Rugby World Cup term change annoys schools

Mt Albert Grammar students tackle NCEA 1 English. But principals in Northland say concerns about tackles during the World Cup have taken precedence over this year's exams. Photo / Greg Bowker

School term changes made to ease traffic congestion in Auckland during the Rugby World Cup could have a detrimental effect on students' NCEA exam preparations, Northland principals say.

The Ministry of Education last year instructed schools to adjust their terms to allow for a longer than normal holiday in October.

The ministry said Auckland traffic flows would be enhanced by moving the term holiday break to correspond with the final stages of the tournament.

As a result, terms one and two were extended and term four, when senior students sit their NCEA exams, was shortened by two weeks.

Northland principals say the short time available for students to prepare for exams when they return from term break holidays may prove to be a detrimental factor to student achievement levels.

Pompallier Catholic College principal Richard Stanton said the changes would disadvantage this year's NCEA students.

"Instead of having four weeks at school in term four to work towards external exams, students will have only eight school days," he said.

"This is far from an ideal learning situation for students sitting exams and may detract from our usual excellent results."

Kamo High School principal Bernie Taffs agreed, saying his students had only 21 days of teaching left before NCEA exams began. "It's about making sure in the next couple of weeks they've got a good plan going forward."

Tauraroa Area School principal Grant Burns said his students had only 19 days of pre-NCEA teaching left.

"It's certainly not an advantage and it's making things more difficult. It remains to be seen if it will be seen in marks," he said. "The games themselves are another distraction, but not every kid is an avid rugby follower."

Mr Burns said the Rugby World Cup was just one more distraction which students needed to contend with. "On the positive side, students have shown a real interest in learning about the countries that are playing and most schools are using the opportunity to engage students."

Mr Stanton agreed, saying the cup had lifted the spirit of the community and enabled students "to participate in many areas".

"Two of our students carried flags at the official welcome, six participated on the sideline and others were volunteers. Members of the Tongan team visited the college."