Closing for instruction in 2025

13 Hakihea, 2024

 

Authorised closure days in 2025

Schools and kura can use two authorised closure days (or four half-days) in 2025.  The purpose for these days needs to be determined by the board based on criteria for closing. Those criteria and more information about the authorised closure days can be found here:

New closing for instruction settings - Ministry of Education

These authorised closure days provide permission for schools and kura to close during term time in 2025.  They do not reduce the number of half days your school or kura is required to be open for instruction.   This means, if your school or kura chooses to use these days, the closure time needs to be made up during the school calendar year.

For any day your school or kura is closed, parents and caregivers must be given at least 6 weeks’ notice of the closure dates decided on.

 

Curriculum days

Schools and kura are also being provided two curriculum days in 2025.  These days do not need to be made up.

For Years 0-8

The focus of the days needs to be for the purpose of staff participating in maths or pāngarau PLD, to support implementation of the new curriculum content. Schools and kura teaching The New Zealand Curriculum can use these days to cover two of the four maths PLD days on offer.

More information on those days can be found here: 

Maths Professional Learning and Development – Professional Learning & Development

For Years 9-13

The focus of the days needs to be curriculum and assessment.

One day can be used at any time during 2025 for curriculum and assessment related purposes.

One day can be used in Term 4 to prepare for implementation of the English, Te Reo Rangatira, maths and Pāngarau curricula in 2026. 

For area schools, middle schools and wharekura

Your school or kura may only close for two curriculum days total in 2025.  You will need to work out how best to make use of these days to reflect the different purposes for which they have been authorised for different year levels. 

For teachers of Years 0–8 students, that means maths and pāngarau PLD; while Years 9–13 teachers may focus more broadly on curriculum and assessment as described above.