There are indications that senior students are opting to stay at secondary school while the job market looks bleak.
Some high schools have already started the new school year. Others begin the first term on Monday and some rolls will be higher than expected.
Papatoetoe High School principal Peter Gall says students may be anxious about the job market and it appears some who were undecided, are going to return.
Mr Gall, who is also the president of the Secondary Principals Association, says he's spoken to many other heads who are experiencing the same trend.
