Researchers want an annual report card that assesses schools, rather than the students

Findings from the New Zealand Initiative have revealed 42 decile one and two schools outperformed 75-percent of every other secondary school in the country.

Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich says confidentiality rules prevent them from being able to identify what schools are doing well - and therefore what makes them successful.

He says that information could help improve the education system across the board.

Hartwich says the Ministry should take a look at what the successful schools are doing differently and attempt to implement it elsewhere.