Curriculum Overview

Deadline for 2024 Senior Course Selections - 22 September 2023

Selection of senior courses during Term 3 involves many conversations between students and their whanau, kaitiaki and kaiārahi, their subject teachers, and sometimes Heads of Faculty. The requirements for each year level are listed below.

If a student is Year 11 and/or studying towards NCEA Level 1 in 2024

Choose five courses and two backup courses. Year 11 students choose from Level 1 courses unless by arrangement with their Kaitiaki (Dean) and the Principal's Nominee, Mr Bernard Coleman.

In 2024, new NCEA Level 1 Achievement Standards come into effect. Students will work towards gaining the New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 1 by achieving the Literacy and Numeracy Co-Requisite assessments (or through credits gain on an alternative pathway) and by gaining 60 credits across their five subjects.

All Level 1 students are required to take English, Maths and a Science course. 

There is only 1 type of Level 1 English and Level 1 Maths that all Year 11 students must select, but they have the option of Level 1 Science or Level 1 Agriculture & Horticulture. If they are unsure which is best for them, they need to speak to their Science subject teacher or Kaiārahi.

If a student is Year 12 and/or studying NCEA Level 2 in 2024

Choose five courses and two backup courses. Year 12 students choose Level 2 courses.

Typically in Year 12 students work towards gaining NCEA Level 2 credits and gaining University Entrance Literacy (UE Lit). University Entrance Literacy means achieving standards that offer Reading and Writing University Literacy Credits. Five credits of both Reading and Writing are required to gain UE Literacy. The standard information on each course outline shows whether the standard offers Literacy Credits, and if so, whether they are Reading or Writing Credits.

English is compulsory for all Year 12 students unless by application to the principal's nominee, Mr Bernard Coleman.

If a student is Year 13 and/or studying Level 3 in 2024

Choose five courses and two backup courses. Year 13 students typically choose Level 3 courses if they have achieved in those subjects in Year 12. There are no compulsory courses.

In Year 13, students work towards gaining NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance. It is important that Year 13 students who wish to gain University Entrance ensure that they can gain 14 credits in at least three approved subjects, however, it is highly recommended that students aim for four or five approved subjects. 

There is the expectation that students should have achieved at least 12 credits in a subject including an external assessment (in some subjects) if they are to continue the subject at NCEA Level 3. Some subjects have strict prerequisites that students must meet in order to gain entry into the course.