Amy Wiggins
Education reporter, NZ Herald.
Amy Wiggins is the New Zealand Herald's education reporter.
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Amy’s latest content
Search continues for person swept off rocks at Piha
The search for a person missing at Piha continues today.
Science curriculum that 'shocked' teachers on hold ahead of new govt
Teachers are both pleased and frustrated that the planned curriculum has been bumped back.
Electoral Commission defends use of marae as polling booth
The commission said it sought assurance the Te Pāti Māori candidate would not be involved.
More than half of students not attending school regularly, new data shows
School attendance for term 2 this year was markedly down on the previous term.
Tutor risks job by 'sneakily' teaching phonics to students struggling with reading
“I feel sure that they’re just much more set up for life with this way of doing things."
Why Kiwi schools have banned Crocs, Jibbitz and Yu-Gi-Oh cards
Cards and footwear have been creating distractions and causing arguments in schools.
Private Auckland school shuts down Palestine support group
Diocesan said it did not condone any views that created or supported political division.
Reading Recovery: 30 per cent fewer students getting one-to-one literacy support
Between 2021 and 2022, 6 per cent fewer students received intensive literacy support.
Reading wars: Less than 40 per cent of schools offer Reading Recovery
The uptake of Reading Recovery has hit a record low.
'Thank goodness': Elon Musk congratulates Christopher Luxon on National's election win
Business magnate Elon Musk has celebrated National's election win online.
'Freedom to pursue passions': Why homeschooling has taken off
Only 6500 Kiwi kids were homeschooled in 2019. Now there are more than 10,800.
Rural school students less likely to get University Entrance, study finds
But University Entrance is not the only measure of success, one principal says.
The rise of online schooling: 'We’re at the beginning of a big change in education'
The ups, downs and future of education online.
More than 40 per cent of students fail NCEA writing and maths tests
An Auckland principal said there was 'definitely a literacy and numeracy issue'.
Traffic heavy on Auckland motorway after truck hits bridge
Traffic is backed up on the Southern motorway after a truck crashed into a bridge.
School drop-out 'crisis': Kids as young as 12 leaving school in search of work
'We’re really heading toward a significant crisis event.'
Schoolgirls' heads kicked on bus in unprovoked attack in Auckland
Two teens boarded a bus stopped at traffic lights and assaulted two schoolgirls.
Who teaches the teachers? New report looks at the failings of training in NZ
"You’re teaching content knowledge, but it’s the first thing to drop."
What Kiwi kids learn depends on teacher - study
Schools and teachers approach curriculum in different ways.
Police patrol Auckland school every day amid rise in violence
Officers patrol Whangaparāoa College grounds up to three times a day.
Wet and wild weekend as 'tropical moisture plume' hits
Relatively fine weather will come to an end this weekend as a new storm hits the country.
'Everyone needs a break': Teachers, students concerned by weekend exams
Student says the decision is causing “widespread distress and frustration".
Waterfront explosion a ‘prank gone wrong’
Five workers were burned in the explosion on an Auckland waterfront worksite.
'One of the best things I've done': Schools with phone bans already in place report positive results
Schools with cellphone bans report increased productivity and better social interactions.
School cellphone ban: What does the evidence say?
Are phones an important educational tool or a distraction?
Cheating in school's rowing programme 'prolific' - parent
A parent describes his son being told to do the same thing the school was sanctioned for.
New photo: How wanted Marokopa father is disguising himself
Locals chase Tom Phillips in a stolen ute but he evades capture.
Maadi Cup rowing: School stripped of North Island titles after admitting rule breaches
The school's disqualification has seen other schools move up the ranks in 19 races.
School violence on the rise: Thousands of students stood down or suspended
Assaults on other students and school staff are on the rise, new data shows.
'We are sorry we did not do better': School apologises for raft of rule breaches at major rowing regattas
School sanctioned after admitting to 17 breaches at national and North Island regattas.
'It was really scary': Students recall terrifying three-hour lockdown ordeal
“It’s scary. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”
Lockdowns lifted after gun threat forced four schools to lock gates
Police will maintain a presence at the school this afternoon for reassurance purposes.
'Extremely serious and concerning': Preschool teacher hit child on head for not sharing
A preschool teacher has been censured for hitting child who refused to share a toy.
Australia’s controversial teacher training overhaul in NZ's sights
Providers in Australia will lose accreditation if they do not include certain content.
Teachers assaulted by student at top Auckland school during VIP visit
No students were “physically harmed” and staff and students were being supported.
More than half of students still failing Year 8 maths
Achievement by girls, Māori, Pacific and low decile schools have all dropped.
'The basics are not valued': Draft technology, arts curriculums under fire
The new curriculums have been described as "scant" and lacking in detail.
Early childhood policy may not mean reduced fees, Government warned
Treasury offered an alternative it said could do more to reduce fees for parents.
Co-ed or single-sex? Boys do better in single-sex schools, study finds
Boys at single-sex schools leave school with higher qualifications than those at co-eds.
Fears proposed science curriculum will turn out 'ill informed students'
Teachers and scientists fear students might miss out on core concepts.
