Changes to Student Reporting in 2026

 

What Parents Need to Know

This year, you will notice some changes in how we report on your child's progress. Throughout the last year we have been working with the Ministry of Education to implement refreshed curriculum guidance and new reporting tools.

While national systems and expectations have been developed, we remain committed to providing clear, meaningful information about your child’s learning, progress, and next steps.

Here is a breakdown of what is changing and what to expect when you receive your child’s reports this year.

Reporting Against Year Levels

The Ministry of Education now requires schools to report against the Year level, rather than the previous curriculum levels. We started doing this in 2026; however, the language we use has now changed.

To show how your child is tracking toward their end-of-year expectations, teachers will assess their learning across Reading, Writing, and Maths. We will use Five Progress Descriptors to communicate this progress. In 2026, the Ministry included a new progress descriptor, which is Consolidating.

Understanding the Five Progress Descriptors

Here is what each of the five stages means for your child's progress:

• Emerging: Your child is beginning to understand some learning ideas for their year level but requires a lot of support.
• Developing: Your child is starting to understand key ideas, often with some support.
• Consolidating: Your child is learning to use helpful techniques on their own, is getting better at remembering what they have learned, and is starting to use what they know in new situations.
• Proficient: Your child can use helpful learning techniques on their own and can clearly share their thoughts and reasoning.
• Exceeding: Your child shows advanced thinking by understanding tricky ideas, solving problems, making connections, and explaining their thinking clearly.

Click on our St Martins information guide -  Understanding Your Child's Progress

 

Are They On Track?

We look at progress differently depending on the time of year:

At mid-year: Students who are Consolidating or above are considered on track.

At the end of the year: Students who are Proficient or Exceeding are meeting the expected standard and are prepared for their next year of learning.
Sharing the Learning Journey on HERO.

Your child's report will include:

We will continue to use HERO to share your child's learning journey. HERO has developed a new reporting template which our teachers are using.

• Teacher Narrative: This will feature a Teacher Comment, your child's Next Steps for learning, and practical tips on How You Can Help at Home in Reading, Writing and Maths. You will also see the Progress Descriptor (overall achievement) for each curriculum area.

 

• Progress Descriptors: To show exactly where your child is currently tracking in Reading, Writing, and Maths.
  • Note - you might notice that a slider reads 'Not Taught Yet'. This is normal, it just means that this area of the curriculum has not yet been covered.

 

• Progress Graph: A visual representation of progress over time

 

• Attendance: Because every day counts towards learning success, attendance data will be included to help us work together to keep students engaged and ready to learn.

 

• School Values: We will also include holistic information about how your child is demonstrating our school values.

 

In Term 4 we will also include:

• Whakanuia te Ākonga - General Comment
• Extra Curricular Involvement - Year 3 - 8
• Student Voice

Please note that we do not share a Whakanuia te Ākonga in the Term 2 report. Instead, our Kaiako will discuss your child with you at our Learning Conferences in Week 11. A full General Comment will be shared in the Term 4 report.

We look forward to partnering with you this year to ensure your child feels successful and confident in their learning.

Refer to the Parent Portal for further information.