Almost three-quarters of parents support the Government's controversial national achievement standards for primary and intermediate students.

School principals want to be treated as "democratically" as Maori immersion schools in the roll-out of national standards.

Sending children as young as 9 overseas for six months is a growing trend in the UK, where it's seen as one of the best ways to learn a second language.

The Govt's approach to national standards has shifted from benchmarks to help students to performance measures for teachers, the NZ Principals' Federation says.

John Key and Anne Tolley justified a $200,000 taxpayer-funded public relations campaign to sell national standards.

The Govt will spend $200,000 on a nationwide letter and brochure drop to inform people about new educations standards in place from today.

Today marks the beginning of the school year and the start of National Standards, but it should be business as usual for children heading to class.

John Key is trying to shut down concerns about national standards by saying decisions on how the data will be publicly reported are too far away to worry about.

Most adults lack an 'effective level of literacy'.

Spy tactics are paying off as one of New Zealand's top schools bids to thwart zone cheats who fake enrolment details.