Curriculum
FOSTERING EXCELLENCE IN A BROAD-BASED CURRICULUM
YEAR 7 AND 8 STUDENTS
Students are based in a homeroom with primary trained teachers for 15 hours/week. In-class grouping caters for different abilities in Reading, Language Skills, Social Studies and Health.- For Mathematics students from each year level will join together to be grouped according to their achievement level.
- For the remainder of the week students work with specialist teachers in such specialist facilities as the library information centre, science laboratories, computer suites, gymnasium and technology, art, drama and music suites.
- Science and Physical Education are taught by specialist teachers throughout the year.
- Students follow a special studies programme in which they rotate through modules of Art, Music, Drama, Home Economics,Technology and Language subjects.
YEAR 9 AND 10 STUDENTS
- All students study English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Careers and Health. At Year 9 there is still a broad option choice offered of three languages [Maori, Japanese and French], all of the strands in the Technology curriculum, Art, Music and Drama.
- At Year 10 three options are chosen in addition to the core programme. This still leaves open many subject choices in the senior school.
- High achieving students join an achievement class at Year 9 and Year 10. The curriculum is enriched to provide extension work for them.
- Most of the classes are broad banded to ensure that students are with others at similar achievement levels.
- A learning support class is in place to serve the students who struggle academically. They join with the rest of their Year 9 or 10 peers for the option subjects.
YEAR 11 TO 13 STUDENTS
- Kaikorai Valley College offers a full range of academic and vocational subjects for students planning to advance to university, polytechnic or other tertiary courses. In fact, because the school is co-educational, there is a wider choice for both girls and boys than will be found in many single sex schools.
- All senior students are encouraged to achieve at the higher performance levels of Merit and Excellence. Students often achieve well above their own expectations.
- Career opportunities, subjects and pathways to tertiary courses are considered and discussed with all senior students and their families and courses are organised to meet the needs of individual students.