Assessment and SMART
Tracks
-
| Wednesday, April 8, 2026 |
| 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM |
| Tohorā, Tech & Factory (Ground Floor) |
Overview
(Years 3-10)
Details
Assessment is an essential component of quality teaching and learning. Timely, high-quality, assessment information enables informed decision-making by teachers, whānau, and school leaders to improve student outcomes and progress. Its ultimate purpose is to empower students to reach their full potential by making learning visible, measurable, and actionable.
This year, schools will undertake twice-yearly assessments of reading, writing and maths for Year 3-8 students using one of the three specified tools (SMART, PATs, e-asTTle).
SMART is the new Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool provided by the Ministry of Education that will be available to schools and kura nationwide in March 2026. SMART has been designed to give teachers clear, curriculum‑aligned information about each learner’s progress in reading, writing, mathematics, pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau.
This workshop will provide information about assessment requirements, SMART, associated guidance, and PLD being rolled out in 2026.
Speaker
Giles Panting
General Manager, Curriculum Integration Services
Ministry of Education
Assessment and SMART
Biography
Giles is General Manager of the Curriculum Integration Team (CIS) within Te Poutāhū| the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education.
The CIS team is responsible for bringing in sector insights and shaping the guidance that goes back to the system. It leads integrated sector engagement, cross‑cutting strategy, and curriculum delivery planning. It sets national direction for PLD, the Curriculum Advisory Service, and foundational progress and achievement in structured literacy and mathematics & statistics. The team also drives major system shifts, including reporting to parents and whānau, the rollout of SMART, and national checkpoints such as the Phonics Check and Hihira Weteoro.
Giles has worked at the Ministry of Education for 9 years, before which he was a primary teacher and Principal for more than 20 years in both New Zealand and the UK.
