Consultation on the updated English learning area

 

As a sector we have been talking for a number of years about the need for a clearer, more detailed curriculum to support quality teaching and learning, and reduce teacher and kaiako workload. What you will see in the draft content is a clear teaching sequence.   

This change means that schools will not have to create teaching sequences themselves, freeing up teachers to focus on building teaching and learning programmes that bring the content to life. This will help you to engage your learners through learning experiences that develop a love of reading, writing and literature and mastery of the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to be successful life-long learners.

In Years 7-13, the English learning area is more explicitly focused on English as a subject and will more clearly align with secondary programmes of learning. Therefore, you will notice some changes compared to the Years 0-6 English learning area in the purpose statement, learning area structure and teaching guidance sections to reflect this. The refreshed learning area provides the level of detail required to give teachers more clarity about what needs to be taught and when.  

Our work so far has been contributed to by teachers, subject-matter experts, school leaders and curriculum design experts. It has been shared with sector representative groups for initial feedback.

Through ongoing professional supports alongside monitoring and continuous improvement, we strive for a system where every student and ākonga has the opportunity to achieve success.

The information you’ll find on this page, along with details of our support approach are also provided as an Information Sheet at the link below.

Consultation Information Sheet

 

What you will recognise in the New Zealand Curriculum, and what is new 

We are pleased to share the draft content for the Years 7-13 English learning area. Together with Years 0-6 English content released late last year, this learning area will sit within the NZC framework (Te Mātaiaho). 

This framework will continue to be refined alongside the development of all learning areas.   

You will recognise:

• Understand Know Do (UKD) model
• Phases of learning

What you will notice that is new: 

• In Years 7-13, the English learning area shifts to an English subject-specific focus.
• Years 7-8 students will establish foundational skills in reading, writing, and oral language, transitioning into text studies and language studies from Years 9-13.
• Throughout Years 7-13, text requirements ensure a deliberate focus on engaging with a diverse range of texts.
• Increased, evidence-based teaching guidance shows how teachers can incorporate the components of a comprehensive teaching and learning programme at each phase.
• A clear progression of content, and teaching approaches that will prepare students for assessment, and future learning pathways.

 

Is this the final presentation? 

The draft learning area is presented in PDF format for your feedback. This is not yet formatted for online or as the final versions.   

We have worked with focus groups of teachers and principals who have provided advice on how an online format of the national curriculum can be presented in the future. If you have any feedback on the online structure, please tell us here: Draft English (7-13) Feedback Form.

Once we have taken in your feedback to help shape the next version of the English learning area, you can expect the next version we release for use from the start of 2026 will bring the content to life in a way that is interactive and easy to navigate. 

This means you will be able to see the presentation of progress outcomes and teaching sequences by years or phases in a clear online format.  

We will also connect the content to accompanying resources and supports and will continue to build on this over time, improving the user experience based on your continued feedback.  For examples of what this could look like in the future, you can see these overseas curricula: British Columbia, Australia, Singapore.  

For all curriculum content, you will still be able to find PDF versions on Tāhūrangi as an alternative way to download and view information.

 

The draft curriculum content – Years 7-13 English Learning Area 

There are two versions of the English learning area. This is to ensure you can see the full teaching sequences, which spread across two pages.

For printing, print the Print version, in landscape, double-sided, and staple or bulldog clip the left-hand side of the printout.

For reading online, view the Online version.

• English 7-13 – Print Version
• English 7-13 – Online Version

The below resource is a supplement to the draft year 7-13 English learning area. This draft resource provides a short list of example suggested texts that align to and exemplify the range, form and complexity outlined above. A fuller list for teachers to choose from will be available with the final English learning area in Term 4 2025. We will continue to develop this list using feedback from you including additional teaching resources to support these texts.

English 7-13 Draft Suggested Text List

 

Have your say – your feedback matters 

From 31 March to 13 June 2025, you have the opportunity to have a say on the content.

You can navigate back and forward through the Feedback Form pages. Once you choose “submit” you will not be able to go back and edit your responses.

Draft English (7-13) Feedback Form

You can preview a copy of the form and the questions it contains at the link below. 

Draft English (7-13) Questions

 

What’s Next? 

The consultation period will close Friday, 13 June 2025. Once the consultation closes, updates will be made to the drafts, and final versions will be presented as online resources in Term 4, 2025.   

The final full Years 0-13 English curriculum will be gazetted at the end of 2025 for required use in 2026. This will incorporate any amendments for Years 0-6 English in response to feedback we receive from you during 2025 and to provide alignment across Years 0-13. 

The full curriculum will be gazetted in 2026 and required for use from 2027. The Government intends to move into a regular update cycle for the curriculum, as occurs in other jurisdictions, to avoid the need for wholesale reform.

 

Contact us  

If you have any questions or need guidance, please contact us at [email protected]