Science Curriculum Refresh Timeline Updated

The Ministry of Education has announced a rephased timeline for the implementation of the refreshed national curriculum, following extensive sector feedback.

An accompanying document Rephasing Phase 5 of the National Curriculum is also available via Tāhurangi which has a summary of the new Science Curriculum Refresh Timeline pictured above.

The following bullet points relating to science have been extracted from the original post on Tāhurangi (4 August 2025).

• Phase 1-4 (Year 1-10): Science for Years 1-10 will be available in draft in early Term 4 2025 to invite wider feedback and to inform planning and professional development days ahead of the new school year. NB: Years 0-10 required from the start of 2027
  

• Phase 5 (Year 11-13): Science, and all other learning areas, will be available in Term 1 2026 to invite wider feedback and help build familiarisation and readiness. There will be no formal requirement to use this content until:
  

  • 2028 (for Year 11 content),

  • 2029 (for Year 12 content),

  • 2030 (for Year 13 content).

Curriculum Refresh Timeline Updated – highlights   

• In early Term 4, 2025: Formal release of final Years 0-10 English, mathematics and statistics, Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau. Remainder of Years 0-10 learning areas and wāhanga ako released for wider feedback, in class testing and familiarisation.   

• Start of Term 1, 2026: Years 7-10 English and Te Reo Rangatira and Years 9 & 10 mathematics and statistics and Pāngarau required to be used.  

• In Term 1, 2026: Years 11-13 curricula to be released for wider feedback and familiarisation.  

• Mid 2026: Formal release of full and final national curriculum.   

• Years 0-10 required from the start of 2027  

• Year 11 required from the start of 2028  

• Year 12 required from the start of 2029  

• Year 13 required from the start of 2030

• Students who are Year 11 or above in 2027 will be the final cohort to learn through the old curriculum. 

For convenience, we have attached the proposed NCEA replacement timeline below.

Image source: Tāhurangi. See the original document here.