Year 9 Details | Year 10 Details | Year 11, 12 & 13 Details | Qualifications | Course Structure | Support Programmes
Curriculum Details
Yr 13 Geography Trip, Rotorua
This page outline the curriculum structure at Wairarapa College. It gives you information as to what subjects you can take and how they progress through to the senior school.
In the junior school the curriculum is broken down into Core subjects which are compulsory and Option subjects which you have to pick.
Year 9 Details
| Year 9 Core Subjects | |
|---|---|
| English | 7 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Mathematics | 7 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Physical Education & Health | 6 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Science | 7 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Social Studies | 7 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Option subjects are divided into 3 main groups | |
|---|---|
| Group A | 6 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Group B | 4 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Group C | 6 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Year 9 Option Subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Compulsory Arts | (you must choose two) |
| Group B | Compulsory Technology | (you must choose two) |
| Group C | Half Year Options | (you must choose two) |
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Art Drama Music |
Food Technology Textiles & Design Technology Resistant Material Metal Resistant Material Wood |
Agriculture Economics French Computing Japanese Maori Graphics |
Students will study three options (one from Group A, one from Group B and one from Group C) in the first half of the year. They will then study their remaining option choices in the second half of the year (One from Group A, one from Group B and one from Group C).
We encourage our students to choose a range of courses in order to broaden their educational experience.
It is not compulsory to study a language. You may choose to study two, one or no languages.
Year 10 Details
| Year 9 Core Subjects | |
|---|---|
| English | 8 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Mathematics | 8 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Physical Education | 4 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Health | 2 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Science | 8 hours per 10 day cycle |
| Social Studies | 8 hours per 10 day cycle |
You need to choose two options from the subjects below to study for the full year. Each is studied for 6 periods over the 10 day cycle.
| Agriculture Visual Art Drama Economics Food Technology French Graphics |
Computers Japanese Music Te Reo Maori Textiles & Design Resistant Materials - Technology |
Remember that not all combinations of these choices are possible, but the groupings are arranged to satisfy the requests of the majority.
Year 11, 12 & 13 Details
Guidelines:
- In Year 11(Level 1 NCEA) every student takes English (or Te Reo Maori), Mathematics, a Science and Core Physical Education.
- Year 12 (Level 2 NCEA) students must take English (or Te Reo Maori) and Core Physical Education with greater specialisation being available at this level in many subjects.
- Further specialisation takes place at Year 13 (Level 3 NCEA) enabling students to move confidently to tertiary education and the world outside.
- Students gaining the NCEA Certificate move automatically to the next level.
- Students gaining less than the required credits for a Certificate may move on to the next level in the subjects where they have gained 12 or more credits.
All Students Please Note:
- Ensure your choice reflects personal subjects’ strengths.
- Do not be influenced by the subject choices of others.
- English and/or Te Reo Maori is compulsory at Year 12.
- To gain entry into University a minimum of 4 Reading and 4 Writing credits in English 201 or L.3 English is required
Qualifications
National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
Level 1 (Year 11 courses)
To gain their Level 1 NCEA certificate students need to accumulate 80 credits. These may be at any level. Credits are gained when students “pass” assessments either throughout the year at school through internal standards or when they sit external standards in the end of year examinations. In addition, there is a minimum literacy and numeracy requirement. Each student’s total must include 8 credits in English (or Te Reo) and 8 credits in Mathematics.
Level 2 (Year 12 courses)
A Level 2 NCEA certificate is gained when a student has gathered at least 60 credits at Level 2 or above and 20 other credits. These 20 credits may be at any level and may have already contributed towards a Certificate at Level 1. Although there are no specific literacy and numeracy requirements for this certificate the University Entrance requirements should be understood by students as they work towards their Level 2 Certificate.
Level 3 (Year 13 courses)
A Level 3 NCEA Certificate is gained when a student has gathered at least 60 credits at Level 3 or above and 20 other credits at Level 2 or above.
University Entrance
A person is qualified for entrance to a New Zealand University if they have met all of the following requirements:
- At least 14 credits in Mathematics at Level 1 or above.
- At least 4 credits in Reading and 4 credits in Writing from selected English 201 and/or 301 standards
- At least 14 Level 3 credits in each of two approved subjects (see list following).
- At least 14 Level 3 credits in a combination of no more than two other subjects.
NB: Some Universities may have higher entry requirements for some courses e.g. Medicine
| University Entrance approved subjects taught at Wairarapa College: | |
|---|---|
| Accounting History Agriculture & Horticulture History of Art Biology Japanese Chemistry Mathematics with Calculus Classical Studies Mathematics with Statistics Computing Media Studies Drama |
Music Studies Economics Painting (Practical Art) English Photography (Practical Art) French Physical Education Geography Physics Graphics Te Reo Māori Technology (Design Technology, Home Economics, and Textiles and Design) |
New Zealand Scholarship Subjects
Students may take up to three scholarship examinations at no extra cost. Scholarship examinations are taken in addition to any Level 3 external examinations. Students need to choose scholarship subjects carefully to ensure they plan their examination schedule wisely. Scholarship is an award, not a qualification and does not attract credits for NCEA. To be eligible for New Zealand Scholarship candidates will be::
- Enrolled in a secondary school or wharekura
- New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
- Enrolled in tertiary study in NZ in the years they receive monetary awards.
| The following subjects may be taken for the scholarship awards: | |
|---|---|
| Accounting History of Art Biology Japanese Chemistry Mathematics with Calculus Classical Studies Mathematics with Statistics Drama Media Studies Economics Music Studies |
English Physical Education French Physics Geography Technology Graphics Te Reo Māori History Te Reo Rangatira Visual Arts |
Scholarship entries are made from July each year.
