Homeschooling vs school in New Zealand: a fair comparison

• School: Domestic students are entitled to free enrolment and free education at state schools from age 5 until 1 January after their 19th birthday. Enrolment is compulsory from age 6 to 16.
• Home education: Parents apply to the Ministry of Education for an exemption certificate for each child. The Ministry must be satisfied the child will be taught at least as regularly and as well as in a registered school, and the parent then takes responsibility for providing, supervising and monitoring the learning.
• Oversight: Schools are reviewed by ERO as a matter of course. ERO can also review a home education programme when the Minister or Ministry asks it to.

• School: Teachers plan and deliver the New Zealand Curriculum (or Te Marautanga o Aotearoa in many kura), with specialist teachers, equipment and assessment built in.
• Home education: Parents design the programme. Many use the New Zealand Curriculum as a reference, while others follow a published curriculum, a child-led approach or a mix. The pace and order can be adjusted to the child.
• Things to weigh: School offers breadth and specialist expertise without the parent needing to provide it. Home education offers flexibility and one-to-one attention, but the parent carries the planning and must cover gaps, often with outside help.

• School: Daily contact with a large group of peers, team sports, kapa haka, clubs and school events happen as part of the routine.
• Home education: Social time is planned rather than automatic, through home education groups, community sport, cultural groups, church, marae and classes. Children often mix with a wider range of ages.
• Things to weigh: Some children thrive in a busy school environment, while others find it overwhelming. Think about your own child's temperament, and be honest about how much organising you can sustain.

• School: State schooling is free for domestic students, although families usually pay for uniforms, stationery, trips and optional donations.
• Home education: Families pay for their own resources and activities, and often give up some income. The Ministry pays a supervision allowance for each child with an exemption, in two instalments a year.
• Things to weigh: The biggest cost of home education is often a parent's time. Our cost of homeschooling article goes into this in more detail.

• School: Senior students are entered for NCEA through their school, which handles internal assessment, moderation and external exam entries.
• Home education through a link school: NZQA says a home-schooled student who wants to enter for achievement or unit standards must establish a link with a registered school. The school takes on entries, moderation of internal work and processing of results, and may arrange administrative costs with the family. Schools are not obliged to act as a link school, so ask early.
• Home education through Te Kura: Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, the state distance school, offers NCEA courses. Students under 16 with a home education exemption may be able to enrol as fee-paying students, and Te Kura states there are no fees for young adults aged 16 to 19 who are not attending another school. Check Te Kura's current eligibility criteria and fees.
• Things to weigh: Plan qualifications by about Year 10, so you have time to arrange a link school or Te Kura enrolment before senior study begins.

• University Entrance (UE): UE is the usual minimum requirement for degree study and is awarded through NCEA. Home-educated students who gain NCEA through a link school or Te Kura can work towards UE in the same way.
• Discretionary entrance (under 20): NZQA notes that applicants under 20 without UE may be eligible for discretionary entrance, with each university setting its own criteria. Massey University says home-schooled students who are not studying a formal qualification it recognises can apply on the basis of what they have achieved. Other universities, such as Auckland, set NCEA-based requirements for discretionary entrance, so check each one.
• Age 20 and over: Universities offer admission routes for applicants aged 20 or older, such as the University of Canterbury's 20+ admission.
• Things to weigh: Requirements differ between universities and change from year to year. Contact the admissions team at the universities your young person is interested in, ideally a couple of years before they apply.

Neither option is better for every child. Many families decide based on their child's current needs and review the decision each year.

• Choosing home education does not close the door to school: you can enrol your child at school at any time if you stop homeschooling.
• Choosing school does not rule out learning at home: families can support learning through reading, projects and outings alongside school.

Whatever you decide, keep your child's voice in the conversation and check the Ministry's guidance for the current process.