School News, Term 2, 2026
From cute online videos to playground rumours to AI deepfakes, misinformation, disinformation and malinformation are everywhere, and can be difficult to pin down.
Deepfakes and AI slop have fooled everyone, including in some instances news outlets and journalists. Many adults are unable to tell what’s real and what’s fake online, so how can we expect our young people to?
In our Term 2 Special Report, we investigate how schools and educators can help tamariki develop the skills to critically evaluate information and sources, especially for online content. The ability to ask questions to help determine if something is real or fake will be invaluable for our young people, both now and throughout their lives and careers.
And in this age of misinformation, it’s important to remember that AI itself is not the enemy. When used correctly, AI can be incredibly useful in a range of contexts, including in the classroom.
This term, we look at the advantages of implementing AI in the classroom, including improved content and data sharing for teachers, fast feedback and adaptive modules for students, and a range of time-saving and administrative efficiencies. Above all, though, we discuss how kaiako can use AI as a support, with human oversight still essential for the best learning outcomes. Effective use of AI is a case of balancing the good and the bad.
Our Profile this term takes us to Stratford Primary School. The school has embedded care for the environment into its culture, with beehives, chickens, orchards and vegetable gardens making up the school’s grounds.
A Green-Gold Enviroschool since 2022, Stratford won the 2025 BLAKE Ngā Kura/School Award. We talk to staff and students about the award win, why environmentalism is such an important cause for the school, and the positive impact the enviro programme has had on school culture.
Also in this edition, we discuss how best to organise and store school devices like laptops and tablets; find out about the latest technology and features for school management systems; investigate professional learning and development opportunities for educators and school leaders; and ask the experts how to design and build the perfect outdoor area for learning outside, staff meetings, student lunchbreaks and community events.
I hope you have a happy and productive Term 2.
Ngā mihi, Gemma
Kaiwāwāhi matua | Editor, School News
