Feilding High School principal urges agriculture to remain Year 11 standalone subject

What happened

Feilding High School principal Nathan Stewart is pushing for agriculture to remain a standalone subject at Year 11, rather than being folded into a broader science curriculum. At his 1700-student school, half of Year 11 students study agriculture—a subject offered since the school's founding as Feilding Agricultural High School in 1921. The school runs a 98-hectare farm with dairy cattle, sheep and beef, and also offers farm training through Primary ITO. Stewart argues agriculture is an applied science that warrants its own subject status, comparable to how dance, drama and music remain distinct disciplines. He contends removing it would reduce its visibility to non-rural students, noting over 60 percent of students taking the subject attend urban schools. The Ministry of Education's deputy secretary says Year 11 science will be compulsory, ensuring all students receive agriculture-related learning, with agriculture and horticulture available as options at Years 12 and 13. Education Minister Erica Stanford supports this approach, stating Year 11 is too early to specialise. The ACT party has announced it will campaign to keep agriculture as a Year 11 subject.

Why it matters

This dispute follows Education Minister Erica Stanford's controversial curriculum reforms, which have drawn criticism from teachers' unions and school leaders. On 14 September, Stanford dismissed union research showing students would struggle with the new curriculum. On 26 September, she and Principals' Federation president Miles accused each other of disrespect over her education conference address promoting government reforms. This latest pushback from Feilding High School's principal reflects broader concerns about how the government's curriculum changes will affect student pathways and subject access.

Follow the whole thread: NCEA and secondary curriculum reform

Key facts

• Feilding High School has 1700 students, half of Year 11 cohort study agriculture
• School founded as Feilding Agricultural High School in 1921
• School operates 98-hectare farm with dairy cattle, sheep and beef
• Over 60 percent of students taking agriculture nationwide attend urban schools
• Agriculture offered from Year 9 through Year 13

Primary source: National Curriculum refresh

Covered byRNZNZ HeraldNot covered byStuff1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz

Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.

What outlets are saying