LITERACY & NUMERACY

Literacy & Numeracy at Dannevirke High School in 2025

What is Literacy & Numeracy for NCEA?

  • From 2024 onward, NCEA requires achievement in the Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) in:

  • Each CAA generally takes around 60 minutes, but students are not limited by time to complete these. CAAs are delivered as online examinations, with provisions for Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) if needed. 

Checking Readiness for CAAs

  • Our kura use tools like PATs (Progressive Achievement Tests in reading comprehension, vocabulary and mathematics), teacher observations and judgment to assess whether students are ready to sit CAAs. 

At Dannevirke High School, Year 9 and 10 students in Term 1 and Term 4 typically undergo these PAT tests to inform teaching and gauge readiness. However, it is important to note these tests are only used as a factor to gauge students’ readiness.

How Dannevirke High supports ākonga to succeed

  • Explicit teaching of literacy in English classrooms with CAA tasks and structures woven into the Year 9 and 10 English programme.

  • Explicit teaching of numeracy in Mathematics classrooms.

  • Literacy and Numeracy integrated across subjects to reiterate to learners that these are essential skills in all learning areas.

  • Additional support from our trained teachers in numeracy and literacy booster groups.

 Tracking & Schoolwide Support

  • Data on literacy and numeracy progress is shared across subjects so every teacher can support students who may need extra help. 

  • At Dannevirke High School, literacy and numeracy support is woven into all classes, and staff are regularly updating strategies they can be using to improve their pedagogy and practice to support ākonga. 

How YOU can make the most of this:

  1. Understand when CAAs are and prioritise these: Year 10 students are tested in Term 1 and Term 3 and these dates are publicized in advance.

  2. Ask about support: If students feel like they are not yet ready, ask about extra literacy or numeracy help.

  3. Know your literacy activities: By 2025, all schools from Primary to Secondary structured literacy—ask your kaiako class about phonics, phonemic awareness, blending strategies etc. 

  4. Track your own progress: Use feedback from PATs to see where to improve. Speak to your Maths and English teachers about this. 

PRACTICE AT HOME. We have use the following textbooks and resources in classes which you can purchase so ākonga can practice and prepare for their CAA’s at home.