News & Events

This year has seen significant changes to maths education across New Zealand 2025, and schools have been preparing for this transformative shift in how we teach and learn mathematics.

Why the Change?

The government introduced a refreshed Maths and Statistics curriculum for Years 0-8 after national and international data revealed concerning trends. New Zealand students were not achieving in mathematics at the same levels as in previous years, and we were falling behind compared to students in other countries. This new curriculum is specifically designed to reverse these trends and support all learners to achieve success in maths.

What's Different?

The refreshed curriculum brings two significant improvements that will reshape maths education:

• Clear Teaching Pathways: Gone are the days of uncertainty about what to teach and when. The new curriculum provides year-by-year teaching sequences that give teachers a clear roadmap for student learning progression.

• Evidence-Based Teaching Methods: Teachers now have access to research-proven approaches that are most effective for high-quality maths instruction. This curriculum is grounded in the Science of Learning, ensuring every strategy has a solid evidence base.

Key Focus Areas

Our teachers at Ko Taku Reo have been participating in professional learning to master these new approaches. The curriculum emphasises four crucial elements:

• Explicit Teaching: Students receive clear, direct instruction from their teachers as a foundation for learning new concepts.
• Building Positive Relationships with Mathematics: Students experience success and genuinely enjoy maths through engaging, challenging tasks that require critical and creative thinking.
• Mathematical Communication: Students learn to articulate their mathematical thinking and engage in meaningful discussions about their problem-solving approaches.
• Collaborative Learning: Students regularly share their thoughts and learn from one another's mathematical insights and strategies.

What This Means for Families

Parents can expect to see their children approaching maths with greater confidence and enthusiasm. The focus on explicit teaching means concepts will be clearer, while the emphasis on communication means students will be better able to explain their mathematical thinking at home.

Moving Forward

Our teachers are excited about implementing this research-based curriculum and how it will enhance their ability to create effective learning programmes that truly meet each student's needs. This change represents a significant investment in our students' mathematical futures.

The 2025 curriculum isn't just an update, it's a commitment to ensuring every New Zealand student can succeed in mathematics and develop the critical thinking skills they'll need for the future.