Phase 4 Science Curriculum PLD & 2027 NCEA Updates: What Kaiako Need to Know
Navigating the newly released Phase 4 Science Curriculum and updated 2027 NCEA assessment materials is top of mind for science departments across Aotearoa this term. With the complete updated PDF suites for both the New Zealand Curriculum (Years 0–10) and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Tau 0–10) now live on Tāhūrangi—alongside revised 2027 NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 achievement standards—subject associations are running a major wave of free online webinars over the next fortnight to support classroom planning.
Upcoming Phase 4 Science Curriculum Support Webinars
Whether you are mapping out junior units for 2027 or checking how the senior secondary changes affect your courses, here is the full line-up of online (Tuihono) sessions you can join from your kura:
Wednesday 4 November (4:30 PM) — Finalised Phase 1–4 Science Curriculum Webinar (Bay Science x AEC) Join Bay Science and the Aotearoa Educators Collective live online to unpack what has changed in the finalised Years 1–10 document and how teaching teams can prepare (watch and join on Substack).
Monday 9 November (3:30 PM) — Te Mātaiaho, Science and Social Science (Ministry of Education) Official Te Poutāhū curriculum walkthrough (details on Tāhūrangi).
Tuesday 10 November (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM) — Exploring the EfS Possibilities in the Phase 4 Curriculum (NZAEE) Discover creative approaches and timelines for weaving Education for Sustainability into junior secondary programmes (register via NZAEE).
Tuesday 10 November (4:00 PM) — Plate Tectonics in Phase 4 (ESSENZ) Subject-specific Earth and Space Science planning session (register via Google Forms).
Tuesday 10 – Thursday 12 November — NZIP 2026 Physics PLD Webinar Series (New Zealand Institute of Physics):
Tue 10 Nov: Physics-Related Science Kits for Years 7 & 8 and Focus on Year 9: Circuits (with House of Science)
Wed 11 Nov: Future Assessment in Physics (with NZQA)
Thu 12 Nov: Supporting Teaching and Learning in Secondary Physics & Focus on Year 10: Waves, Mechanical Advantage & Pressure (with Vicphysics)
Register: https://confer.eventsair.com/nzip-pld/virtualpld2026/Site/Register
Tuesday 17 November (4:00 PM) — The Solar System (ESSENZ)Subject-specific Earth and Space Science planning session (register via Google Forms).
Tuesday 26 November (4:00 PM) — Science Learning Hub Curriculum support for Years 9 and 10 science. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/events/slh-curriculum-support-for-year-9-and-10-science
Key 2027 NCEA Level 2 & Level 3 Assessment Updates
Te Poutāhū has confirmed that all revised 2027 NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 assessment materials (PDFs) are now published on the NCEA Education portal. For science kaiako, there are no changes to NCEA Level 1, and only minor updates to assessment activities for Level 2 Chemistry and Level 3 Earth and Space Science. You can also read our breakdown on the Bay Science NCEA Ramp page.
Stay up to date with every curriculum webinar and subject association announcement. Join Bay Science using the form below.
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