Course Structure
This table shows the way subjects develop from Yr 9 through to Yr13
| Learning Area | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 NCEA Level I | Year 12 NCEA Level 2 | Year 13 NCEA Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | English* | English* | English 101* English 102* English 103* |
English 201* English 202* Media Studies Classical Studies |
English 301 Art History Media Studies Classical Studies |
| Mathematics | Mathematics* | Mathematics* | Mathematics 101* Mathematics 102* Mathematics 103* |
Mathematics 201* Mathematics 202* |
Maths with Calculus Maths with Statistics |
| Physical Education and Health | Physical Education* | Physical Education* | Physical Education (core)* |
Physical Education (core)* | |
| Health* | Health* | Physical Education | Physical Education Outdoor Education Sport Studies |
Physical Education Sport Studies |
|
| Science and Agriculture | Science* | Science* | Science 101* Science 102* |
Biology Chemistry Physics |
Biology Chemistry Physics |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | Agriculture & Horticulture Science* | Agriculture & Horticulture Science | Agriculture & Horticulture Science | |
| Social Sciences | Social Studies* | Social Studies* | Geography History |
Geography History |
Geography History |
| Economics | Economics | Economics Accounting |
Economics Accounting |
Economics Accounting |
|
| Languages | French | French | French | French | French |
| Japanese | Japanese | Japanese | Japanese | Japanese | |
| Te Reo Maori | Te Reo Maori | Te Reo Maori | Te Reo Maori | Te Reo Rangatira | |
| Arts | Visual Art | Visual Art | Visual Art | Visual Art Photography |
Photography Painting |
| Music | Music | Music | Music | Music | |
| Drama | Drama | Drama | Drama | Drama | |
| Technology | Food & Nutrition | Food Technology | Home Economics | Food Technology Hospitality |
Hospitality |
| Workshop Wood Workshop Metal |
Resistant Materials Technology | Technology | Technology Pathways to Building Pathways to Engineering |
Technology | |
| Textiles & Design | Textiles & Design | Textiles & Design | Textiles & Design | Textiles & Design | |
| Graphics | Graphics | Graphics | Graphics | Graphics | |
| Computing | Computing | Computing | Computing | Computing | |
| Transition | Transition | Transition Tourism |
Transition Gateway |
*- Compulsory Curriculum
- This table shows the way subjects develop over the years to the Year 13. However, any particular subject can only be included in the curriculum when the demands of staffing are met.
- Pupils are increasingly encouraged to choose subjects at different levels appropriate to their ability and career and/or social needs.
- Pupils planning courses for their 3rd to 5th year at College should consult fully with the level Deans. Detailed subject descriptions of all subjects are available from Deans.
- Course in blue text have a prerequisite.
Support Programmes
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Subject Aims
- To identify Year 9 and 10 students who need a supportive literacy programme to enable them to reach their potential.
- To identify students with other specific learning problems such as inability to commit ideas onto paper, or extremely short attention span.
- To provide teaching/tutoring programmes to overcome identified deficiencies and for continuous support where needed throughout Years 11-13.
- Students in the ‘English for Speakers of other Languages’ (ESOL) programme will be tested to find their individual level and a programme will be set to meet their individual needs. As their proficiency develops they will work towards Unit Standards or NCEA level 1 followed by level 2.
Outline of Year 9 & 10 Reading and Language Support
All students referred to our department are assessed using Probe and Burt Vocabulary for reading/comprehension/sight vocabulary levels. Students needing help will be withdrawn as a group or individually from one or two classes per 10 day cycle to have specific needs addressed. Reader/Writer assistance in tests is also given where appropriate. There is also focus given to support students’ achievement with class tasks. If individual needs are large, a one on one teacher pupil programme will also be given. This will include consultation and a working relationship with the subject teacher, parent/caregiver and Language Resource Department. Rapport between parent/caregiver and our department is encouraged and valued. We encourage this contact. It enables a team approach.
Lexia Strategies for Older Students is a software programme designed to deliver individualised spelling and literacy tuition, consolidating and extending on individual skills. Identified Year 9,10 and 11 students are withdrawn from classes for ten minutes, 6 times in a ten day cycle. The spend there 10 minutes working on their programme, then return to class. Results are monitored and regular reports are created and discussed with the student, teachers and caregivers.
Teacher Aides
Teacher Aides are allocated to classes where there is need for student support both at Year 9 and 10. Teacher Aides play a big part in our support systems run from Language Resource. Our Teacher Aides work in classes giving general support to teachers in a wide range of subjects. They also support specific Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) targeted students both in class and on an individual basis. Their work is invaluable and appreciated.
Senior Students
E.S.O.L. students will continue to receive assistance/teaching appropriate to their needs. This often occurs across other subjects, vocabulary support, understanding tasks, Unit Standards etc.
Students requiring reading and/or writing assistance with NCEA and school exams will receive this if they meet the criteria. this is not available for ESOL students.
Other senior students will receive help as the need arises or in response to teacher/parent request as staffing allows. Overseas scholarship students receive help with interpretation difficulties of material as they arise. Help is also given when coping with the grammatical difficulties in their subjects and editing of written work is also done. Students requiring other specific assistance and/or special assessment circumstances are also catered for.
Sustained Silent Reading
All Year 9 and 10 students will take part in sustained silent reading, for the first 10 minutes of morning periods each day - a very important part of their day. For some it is the only reading they do. Lack of the skill of physically being able to settle and to read is a great hindrance with the demands of textbook and other educational reading expected of all students. Not being willing or able to complete reading texts leads to huge disadvantage at senior level. Communication levels of English are vital for future career success. Continued support from home ie. a “reading time” allocation is also hugely beneficial, as is support with general completion of tasks.