The New Zealand curriculum is based on acquiring essential academic and practical skills. The Ministry of Education has identified seven academic or ’essential learning’ areas that schools must focus on:

• Language and languages
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technology
• Social sciences
• Arts
• Health and physical education
These are balanced by eight practical or ’essential’ skills:
• Communication
• Numeracy
• Information
• Problem-solving
• Self-management and competition
• Social and co-operative
• Physical
• Work and study

Schools are expected to report back to parents regularly on their children’s progress. Most schools prepare written progress reports each term and hold parent-teacher evenings where parents can meet with teachers. Parents are often encouraged to participate in school activities, and can request a meeting with a teacher at any time if particular concerns arise. Many schools have anti-bullying programmes in place.