Schooling is compulsory in New Zealand for all children from six to sixteen and funded by the government. Most children start when they are five. In New Zealand children start school all through the year, on or very close to their fifth birthday. You don’t need to wait until the beginning of a term or school year.
There are two main levels of schooling – primary and secondary. Sometimes secondary schools are called high schools or colleges. A child who had just begun primary school is called “Year 1” and the last year of secondary school is “Year 13.”
