New Zealand's once-yawning gap in student achievement between schools in rich and poor areas has closed by almost a third in the past five years.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has defended herself against claims she has not been coping with the demands of her education portfolios.

The Ministry of Education was forced to intervene in almost 50 at-risk schools last year, more than four times the amount from 2007.

Booze checks in the greater Auckland area indicate the number of drunk drivers under 20 has risen by 77 per cent compared with three years ago.

Greater powers are needed to censure private schools which are not up to scratch, the Law Commission has recommended.

Five students have had their rugby dreams restored after an appeal committee overturned "manifestly excessive" playing bans for a violent brawl.

Five students from Auckland's Kelston Boys High School banned from playing rugby for their part in a brawl with rival Auckland Grammar School players have had their sentences drastically reduced.

Only 2 per cent of high schools are ready for an extensive overhaul of the national curriculum in five months, a report says.

A rugby disciplinary committee member is accused of not declaring a friendship with the father of the sole boy acquitted in a violent brawl.

A roll of dishonour: nzherald.co.nz recalls schoolyard brawls, bullying and bashings from our files.

More Auckland parents are opting to spend thousands of dollars sending their children to boarding school - even if they live just minutes away.