Summer School
Te Kura accepts short-term enrolments over the summer break for students to earn additional credits or specific internal standards in NCEA.
You may be enrolling to gain credits to get into a tertiary course, training, employment or higher level of NCEA the following year. We don't want a few missed credits to hold someone back from continuing on their journey.
We have a team of qualified teachers supporting students to achieve from a range of internal standards at NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 selected as suitable for this shorter study time-frame. Subjects offered include Maths, English, Science and more.
Courses are delivered online so, with access to a computer and the internet, you can learn anywhere and anytime.
“The teachers were so supportive and dedicated to helping me reach my goals. Summer School at Te Kura was by far the best decision I ever made.” – Summer School student.
“It was daunting at first because I had been out of school for a long time. My teacher was amazing at keeping me on track.” – Summer School student.
How do I enrol?
Applications will be available online near the end of 2020.
Top tips for Summer School success
Summer School is over a short time period, and it’s all online. It’s amazing what you can get done at your own pace and at your own place when you set your mind to it.
You will have subject teachers to answer questions and assess your work and they are really committed to helping you achieve your goals but, unlike our regular school year, you don’t have a learning advisor to oversee your learning.
So, to achieve at Summer School you need to:
- Be focussed, motivated and responsible for your own learning.
- Communicate with your teachers. We want you to succeed, so if you have any questions or issues stay in touch.
- Make sure you are clear about what you need to achieve and that you are doing the right courses.
- Do the study. You can’t resubmit a piece of work that didn’t pass at your last school. You can only use planning that you did towards an uncompleted piece of work – your work needs to be original and your own.
- Be realistic about what you can achieve. A general rule of thumb is each credit takes 10 hours of work.
- Know the dates you need to get assessments in. Also factor in time to make any changes from feedback from your teachers.
- If you have someone who can support you make the most of that and get them involved.
- Note: Dual Students please be aware that Summer School policy allows us to offer only a maximum of 10 credits, and Te Kura is not allowed to endorse NCEA certificates.
Some questions and answers about Summer School
When is Summer School?
We will confirm the dates nearer the time. Applications for Summer School are usually open from late November until early February. Summer School courses are usually accessible from mid December until mid February.
Who can enrol?
Summer School enrolment is for:
- A Year 9–15 student enrolling between Term 4 2020 and Term 1 2021, intending to complete an NCEA qualification so they can progress to the next level with their 2020 school.
- Students aged 16 and over, intending to complete their study and move on to higher study or employment.
All Summer School students will also be:
- A New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or verified domestic student
- Residing in New Zealand
- Enrolling for approximately 10 or fewer credits.
What subjects can I study?
We try to offer the greatest range possible at NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 to help you achieve your learning goals.
How will my course be delivered?
Learning materials for Summer School courses will be available through My Te Kura – Te Kura’s online learning environment, so you will need access to a computer with internet connectivity. Read more about getting started with Te Kura.
What support will I receive?
For help with content and confirming what is required for your desired standards, teachers are available by email to help with most courses, enrolled students will be sent their teacher’s contact details.
For help with online navigation and accessing My Te Kura, you can contact our Summer School Intake Team, or our Student and Whānau Support Team who are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
- Summer School enrolment queries: Contact the Summer School Intake Team on 0800 65 99 88 option 6, or by email at summerschool@tekura.school.nz.
- Online learning support and general queries: Contact the Student and Whānau Support Team on 0800 65 99 88 option 2, or by email at hub@tekura.school.nz.
What if I don’t finish my assessments in time?
If you don't manage to, or believe you won’t meet the Summer School deadlines, speak with our Summer School Intake Team about staying on with Te Kura to complete your learning goals. You just need to let us know you'd like to enrol for Term 1 before Summer School finishes.
If we have not heard from you then you will be automatically withdrawn from Te Kura’s roll at the end of Summer School, unless you notify us beforehand.
What happens with my results if I was enrolled with another school this year?
If you were enrolled at another secondary school in 2020, and you gain your Summer School credits in time to have the results included in your 2020 NZQA Record of Achievement, the school you were enrolled with during 2020 will need to report them to NZQA on our behalf.