Polyfest NCEA credits
This resource explores how students can translate their hours of work preparing for and performing at Polyfest into NCEA credits.
About this resource
Polyfest is New Zealand’s largest cultural event, where school students perform music and dance from an array of cultures. Students can translate these hours of work into NCEA credits in the arts.
Although Polyfest is an Auckland event, similar cultural events are held across the country and provide students with the same opportunity.
Polyfest NCEA credits
About Polyfest
With almost 10 000 performers every year, Polyfest is New Zealand’s largest cultural event, where thousands of school students perform music and dance from an array of cultures. It is held regionally across Aotearoa, culminating in a three-day event in Auckland. The event features cultural performance talents in a competitive and community-focused environment. More importantly, Polyfest fosters student agency and leadership, collaboration across all levels of the school, and a chance to connect with culture and community.
For those students who participate, and for the teachers and community members who help them, performing at Polyfest is hours of work.
Watch a video of Tagata Pasifika's Marama T-Pole (née Papau) talking to Manu Faaea-Semeatu about Polyfest by selecting the link below. Manu details how Polyfest allows students to gain credits towards their NCEA.
Polyfest allows students to gain credits towards their NCEA.
Converting hours to NCEA credits
Now, those hours of work can be translated for students into NCEA credits. The assessment often involves students being filmed performing in a group. Schools assess students against NCEA achievement standards in the arts. Students are assessed on factors including dance choreography, movement, technique, and coordination.
Students can achieve credits in years 11, 12, and 13 in the achievement and unit standards the teacher chooses. For example, year 12 students can gain credits under the achievement standard 91208: Perform a theatre dance to communicate understanding of the dance.
Some standards schools can use
Many schools use the level 2 standard 91207: Perform an ethnic or social dance to communicate understanding of the style and the level 3 standard 91591: Perform a group dance.
The repertoire standards – level 2 91209: Perform a repertoire of dance and level 3 91592: Perform a repertoire of contrasting dances – were specifically written for this type of performance. These standards offer an appropriate credit value for the amount of work involved in being part of a festival performance.
Vocational Pathways
From learning to earning – to help your students see real-world connections between NCEA standards and real-world industries, check out Vocational Pathways.
The six Vocational Pathways are: Creative Industries, Primary Industries, Service Industries, Social and community services, Construction and Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Technology.