Election 2026: National promises to require students to finish Year 11 before leaving school

The National Party has promised it will require students to stay in school until they finish Year 11 if re-elected. Currently, pupils can choose to leave once they turn 16. “Many reach that birthday during Year 11, allowing them to leave before completing the year”, said National’s Education spokesperson Erica Stanford. The change would allow young people the time to “build the knowledge and skills they need for a successful future”, she said. Students will still be able to apply for a leaving exemption if they have found a job or are moving into further training.“What we don’t want is 16-year-olds dropping out of school with nothing to do but sit on the couch. These new requirements will help young people get the skills they need to get a job or into further learning.”The party will also set nationally consistent start and finish dates for schools, Stanford said. “Parents have told us how frustrating it is when their children attend different schools with different start and finish dates, leaving them juggling childcare and taking extra leave from work. So, we will work with schools on a more consistent calendar.”The new qualifications replacing NCEA in 2028 will give students “clearer and more credible” qualifications, she said. “With these new qualifications, our expectation is clear. Students should complete at least a full Year 11 of compulsory science, English and maths, and have the opportunity to gain the new Foundational Award in literacy and numeracy.“Strong literacy and numeracy skills give young people a better chance of gaining employment or continuing on into Trades’ training or other learning. This change will mean more students stay at school longer and complete that important year of study.”Stanford said the National’s focus on teaching “the basics” to students is beginning to deliver results. “We have introduced an hour a day each of reading, writing and maths, mandated structured literacy, backed teachers with training and resources, and made the largest investment in learning support in a generation.” She said improvements in phonics, Year 6 maths, and writing have been observed.