An estimated 10,300 new entrants are just starting school - and beginning to learn the "three Rs". And their parents will soon have to learn to grapple with the fourth R: Reports.

About 30 boys are being pulled out of class and made to sit in the school hall while staff at Whangarei Boys' High School chase up outstanding fees.

The Government is working towards more charter or partnership schools beyond the five already approved Prime Minister John Key said ahead of the opening of the first one today.

A primary school has come under fire after giving out tags to families which can be used to identify which students have had their voluntary donation paid.

An Auckland school is starting the year on a high after a $1 million donation and plans to use the money to set up a permanent source of funds.

Nearly $200m is being paid by insurer Vero to the Education Ministry for quake-damaged schools in Christchurch, in one of the country's biggest-ever payouts.

Benjamin Gaze started at Auckland Grammar School this week, 132 years after his great-great-grandfather faced the same nerve-racking initiation.

Teaching is as much about stamina as intellect and creativity, writes Peter Lyons. Few teachers launch their careers with the stated ambition of being dullards in the classroom.

Pacific Islanders need to rediscover their entrepreneurial spirit, says the new minister tasked with turning around their job and education prospects.

To compare teachers simply on the basis of the results of their students is to overlook the multiple influences on student achievement, writes Graeme Aitken.

Parents with preschool-age children are expected to be the big winners from Labour leader David Cunliffe's State of the Nation address today.

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei has promised a free lunch for all children in low-decile schools.

Labour has already given a conditional tick of approval to the Green Party's policy today aimed at low-decile schools, including free after school care and a free lunch.

A top Auckland secondary school is asking parents to shell out more than $1000 when their sons return to class in two weeks' time.

Thousands of Kiwi parents have a new shopping dilemma this year - they will need to buy a tablet or other digital device for their child, writes Diana Clement.

Schools say they know who their top teachers are and have already put some of them in the "expert" roles just announced by the Govt.

A state primary school has recommended that children have an iPad for the upcoming school year, as an increasing number of schools add tablets or laptops to their back-to-school lists.

Education Minister Hekia Parata said this morning members of the wider education profession would play a key role in further developing school leadership initiative.

New "executive" and "expert" positions in schools could have wide-reaching effects - including more-energised teachers and reduced competition between schools.

National has managed to win praise from many of its usual critics - even the teacher unions - for its latest policy to try to lift student achievement.

A "free" state education in NZ will cost the average parent nearly $35,000 by the time their child finishes secondary school, a survey claims.

The leadership of New Zealand schools has been overhauled, with the Government creating new roles including 'executive principals' and 'expert teachers'. The change was announced today by Prime Minister John Key in a state of the nation-style speech in Auckland

Otara teenager Sipa Deidoe had never been inside a theatre until he came into the Aotea Centre for a first meeting about a new arts project late last year.

PM John Key is today expected to unveil a plan that will allow the boards of some poorly performing schools to hire high performing principals with big pay incentives.

Taxpayer money set aside for education has been used to drive enrolments at controversial charter schools through radio and newspaper advertisements.

Since my Food in Schools Bill - to provide food to lower-decile schools - was drawn out of the Parliamentary ballot, I've been rethinking it, writes David Shearer.

Young kids who use an iPad or other touch-screen device can get the same benefits as physical play, new research indicates - although the type of virtual activity is crucial.

South Auckland communities have been assured a potential new motorway, which they feared may cut through more than 100 homes and several schools, will give them a wide berth.

Stella Twigley's first emotions when she looked at her NCEA exam results yesterday were of happiness and relief.