Real, Relevant Student Data
CensusAtSchool / TataurangaKiTeKura is a long-running, biennial online educational project that brings statistics to life for Year 3–13 students. By voluntarily participating in a national survey during class, students engage in authentic data collection, seeing the real-world relevance of statistics through their own lives and opinions.
CensusAtSchool helps students develop statistical literacy by:
- Encouraging a positive attitude toward statistics through engaging, real-life data.
- Improving understanding of the data collection process and its benefits to society.
- Providing access to large, meaningful datasets for classroom analysis.
- Promoting effective IT teaching and learning.
- Enhancing statistical inquiry skills across the curriculum.
The project is a non-profit educational initiative hosted by the Department of Statistics at the University of Auckland, in association with Stats NZ and the Ministry of Education.
CensusAtSchool NZ is part of a global initiative designed to boost statistical literacy. The project originated in the UK in 2000, inspired by a 1990 New Zealand pilot led by Prof. Sharleen Forbes. New Zealand is proud to be part of a network that has included Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, the USA, and the UK.
Schools can take part any time between February 25, 2025, and November 27, 2026, during school hours. The survey is available in both English and Te Reo Māori. Students answer questions relevant to their daily lives and opinions, with surveys tailored to different year levels:
- Years 3–8: English and Te Reo Māori
- Years 9–13: English and Te Reo Māori
Media
Contact: Rachel Cunliffe, CensusAtSchool Co-Director
Email: hello@censusatschool.org.nz
Phone: 027 3833 746
How Is the Data Used?
Class data is returned to teachers for educational activities. The nationwide database is available for sampling and viewing summary statistics on the CensusAtSchool NZ website.
All users agree to the following terms and conditions:
“The data is the property of CensusAtSchool NZ and is protected by copyright laws. The sample data is provided solely for the purposes of teaching and learning. This data can not be reproduced in any way, other than by teachers or students for school curriculum and assessment activities, without the express permission of CensusAtSchool NZ. No reference to the URL for our sampler is to be made in any publication without the permission of CensusAtSchool NZ. Persons doing so will be prosecuted.”
All collected data is anonymous, confidential, and securely stored. The Ministry of Education, Stats NZ, and other third parties do not have access to the full database.
Where Can I Find More Information?
- View our live dashboard.
- Contact Rachel Cunliffe at hello@censusatschool.org.nz for additional questions.
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