Star Schools

15,000 pupils compete to become maths 'rock stars'

Education Minister Erica Stanford was a keen observer as thousands of school pupils were put through their mathematical paces in Christchurch on Thursday.

Property boom in suburbs near university

This five-bedroom home on Montclare Ave, Ilam, sold under the hammer for $1.263m in a competitive...

Out-of-town buyers cause property boom in suburbs near university

Out-of-town buyers pushed up the price of a five-bedroom home near Canterbury University to $1.263m to find somewhere for their university-attending children to live.

Playcentre forced to find new home

Playcentre forced to find new home

A Canterbury playcentre is looking for a new premises for next year after its landlord, the school next door, opted not to renew its lease.

What could replace NCEA - and how to have your say

The Government has announced sweeping changes to school qualifications, including NCEA. So what will it mean for students and how can you have a say on the proposals?

Scholarship helps UC student study penguins

$20k scholarship helps UC student study 'mischevious and cheeky' penguins

A love of sea life has inspired deeper conservation research for Canterbury University PhD student Alexandra Strang.

Plan to replace NCEA announced

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said evidence showed NCEA was inconsistent and did always...

Plan to replace NCEA school qualification announced

The Government is proposing replacing all levels of NCEA, the main qualification for secondary school students in NZ.

Shy student spreading his wings

Shy student now spreading his wings

Three years ago Arran Armstrong was a shy student at Darfield High who preferred others to do the talking. But last month that same young man took to the stage at Government House to address a roomful of high-ranking officials.

Should school holidays be reduced to one week?

Should school holidays be reduced to one week?

A New Zealand mum-of-two has approached the Ministry of Education asking it to consider altering the school holiday schedule.

Govt pulls pin on open-plan classrooms

Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ

Erica Stanford pulls pin on open-plan classrooms

The government will end the construction of open-plan classrooms in favour of a new "flexible" design.

How a fried chicken food truck ran afoul of KFC

How a Chch fried chicken food truck ran afoul of KFC's trademark lawyers

Explainer: An entrepreneurial Christchurch teen ran into trouble when his fried chicken business was called out by KFC. But why does a giant global corporation care so much about the similarity to their logo?

Young Edison lights up Carnegie Hall

Edison performing Mazurka in A minor in front of hundreds at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall...

Young Edison lights up New York's famous Carnegie Hall

New York’s Carnegie Hall has hosted musical giants like Tchaikovsky, George Gershwin and The Beatles. Now Canterbury pianist Edison Li has joined the illustrious list.

How good have the school lunches been in term 2?

David Seymour tries out one of the new lunches yesterday. Photo: RNZ

How good have the school lunches been in term 2?

David Seymour is giving term two an eight out of 10, but a principal says complaints are only down because people have given up.

Golden Guitar glory for rising star

Cleo Fitzgerald won the junior vocal solo and junior gospel categories. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN

Golden Guitar glory for rising star

New Zealand’s next country music sensation may have been unearthed in Christchurch.

Principal reflects on a lifetime of learning

Sandra Dentice will retire at the end of term 3 after a 50-year career in education, with the...

'I’m leaving the school in great heart': Retiring Chch principal reflects on a lifetime of learning

Sandra Dentice will leave Whītau School (formerly Linwood North), where she has been principal since 2003, at the end of term 3.

High school brings back single-cell rooms

Christchurch school brings back traditional single-cell rooms

Shirley Boys' High is spending $800,000 to transform its open plan classrooms, built in 2019, into single-cell rooms.

Lyndsey calls for back-up to help pupils

Lyndsey Ebert on call with Te Raekura Redcliffs School year 8 pupils, Grace Moorcroft-Proudfoot,...

Lyndsey calls for back-up to help pupils

Lyndsey Ebert was stuck in traffic one morning, waiting for pupils from Te Raekura Redcliffs School to cross the road, when he had an idea on how it could be improved.

'I can still take a person down'

Meet the 86yo sensei who can 'take someone’s knee out'

For almost 40 years, mum of seven Mary Patu, 86, has been teaching martial arts for $2 a class from her backyard in one of Christchurch's poorest areas.