Senior Curriculum, Years 11 - 13

Alongside the regular curriculum is our Tutor Mentoring programme that promotes metacognitive approaches to understand how to learn and mentoring processes focused on reflection on academic goals and progress.

The curriculum meets the requirements of the New Zealand Curriculum where the Key Competencies and Values are developed within the eight learning areas.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are integrated throughout the curriculum as well as provided as specialist Digital Technology classes from Years 11 to 13, emphasising design and programming.

Pathways

Option Information is available, providing an overview of the senior pathways offered as well as course descriptions at each year level.

BDSC Year 11 Diploma

Year 11 students will be eligible for the BDSC Year 11 Diploma. This diploma will acknowledge a student’s academic achievements throughout the year. It will reflect the level of achievement attained in NCEA and school-based assessments across all subjects.

To gain a BDSC Year 11 Diploma, a student needs to meet each of the following criteria:

• Achievement of the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisite package or literacy and numeracy standards (10 credits in each). This is during the transition period of the Ministry of Education timeline for NCEA change which is subject to regular review and change.
• Attendance Rate (90%) - Justified absence will be taken into consideration. The Ministry of Education has defined justified absences from school as being absence due to medical appointments, short term illness, approved leave for national representation, exam leave and school closures e.g. lockdowns, extreme weather events etc. Unjustified absences include school approved holidays in school time, parent explained absences for reasons other than above, and truancy.
• Academic achievement throughout the year through NCEA and school-based assessments across courses. Academic Pass Rate – average of 4 or better on the 12-point scale across all subjects. Diplomas will be awarded indicating the level of learning demonstrated. These will be 0-3 No Diploma, 4-6 BDSC Diploma, 7-9 BDSC Diploma with Distinction, 10-12 BDSC Diploma with High Distinction.

School based assessments will be marked using a 12-point scale:

0 No work has been submitted;
1-3 Beginning;
4-6 Developing;
7-9 Consolidating;
10-12 Excelling.

More specific grade descriptors will be attached to each assessment for each course.

NCEA

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)  Levels 2 to 3 are offered. These have a mixture of internal assessments and external examinations.

NCEA allows students the opportunities to excel in their own areas of strength. The reporting of individualised results, instead of giving a percentage mark, provides a breakdown of student attainment in every aspect of the subject, giving both students and parents more accurate information upon which to make decisions about future option choices and career pathways.

From 2023 NCEA will change substantially following sector feedback, and advice from the Ministry of Education, NZQA and the NCEA Professional Advisory Group (PAG). For further information please refer to:
https://ncea.education.govt.nz/what-ncea-change-programme