Mayors making headlines: City leaders who have felt the heat
Mayors around the country have found themselves under fire for their conduct.
'They don’t know what they’re doing is assault': Campaigners call for mandatory sexual consent education in schools
'We know what happens when students don’t get this. We know sexual violence is endemic.'
July 1 changes: How life will change for Kiwis from midnight
'Suck a lot of cash out of wallets': Here's what you need to know.
University rankings: 'New Zealand continues to outperform relative to its size'
New Zealand's eight universities are all ranked in the top 500 in the world.
Making the grade: Should schools teach life skills like budgeting, driving and civics?
'If they can't get them from Mum and Dad, they need to get them from school.'
Do young people leave school with basic skills for work? No, say employers
An employer asked an apprentice to sweep the workspace. They said no and phoned their dad.
Auckland Harbour Bridge crash causing traffic to back up
A two-car crash on the Harbour Bridge is causing traffic to back up
Childcare waitlist warnings as 20-hours-free scheme extended
Australia is trying to poach teachers as centres prepare for increasing demand.
Commissioner to replace board of trustees at school which hired a rapist
A commissioner has been appointed after the entire board resigned this week.
Early Childhood funding will make 'all the difference' to families
New conditions around the 20 hours free early learning could save parents even more money.
'A worsening trend': Hundreds of early learning centres close down
285 early learning centres have closed in two years.
The NZ schools dropping NCEA Level 1
A growing number of schools are ditching NCEA Level 1 to better prepare kids for Year 12.
Primary school teachers reject third pay offer
Teachers say they are frustrated by the lack of progress.
Top Auckland school axes 'dumbed down' NCEA for its own diploma
St Cuthbert's says new Level 1 curriculum will not provide sufficient, in-depth learning.
'Pretty dire': Early childhood teachers have little hope for future of the sector
Almost three-quarters of early childcare teachers think conditions will only get worse.
Measles scare: ‘I think we have dodged a bullet on this one’
“We’re not out of the woods yet but it’s looking promising," Dr Nikki Turner says.
Dire vaccination rates spark fear of measles outbreak as 1000 isolate
Auckland has now registered its second measles case connected with Albany Senior High.
1000 students and staff close contacts of measles case
Close contacts who have not been fully vaccinated must stay home for a week.
'Private school costs': Inside the daycare cost struggle
'I would happily go out and work if it made sense. Everything goes up but wages don’t.'
2000 kids back in class this year thanks to region's campaign
A concerted effort by one region's schools has another 2000 kids in school each week.
Half of students not regularly attending schools
School attendance has been under the spotlight since it fell to a record low last year.
Struggling students get the help they need before it's too late
Some schools are seeing achievement climbing as a result of structured' teaching.
'Education crisis': Report calls for overhaul of everything from curriculum to teacher training
Too many students are leaving school ill-prepared for tertiary study, work and life.
Delay in curriculum and NCEA changes gets a mixed reception
Critics fear the changed timeline will create a high road and a low road.
Roll-out of new NCEA assessments and refreshed curriculum slowed down
Educators are welcoming the changes which place more focus on literacy and numeracy.
'It’s horrific': Physical abuse and bullying a daily occurrence at Auckland school, parents claim
Daily fights and bullying at Howick College is causing parents to remove their kids.
History of surfing v New Zealand Wars - the battle over our school curriculum
'There is a great danger that some students are missing out on big chunks of learning.'
Students may need 'transition period' after new literacy, numeracy test results flop
Half of students won't get NCEA based on new English and maths tests.
Making the Grade: Second NCEA literacy and numeracy tests show drop in reading
Only a third of students passed the first trial. Did students fare better this time?
'They would have been better off guessing' - why Kiwi kids can't do maths
Educators say we need to give clearer instructions to avoid overloading children's brains.
Kids don't know alphabet because they aren't taught to form letters - handwriting experts
'We’d have happy children... children who were attending school every day.'
More teachers’ strikes for secondary schools
Teachers will again strike next term over pay and working conditions.
'Big shift': New model for teachers released
Government is trying to address falling school achievement rates.
Making the Grade: Why NZ kids are falling behind at school
Too many children are being left behind at school. What's the issue and how can we fix it?
Teachers' strike: Minister wants it settled but more strikes not off the table
Tens of thousands of teachers took to streets around the country in protest today.
Teachers' strike 'biggest in NZ education history', Minister seeks solutions
Schools and kindergartens are today closed with the strike action going nationwide.
Churning it out: AI forces universities to rethink focus on essay writing
ChatGPT is driving academics to consider using oral assessments more.
Cyclone Gabrielle warnings: Auckland mayor extends state of emergency
Most models are showing Cyclone Gabrielle will directly hit New Zealand next week.
Cyclone Gabrielle warnings: Residents told to 'prepare for worst' - and to stock up on essentials
Most models are showing Cyclone Gabrielle will directly hit New Zealand next week.
Family holiday ends in disaster for tourists after bach hit by landslide
Mounting medical costs are another strain on a family caught in the Orua Bay landslide.