[Waters9944]

Hi Guys!

As I mentioned in my intro, I am an Art Teacher. I taught in Long Island, New York schools for about 8 years total. I have a Graduate Degree and permanent certification for teaching for New York State (very high standards nationally speaking, lots of U.S. states don't require the additional degree).

Any teachers out there? I'm wondering what my qualifications will do for me in NZ.

Can someone tell me how the teaching experience has been in NZ?

Any advice, or organizations/companies I should contact to look for work?

Also, does the school year follow a similar one to US/UK, as in start Aug/Sept, end May/June?

Also, I am interested in the parental perspective as in the difference between schooling- What do u like? Dislike? That will also help me to get a feel for the differences!

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

-Tricia :)

[IanW99]

...
Any teachers out there? I'm wondering what my qualifications will do for me in NZ.

Can someone tell me how the teaching experience has been in NZ?

Any advice, or organizations/companies I should contact to look for work?

Also, does the school year follow a similar one to US/UK, as in start Aug/Sept, end May/June?

Also, I am interested in the parental perspective as in the difference between schooling- What do u like? Dislike? That will also help me to get a feel for the differences!

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

-Tricia :)

There are some teachers on the forum, maybe a good idea to do a search (use the search option).

The school years follows the real year i.e. January to December, with the main school holidays in the summer / Christmas time so although officially starts in January they don't actually go back till the very end of January / beginning of February (depending on how the days fall).

Ian

[tea drinker]

To get a job as a teacher you will need to get your qualifications assessed (NZQA) and also register with NZ Teaching Council.
Can't help with specifics about teaching in NZ as I'm not there.

[tombryn]

What I dont understand is why the NZQA dont just publish the recognised qualifications. Im registered with the English Teaching Council. Loads of people must have already gone through this process. They seem to re-invent the wheel every time. Surely either everyone who has taught in the UK and has QTS will pass... or everyone will fail. There must be hundreds of people who have already been through the system.

[Waters9944]

Another question...what is the typical length of a school year? Here it is about 183 days per year. We (for the most part) do only 1 week for both Easter and Christmas breaks, but add those to the summer for a 12 week slot. (plus, ofc, winter break, and several days sprinkled throughout the course of the year)

You said that the school year was Jan-Dec, but no mention of holidays...can u elaborate?

[beanbeanz]

The school year is broken up into 4 terms. Each term is typically 10 weeks long. Between each term there is a two week holiday. At the end of the last term there is about a 5-6 week holiday for summer (typically towards the end of December to the end of Jan). I think the year averages out to about 185 teaching days.

You need to be registered with the New Zealand Teachers Council. Google it and you'll find out further information on getting registered. With a graduate degree you should move up a few steps on the pay scale.

For job postings look at the Education Gazette (again, Google is your friend). All schools are required to post openings in the Gazette.

[IanW99]

...
You said that the school year was Jan-Dec, but no mention of holidays...can u elaborate?

Check out School Terms and Holidays (http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInNewZealand/SchoolTermsAndHolidays.aspx) for details (each year is slightly different).

Ian

[JandM]

What I dont understand is why the NZQA dont just publish the recognised qualifications. Im registered with the English Teaching Council. Loads of people must have already gone through this process. They seem to re-invent the wheel every time. Surely either everyone who has taught in the UK and has QTS will pass... or everyone will fail. There must be hundreds of people who have already been through the system.
Hello and welcome. :)

Nobody knows... Similarly, when NZQA checks out as okay a qualification from an institution that isn't on their recognized list, why doesn't it then get added to the recognized list? Surely it would help?

Still, as with all bureaucracy, all you can say is, they're in the driving seat, and it happens that way because that's the way it is. (Sigh...)

[Waters9944]

Can anyone tell me....are there national standards for qualification for teaching at the college/university level in NZ?

Any links would be helpful.

[JandM]

I found this. It's not exactly what you're asking, but seems to have a bearing.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-4291.html