Under Regulation 8(5) of the Education (When State Schools Must Be Open and Closed) Regulations 2024, I specify the following circumstances in which Boards may close their schools in 2026 and 2027 to support implementation of changes to curriculum and assessment:

• The closure must be for the purpose of staff participating in planning and professional learning for curriculum and assessment changes; and
• Parents and caregivers must be given at least six weeks’ prior notice of any closure;
• Boards may only close for four half-days in total in 2026 and four half-days in total in 2027.

Under Regulation 9(1) of the Education (When State Schools Must Be Open and Closed) Regulations 2024, I am also authorising schools and kura to close for four fewer half-days in each of 2026 and 2027.

This notice is secondary legislation for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2019.

This notice was made on the 27th day of August 2025.

Hon ERICA STANFORD, Minister of Education.