These are the key findings from New Zealand Council for Educational Research's (NZCER's) latest survey of secondary schools, conducted in August and September 2018. In the 2018 survey responses, there was a general theme of growing demands being made on schools to respond to increasingly complex needs of students. Teachers were feeling hard-pressed to do the job of teaching a student population that has a growing number of needs, including mental health issues. Teachers and principals reported increased stress levels and lower morale, as well as long work hours. Major issues on principals' minds included recruiting quality teachers and having enough funding to meet their school's needs. These surveys have been done every 3 years since 2003. They provide a comprehensive national picture of what is happening in schools, how things have changed over time, and the impact of policy changes. They also give provide insights into how teachers, principals, trustees, and parents and whanau experience the secondary education system.