'We welcome the latest OECD report which praises New Zealand's current education model,' said Paul Drummond, President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation. 'It is vindication of what we have been saying for the last three years. We are already headed in a good direction which is bringing us world class success and we are ambitious to do even better.'

The report shows New Zealand yet again being ranked at the top of the world in student achievement.

'The OECD report on evaluation and assessment in New Zealand lists our high trust model, assessment for learning, responsiveness to diverse learners' needs and commitment to evidence-based practice as just some of our strengths,' says Drummond.

The report also singles out teacher standards and appraisal processes, the public's high trust in teachers, the high degree of autonomy and schools' self-review processes as strengths.

'Putting it all together, this independently conducted evaluation tells us that what we are doing now is absolutely on the right track,' said Drummond. 'Any reform that would interfere with this direction for education would have to be seriously questioned,' he said. 'Why would you want to dismantle any of these fundamental strengths that clearly are the reason for our Kiwi kids success? he said.

'Our structure of locally controlled, self-managed schools together with our world class broad curriculum is a model for success. It is this mix and the strong relationships that schools and communities have forged over the last twenty years that is now paying off,' said Drummond.

'Our system is unique in the world. We do things the Kiwi way and that's what parents trust,' he said.