Arts & Cultural Festival details
At OPS...
In 2026 all schools will be implementing the revised English and Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum - released Oct 2025.
OPS staff have been investigating and unpacking the updated documents, and have been engaged in professional learning relating to them in 2024 and 2025. PLD related to docs + science of learning - strong connect with EPIC
OPS staff using the update documents
Our staff professional learning and implementing of 'Structured Literacy' started in 2022.
Teachers have been involved in Structured Literacy professional learning which has been funded by school fundraising. In addition to this by the end of 2025, all teachers will have been involved in Ministry of Education funded professional learning from the same provider using the 'Ideal' approach by Learning Matters.
New Structure: Instead of your child being taught and assessed against old "curriculum levels," progress is now grouped into Phases of Learning:
Phase 1: Years 0–3
Phase 2: Years 4–6
Phase 3: Years 7 & 8
The content in English and Maths & Statistics has increased and is more detailed year-by-year, concepts are sometimes introduced earlier????.
The curriculum is now organised into Knowledge and Practices.
Knowledge refers to the information, facts, concepts, and content that students must learn and retain in each subject. "What do students need to know?"
Practices refer to the skills, processes, and methods students use to engage with and apply that knowledge. "What do students need to do with what they know?"
The following capabilities are common across all learning areas.
Communication which includes actively listening and participating, adapting self-expression to the audience and context, and confidently and safely using digital tools to access information and communicate with others.
Relating to others which includes, working productively together, acting with personal integrity and responsibility, respecting the views and opinions of others, and demonstrating ethical and cultural understanding and responsiveness.
Self-management and self-regulation which includes setting personal goals and reviewing them, managing behaviour in a range of situations, organising and planning how to go about a task, and adapting strategies for success.
Problem solving which includes identifying problems, justifying ideas, linking causes with consequences, critical thinking, and testing and evaluating solutions.
Creativity which includes experimenting to shape and explain thinking, demonstrating intellectual curiosity, and the ability to look at things from multiple perspectives, co-creating and refining ideas and encouraging imagination.
At OPS...
In previous curriculums we use Key Comps. etc...soemthing
From 2026 OPS staff will start using Capabilities
Curriculum Roll Out Year 0-8
Implementation of the new learning areas started in 2025 and will continue through to 2028.
Years 0-10 English and Mathematics will be required for use from the start of 2026 for all state and state-integrated schools.
Years 0-8 content for Science, Social Sciences, Health & Physical Education will need to be used from Term 1, 2027.
Years 0-8 content for The Arts, Technology and Learning Languages will need to be used from Term 1, 2028.
Reporting Using Phases: The way progress is reported will look different in 2026.
Reports to families about their child's learning will use new progress descriptions (Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient, Exceeding).
Emerging - Students require support to meet curriculum expectations for their year level and/or goals as described in their personalised learning plan.
Developing - Students are making some progress towards curriculum expectations for their year level.
Consolidating - Students are meeting many curriculum expectations for their year level and are steadily strengthening their understanding across learning areas.
Proficient - Students are meeting curriculum expectations for their year level.
Exceeding - Students are exceeding curriculum expectations for their year level.
At OPS...
In late November 2025 we are expecting
information about SMART tool which we will add to our our kete of assessment tools.
Guidance about reporting to whānau in 2026, including expected common components and possible template examples - not sure about addign this
Once this information is published OPS Senior Leaders will plan professional learning for staff in January 2026.
In 2026 OPS staff make changes to our reporting and written report formats, incorporating expected common components and what we have heard from whānau feedback.
We plan to retain the face to face reporting events such as 'whānau connect'. Feedback tells us these are
formal twice-yearly assessments (using new tools like SMART) for Years 3-8 in Reading, Writing, and Maths.
From 2026 reqyuirement to carry out and submit Phonics checks - submitte after 20 weeks at school and 40 weeks at school
At OPS...
OPS currently use a range of tools, combination of standardised and ...list some , professional judgemnet
Currently submitting phonics checks
Starting in 2026, there will be more formal twice-yearly assessments (using new tools like SMART) for Years 3-8 in Reading, Writing, and Maths.
For Maths: Ask your child to explain how they solved a problem or why they think a certain answer is correct. This supports the focus on reasoning.
For English: Read with your child often, even older ones! Talk about what is happening in the story, what the author wants you to feel, and how the characters are using language.
Check the Parent Portal: The Ministry of Education has launched a Parent Portal(need to link) with guides and simple activities to show you exactly what your child is learning in the new Maths curriculum and how you can help.
You can find much more dertailed suggestions on this page on our website....???????