New Zealand schools, particularly those offeriing education in Auckland, are highly regarded around the world for their innovative, “child-centred” learning techniques.
Auckland offers a wide range of very impressive private schools, such as ACG http://www.acgedu.com/ and also alternative learning technique schools such as Montessori and Steiner, that are extremely popular with expats. At the same time, some of the best public schools in New Zealand are located in Auckland, giving parents a choice as to what sort of educational experience they want for their child. There are not many international schools in Auckland as New Zealand is an English-speaking country with an almost-exclusively English-speaking expat population.
Of course, different schools excel in different areas. There are same sex schools and coeducational schools, small schools and large schools. Most state schools offer only NCEA (the recognized New Zealand qualification standard), which is based upon course work and does not recognize passing/failing just different levels of achievement. However, some schools also offer the more internationally-accepted Cambridge and International Baccalaureate systems.
Some schools, such as Auckland Grammar, are now moving away from the NCEA system as they feel it encourages students not to excel, and other schools may follow. So while the vast majority of Auckland’s schools are good schools that will provide a quality education for your child, it’s still a good idea to keep your child’s future in mind, at least when you choose a secondary school. If your child hopes (or you hope!) to attend university outside of New Zealand and/or Australia, it may be advisable to enroll in a school that offers an alternative to NCEA.
