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Teacher Education
Admission Requirements

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Teacher Education

Bachelor of Education (Primary) (BEd)

General Admission Requirements

Entry to the Laidlaw College Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree is New Zealand University Entrance or a recognised equivalent (i.e. International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International) or be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Laidlaw College that they have the skills and ability to study at a tertiary level. 

Students under the age of 20 applying to the BEd without UE must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Laidlaw College that they have the ability to study at a tertiary level. 

Students 20 years or older must meet comparable literacy and numeracy requirements as those entering with UE. This will usually be assessed by the entrance literacy and numeracy testing.

Visual Interview

All applicants for the Bachelor of Education and Graduate Diploma in Education are required to have a visual interview by panel. The panel consists of a rūnanga delegate, member of the teaching profession, and a Laidlaw teacher educator. The interview determines:

  • The applicant’s disposition to teach, through judging their ability to meet the values that underpin Our Code Our Standards
  • The applicant’s ability to meet the Code of Professional Responsibility in a supported environment
  • Vulnerable Children’s Act risk assessment (interview component) AND Other relevant matters

Numeracy and Literacy Testing

All applicants for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) are required to undergo a literacy and numeracy assessment.

  • Candidates must score step 4 in the TEC literacy (reading and writing) assessment to enter the programme
  • Candidates must score step 6 in the numeracy assessment component of the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (LNAAT) developed by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to enter the programme (a score between 690 and 800, at minimum), which is a score designated as equivalent to NCEA Level 2 mathematics. NCEA Level 2 achievement in mathematics does not exempt candidates from also achieving the required level on the LNAAT. This is a requirement set by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand to demonstrate mathematics competency.

Special Admission Requirements

For applicants who do not meet the above requirements, possible study options can arise depending on the assessment and interview result:

  • An offer of entry to a level 4 programme
  • An offer of entry to another Laidlaw programme

Police Clearance

All education applicants must complete a Police Vetting Service Request and Consent form as part of their application. All international applicants for the BEd and GradDipEd must provide a police clearance certificate from their country of citizenship AND for any country in which they have lived for more than a 12 month period in the last 10 years. This overseas police clearance should be less than 6 months old and be presented at the time of application. This is to meet the requirements of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014. 

Any education student charged with an offence during their programme of study must disclose the charge in writing to the Head of Education within 3 working days.

English Language Requirements

English Language Requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and the Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) follows the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand requirements for preservice teachers. As such, one of the following types of evidence must be provided to demonstrate English language competency:

  • The New Zealand University Entrance literacy credits at either NCEA level 2 or 3 OR
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • New Zealand tertiary entrance qualification gained on completing senior secondary school prior to the introduction of current University Entrance OR
  • International Baccalaureate full diploma in English medium (24 points minimum) OR
  • Cambridge International Examinations minimum 120 points on the UCAS Tariff plus meeting the CIE literacy requirements OR
  • All primary schooling and at least three years secondary schooling completed in the English language and while living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or South Africa* OR * candidates from South Africa must also provide South African Matriculation Certificate Minimum D pass in English (higher grade) OR South African Senior Certificate Minimum D pass in English (higher grade)
  • Six years of education comprising secondary schooling to at least year 12 and at least two years of successful tertiary education, taught in English as the primary language of instruction and through face-to-face learning and assessment such as tutorials and labs completed in the English language and while living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or South Africa OR
  • Awarded a Bachelor’s degree, Bachelor with Honours degree, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Master’s degree at NZQF level 7 or up which:
  • Took two or more years of full-time study to complete and
  • Was taught in English as the primary language of instruction and through face-to-face learning and assessment such as tutorials, presentations, seminars, and supervisory meetings and was gained while living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Africa.
  • Awarded Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) OR
  • Awarded Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL) OR
  • Achieved an outcome in one of the following approved tests which is equivalent to or better than those specified (see table) within the past two years:

Test

Listening

Reading

Writing

Speaking

Overall Mark
(in one test)

Minimum of

Cambridge English exams C2 / Proficiency (CPE) or C1 Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English exams B2 First (FCE)

185

185

185

185

185

International English Language / Testing System (IELTS) Academic

7.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

International Second Language / Proficiency Rating (ISLPR)

4

4

4

4

4

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic

61

62

73

79

69

TRINITY ISE III (3)

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

For other equivalent English Language Proficiency scores please refer to:

* Please note that applicants should refer to the Education handbook for more details.

General Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission requires applicants to show evidence they have:

  • An appropriate bachelor’s degree at Level 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and/or postgraduate qualification, AND
  • A body of knowledge from Levels 5 to 7 or higher in support of New Zealand Curriculum learning areas for at least one Year 7-10 teaching subject/s and at least one Year 11-13 teaching subject/s, OR
  • For language teaching: native or fluent reading, writing, speaking and listening in the language.

The normal requirement for admission requires applicants to show evidence they have:

  • English
  • Te Reo Māori
  • The arts - art history, dance, drama, music, visual arts
  • Health and physical education
  • Learning languages - Cook Island Māori, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Lea Faka-Tonga, NZ Sign Language, Mandarin, Samoan, Spanish
  • Mathematics and statistics
  • Science - science, biology, chemistry, physics
  • Social sciences - accounting, business, classics, economics, geography, history, legal, media, philosophy, psychology, religious education, social studies, sustainability
  • Technology - bio and chemical, design and visual communication, digital (computer science, information, infrastructure, media, programming), electronics, food, manufacturing, textiles, resistant materials

It is recommended that applicants wishing to teach less common specialist subjects, such as religious education, philosophy, psychology, environmental studies (Education for Sustainability), are capable of teaching in another learning area as well, based on their previous study, or language fluency.

Laidlaw College provides support for applicants when choosing teaching subjects.

Visual Interview

All applicants for the Bachelor of Education and Graduate Diploma in Education are required to have a visual interview by panel. The panel consists of a rūnanga delegate, member of the teaching profession, and a Laidlaw teacher educator. The interview determines:

  • The applicant’s disposition to teach, through judging their ability to meet the values that underpin Our Code Our Standards
  • The applicant’s ability to meet the Code of Professional Responsibility in a supported environment
  • Vulnerable Children’s Act risk assessment (interview component) AND Other relevant matters

Numeracy and Literacy Testing

All applicants for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) are required to undergo a literacy and numeracy assessment.

  • Candidates must score step 4 in the TEC literacy (reading and writing) assessment to enter the programme
  • Candidates must score step 5 in the numeracy assessment component of the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (LNAAT) developed by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to enter the programme (a score between 603 and 689, at minimum).

For applicants who do not meet the above requirements, possible study options can arise depending on the assessment and interview result:

English Language Requirements

English Language Requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and the Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) follows the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand requirements for preservice teachers. As such, one of the following types of evidence must be provided to demonstrate English language competency:

  • The New Zealand University Entrance literacy credits at either NCEA level 2 or 3 OR
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • New Zealand tertiary entrance qualification gained on completing senior secondary school prior to the introduction of current University Entrance OR
  • International Baccalaureate full diploma in English medium (24 points minimum) OR
  • Cambridge International Examinations minimum 120 points on the UCAS Tariff plus meeting the CIE literacy requirements OR
  • All primary schooling and at least three years secondary schooling completed in the English language and while living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or South Africa* OR * candidates from South Africa must also provide South African Matriculation Certificate Minimum D pass in English (higher grade) OR South African Senior Certificate Minimum D pass in English (higher grade)
  • Six years of education comprising secondary schooling to at least year 12 and at least two years of successful tertiary education, taught in English as the primary language of instruction and through face-to-face learning and assessment such as tutorials and labs completed in the English language and while living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or South Africa OR
  • Awarded a Bachelor’s degree, Bachelor with Honours degree, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Master’s degree at NZQF level 7 or up which:
  • Took two or more years of full-time study to complete and
  • Was taught in English as the primary language of instruction and through face-to-face learning and assessment such as tutorials, presentations, seminars, and supervisory meetings and was gained while living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Africa.
  • Awarded Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) OR
  • Awarded Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL) OR
  • Achieved an outcome in one of the following approved tests which is equivalent to or better than those specified (see table) within the past two years:

Test

Listening

Reading

Writing

Speaking

Overall Mark
(in one test)

Minimum of

Cambridge English exams C2 / Proficiency (CPE) or C1 Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English exams B2 First (FCE)

185

185

185

185

185

International English Language / Testing System (IELTS) Academic

7.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

International Second Language / Proficiency Rating (ISLPR)

4

4

4

4

4

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic

61

62

73

79

69

TRINITY ISE III (3)

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

pass with
merit

For other equivalent English Language Proficiency scores please refer to:

* Please note that applicants should refer to the Education handbook for more details.