Schools, Education and Training
In New Zealand, school is compulsory for children from ages six to 16. Most students start sooner and stay longer.
- Primary school (year one to year six) is for children aged five to ten.
- Intermediate school (years seven and eight) is for children aged 10 to 13. Many primary schools also include Intermediate classes.
- Secondary school, also called high school or college (years nine to 13) is for students aged 13 to 17 or more.
State education (in ‘public’ schools) is free from ages five to 19, but parents are usually asked to pay a school donation. Public and boarding schools have fees. Whakatāne High School, Trident High School, Edgecumbe College and the Murupara Area School are state (public) schools, while Rangitāiki Independent School is a private school.
The New Zealand school year usually runs from late January to mid-December, with four terms and a long summer holiday.
Early childhood education
Across the district, there are many community and parent-led pre-school facilities and groups.
Primary and intermediate schools
Secondary schools
Tertiary education/training
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi offers a range of qualifications, from community education programmes all the way to doctoral degrees.
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has a Whakatāne campus offering a variety of tertiary education courses. Other private training establishments provide tertiary education opportunities in teacher, early childhood and teacher aide training.
After School Education
Whakatāne In2Learning - Your after-school education experts, passionate about supporting students in developing skills to help them thrive.
