Catholic principals suggest reasons for Otago NCEA success

According to NCEA regional data, Otago had the top attainment rate for NCEA level 1, level 3 and University Entrance last year. For level 2, Otago was second behind Taranaki by 0.2 per cent.

In 2023, Otago had the highest attainment rate in two of the four measurements.

St Kevin’s College Oamaru principal Jo Walshe said the region could market the latest results as a reason for families to move to Otago.

“I am not sure that wider New Zealand understands that this is a high-performing region, whilst also being a reasonably priced area of the country to live in,” she said.

Another reason for the impressive results could well be the very good attendance rates at Otago schools, Ms Walshe suggested.

“Families value education and work with schools to get their students to school.”

Trinity Catholic College principal Kate Nicholson said her school had chosen to reduce the number of credits it offered, so it could focus on delivering a quality learning opportunity. As a result, it had better results than it did the previous year.

She noted that Otago had some very good schools with a stable workforce.

“There’s plenty of experienced teachers who really know their curriculum well, so that’s all contributing to some good, deep learning,” Ms Nicholson said, adding that Trinity’s teachers had worked hard to keep up with last year’s changes to curricula, including the revised level 1 programme.

Another reason suggested for the Otago region’s achievement is that the size of the province means that schools were collaborative in sharing best practice and working together to moderate work.

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Otago school students smartest in NZ (By Mark John/Otago Daily Times)