Summer School

Catch up this summer

Summer School is a short-term, online learning programme for eligible ākonga (students) who need up to 12 NCEA credits to move into further study, training, or employment. Both current and new students are welcome to enrol.

Enrolments

Enrolments open on 24 November. (Link available 24 November)

Registration

Subject registrations open 24 November. Our Summer School offers a range of NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 subjects (Level 1 is no longer available). Students can enrol in up to 12 credits to help meet their study goals. The credit limit drops to 6 credits from 12 January. Check your credit requirements early so you can plan ahead and make the most of Summer School. Not sure what’s available?

View the full subject lists here:

  • NCEA Level 2 Subjects. (Link available 24 November)
  • NCEA Level 3 Subjects. (Link available 24 November)

Key Dates

  • 24 Nov: Enrolments and class registrations open.
  • 16 Dec: Summer School starts.
  • 22 Dec: Enrolments and registrations close.
  • 23 Dec – 2 Jan: Summer break.
  • 5 Jan: Summer School reopens.
  • 12 January: Enrolment eligibility drops from 12 to 6 credits
  • 23 January: Summer School enrolment closes at midday
  • 9 February: final day for ākonga to submit their submissions
  • 16 Feb: Summer School ends.

How It Works

Summer School courses are online, but study is self-directed, which means you’ll be responsible for managing your own learning. Unlike the regular school year, wrap-around support won’t be available during summer. Subject teachers will be available to provide guidance and feedback on course material. To succeed, you’ll need to be motivated, organised, and committed to working independently.

NCEA Results

NCEA results from the November–December exams will be available on 15 January; summer school grades will be forwarded to your 2025 school to submit to NZQA.

Summer School Feedback

“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 ākonga

“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 ākonga

Some questions and answers for ākonga

When is Te Kura Summer School?

Te Kura Summer School runs from 16 December 2025 to 16 February 2026. 

Registrations open from 24 November 2025 and close on 23 January 2026.

Who can register?

Summer School registration is for:

  • Dual ākonga intending to complete an NCEA level at the school they are currently attending.
  • Young adult ākonga (aged 16-19 years) intending to move on to further study, training, or employment.
  • Adult ākonga (turning 20 years or over) intending to move on to further study, training, or employment.

Summer School ākonga (students) must be:

  • A New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or verified domestic student
  • Residing in New Zealand or currently enrolled with Te Kura as an Overseas student
  • Registering to complete an NCEA Certificate, University Entrance, or Endorsement requiring up to:
    • 12 credits (if registering before 12 January 2026)
    • 6 credits (if registering from 12 January 2026)

If you are unsure of your eligibility to register, or have questions about the number of credits you need, please phone the Summer School intake team on 0800 65 99 88 option 5, or email summerschool@tekura.school.nz.

How much does it cost?

  • Dual ākonga (students) attending a state or state-integrated school can register for free.
  • Young adult ākonga (aged 16-19 years) who meet the eligibility criteria* can register for free.
  • Adult ākonga (turning 20 years or over) are required to pay an Administration Tuition Fee of $116 per course.
*Eligibility criteria in the Ministry of Education’s enrolment policy may be subject to change.

How can I register?

Registrations for Summer School have closed.

What subjects can I study?

  • NCEA Level 1: No subjects this year
  • NCEA Level 2: Most subjects (limited standards)
  • NCEA Level 3: Most subjects (limited standards)

View a complete list of available subjects and standards

How will my course be delivered?

All study is completed online in My Te Kura, our online learning environment. With access to a device and connectivity, you can study anywhere, anytime.

Read more about using My Te Kura

We encourage you to set clear, achievable goals in discussion with your school before starting Te Kura Summer School, and to keep in touch with your Summer School kaiako (teacher) throughout the programme. As a general guide, allow 10 hours of study time for one credit.

What support will I receive?

For help with course content and confirming what is required for your desired standards, our qualified kaiako (teachers) are available online to support you. Their contact details will be provided to you once your registration has been processed.

For help with accessing My Te Kura and other general online learning queries, you can contact our Student and Whānau Support Team who are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Te Kura will be closed from midday on 22 December 2025 and will re-open on 5 January 2026.

What are the expectations for work return?

It is your responsibility to return work regularly so you can achieve your learning goals.

9 February 2025 is the final day you can submit work to ensure your Te Kura Summer School credits count towards your 2024 school year and are included on your 2024 Record of Achievement. This is especially important for ākonga requiring University Entrance.

