Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

I found it hard to believe schools in NZ could be worse than some London schools like the one my daughter went to where she cried and didn't want to go because of troublemakers:(

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

When we arrived here, within the first week my son had been exposed to words he hadn't heard before. being called a white English FU**ING nigger. Bullying both physical and psychological has happened in both schools he has attended.
Mainly by the older kids. I have had to teach him to defend himself which is pretty sad. Some of the kids are like feral animals mainly because their parents don't give a ****.

Both schools have been at opposite ends of the grading scale 5 & 10. Oh and in the decile 10 school Ohoka, there are plaques on the wall of the parents who donate the most, and it might be a coincidence but their kids are in all the school teams.

I the major cities it may be better, but my South African friend had to remove his daughter from one of the better girls schools in Chc, because she found the swearing and behavior intolerable.

Good schools maybe but plenty of bad.

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

I'm sure I read somewhere recently that NZ yet again for another aspect, was unenviably high up the OECD tables for school bullying. Best to be aware of this in advance.
There was a high profile case recently where I was unpleasantly surprised to read in the press that the school was stalling on dealing with bullies because incidents had happened off school premises...that was never an issue when a friend of mine was bullied in UK...admittedly many years ago..twas nipped in the bud though...because the school gave a damn and took responsibility.

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

OK, I don't have any experience of NZ schools but I am a teacher in England with overseas teaching experience and I feel the need to share my views of the English system.

Unfortunately it has changed massively in the last few years. I'm a Physics teacher teaching general science (11 - 14 year olds), Science GCSE (14 - 16 year olds) and A level Physics (16 - 18 year olds).

The Science has been dumbed down to an extent where little 'real' science is still taught. It is more fluffy and generalised. More like teaching about global issues than Science.

In class recently I had to teach 12 year olds how to add decimels as they hadn't been taught how to. I had to teach 16 year olds how to draw a graph and how to add fractions as they couldn't / didn't know how to. I am currently trying to teach A level students how to rearrange equations and other basic math skills as they are unable to do simple maths. This is not a quirk in the school I am in, its the norm in the UK now.

Another issue is the A level standards. The students have to complete practical assessments as part of the syllabus. These tasks (which are part of their final exam grade) have been so simplified not only are they told how to set up the practical experiment, they are told exactly which measurements to take, they are told which graphs to draw and how to draw it. It really has become a bit of a joke.

My wife and I are due to have our first child any day and are looking to get out of the UK as we have lost all faith in the UK education system. And thats before we get into the conduct and behaviour of the kids in and outside of the classroom.

So as someone who once left and then returned to the UK I would suggest anyone who is looking to return to really think hard about it. Why did you leave in the first place as the reality is more likely that this place has got a lot worse in the time you've been away, not better.

Hope it helps.

:D

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

All I can say on the matter is that we have had four children in the NZ schooling system, my eldest had aleady taken his NCEA level one when we returned back to the UK, the top schools where we live do not recognise those so he sat GCSE here and only had nine months to sudy and take them. He took six and ended up with four A stars, One A and one B, and is now studying A levels at a top school and hoping to go to Loughborough.The others are also doing very well and ahead in maths, so there you go NZ rocks but the NCEA levels are not recognised that well so be warned.

:thumbup:

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

From memory Auckland is ranked about 59th in the world which is an excellent ranking. Pretty much better than most Western European countries and many British institutions.

The bottom line is that NZ graduates don't have a problem being employed anywhere in the world and many are extremely successful. That's the reality and the end result is really all that matters.

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

Fair point although GCSE's and A levels are not really recognised anywhere outside the UK.

Most European countries now use the IB programme of study in place of A level and several schools in the UK are starting to follow suit.

The North American AP system is not recognised by the UK, despite being of a higher standard than the A level. (I have taught the AP programme and it is around the level of a first year UK university course)

So qualifications not being recognised is really not so much of an issue, its the standard of the material being delivered I am unhappy with.

Re: Kids and schooling standards
 

Only a few and I stress a few in the private sector. The problem with the IB is that it is too general. You don't have the option of specialising in either the arts or sciences, it has to be both.

The IGCSE which is tougher than the GCSE isn't specifically recognised at universities. Therefore if you get a B in IGCSE which is probably better than an A at GCSE, universities don't take that on board.