Dear Ministry of Education,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request copies of any reports, research, surveys, polling, focus group findings, briefing papers, aide-memoires, Cabinet papers, communications advice, talking points, draft media lines, or other advice relating to parental understanding of NCEA grading terminology.

In particular, I request any information used to support the statement made by Minister for Education Erica Stanford on 4 August 2025 that:

“Parents can’t help their children improve their grades when they don’t know what they mean.”

This request specifically concerns evidence relating to understanding of the grading labels "Not Achieved". "Achieved", "Merit" and "Excellence", rather than broader understanding of the NCEA system, qualification structure, endorsements, credits, literacy/numeracy requirements, or university entrance requirements.

If any research or advice distinguished between:
(a) parental understanding of NCEA grading terminology, and
(b) parental understanding of the wider NCEA system,
I request copies of that distinction.

I also request any comparative analysis, modelling, polling, or advice regarding whether the proposed A+ to E grading scale would be easier for parents to understand than the current NCEA grading terminology.

If no evidence, research, or advice exists specifically supporting the claim that parents do not understand the current grading terminology, I request confirmation of this.

Yours faithfully,

Laydan Mortensen