Please make sure you factor in time for your kaiako (teacher) to mark your work and provide feedback. Remember that you may have to resubmit work, and your marks may be moderated by a second kaiako. Please don't leave your first submission of work until the last day, as this will not allow time for any resubmissions.

You must complete all formative assessments as directed by your kaiako before the summative assessment can be released to you.

Please note that due dates provided by Te Kura are as broad as possible. You may need to manage your due dates to align with your personal goals and circumstances.

What are the expectations for providing evidence of learning?

Authenticity is the assurance that evidence of achievement produced by each ākonga (student) is their own.

Please note that for authenticity purposes, all ākonga must provide evidence of learning/understanding before an assessment task can be started. This includes completion of learning modules and conversations with your kaiako (teacher). You may be asked to regularly share your work during the assessment process and/or attend an online meeting with your kaiako to discuss the assessment. This authenticates your understanding.

What if I don’t finish my assessments in time?

If you don't finish your assessments by the final due date, there may be other opportunities for you to achieve your learning goals:

  • If you will be returning to your school, you can discuss your learning goals with your school.
  • If you will not be returning to your school, you can choose to continue receiving support from Te Kura to achieve your learning goals. If you wish to remain with Te Kura, it is important to let us know so you are not removed from the Te Kura roll when Summer School ends.

What happens with my results if I was enrolled at another school this year?

If you were enrolled at another secondary school in 2024, we will refer any Summer School credits you achieve to your previous school. Your previous school will need to report the results to NZQA for inclusion on your 2024 Record of Achievement. Please let your school know you have registered for Te Kura Summer School so your Principal's Nominee can look out for your results.

When will my results appear on my NZQA Record of Achievement?

If you were enrolled in another secondary school in 2024:

  • Any results awarded during Te Kura Summer School will generate an automated email alert to the Principal’s Nominee at your school. They will report your results to NZQA so they are included on your 2024 Record of Achievement.
  • If your results do not appear on your 2024 Record of Achievement after seven working days, please follow up with your school. Your school will be closed for much of December and January, so it is important to let them know that you have registered for Te Kura Summer School.

If Te Kura was your only school in 2024:

  • From January 2025, any results awarded during Te Kura Summer School will be regularly reported to NZQA so they are included on your 2024 Record of Achievement.
  • If your results do not appear on your 2024 Record of Achievement after 10 working days, please email quals@tekura.school.nz with your name, Te Kura ID, and the missing standard number/s.

If you were not enrolled with a secondary school in 2024:

  • Any results awarded during Te Kura Summer School cannot be backdated to the 2024 school year. Your results will be included on your Record of Achievement update in January 2026.
  • April 2025 is the earliest your Record of Achievement can be updated if this is required by your course provider. Our Te Kura Qualifications team will email you with instructions for updating your Record of Achievement in April 2025.

Te Kura working in partnership with schools

Working in partnership with schools across New Zealand, Te Kura Summer School offers ākonga (students) the opportunity to achieve up to 12 NCEA credits at any one time to go on to further study, training, or to secure a job.

Some questions and answers for schools

How can partnering with Te Kura support our school?

We have found that ākonga (students) are likely to achieve their Te Kura Summer School goals with support from their school. We work in partnership with schools to support ākonga and ensure we are meeting NZQA regulations.

If you are referring ākonga to Te Kura Summer School, please advise them on what subjects they need to register for and how many credits they need to achieve. Let them know they will need to work hard, be self-motivated and keep in touch with their Summer School kaiako (teacher).

Ākonga have a single Record of Achievement in an academic year, so credits achieved at Te Kura Summer School by the NZQA deadline (usually mid-February) are referred to their previous school of enrolment. Credits achieved at Te Kura Summer School will benefit your ākonga and your school.

How can my school help our ākonga (students) to achieve their goals through Te Kura Summer School?

There are four ways you can support your ākonga (students) to achieve their goals with Te Kura Summer School:

  • Registration – schools can identify ākonga who might benefit from registering for Te Kura Summer School. Registrations open in November.
  • A space to learn – schools can provide a venue and access to laptops and connectivity during the summer break.
  • Support with learning – schools can provide learning or pastoral support at their chosen venue during the summer break.
  • Become a Te Kura Summer School kaiako – join our teaching team for the summer break and support ākonga throughout your region.

I would like to express my interest in joining the Te Kura Summer School teaching team. Where do I sign up?

To express your interest in joining our Te Kura Summer School teaching team, please visit our Te Kura Careers Centre.

I would like to learn more about Te Kura Summer School. How can I contact you?

To learn more about Te Kura Summer School, or to express an interest in partnering with us, please email: summerschool@tekura.school.nz