

We have already removed NCEA Level 1 and replaced it with a redesigned Year 9–11 Learning Progression Framework (LPF). This framework allows us to focus on building strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking, while also giving students opportunities to deepen their knowledge and skills across a wide range of subjects. By reducing high-stakes external assessments in Year 11, we have gained around 10 extra weeks for deeper, more authentic learning. This approach develops subject expertise, confidence, and resilience while supporting personalised pathways and meaningful assessment. Students receive regular feedback to make their progress clear and purposeful, and we keep whānau updated throughout the year. Our commitment to meaningful learning and student growth will remain central, providing stability for our students while also ensuring we are well placed to adapt as the national curriculum evolves. This puts us in a strong position to implement the new Foundational Award at Year 11 in 2028, and the rest of the new qualification in the years beyond.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries about what this may mean for your young person’s education at Wellington College.

Nāku noa, nā

Luci Lendrum

DP Achievement and Attainment

Attachments

Infosheet – New senior secondary qualifications   PDF, 432.2 KB