Curriculum

Our Curriculum

Heretaunga College is committed to ensuring that all ākonga have access to an innovative, student-centred and diverse learning environment and curriculum.  The NZ Curriculum Refresh, Te Mātaiaho guides planning and pedagogy throughout our year 9 - 13 programmes.  Mātai means to study deliberately, to examine, and to observe.  ‘Aho’ describes the many strands and threads of learning.  Te Mātaiaho is designed to be a curriculum that gives effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is inclusive, clear, and easy to use (MOE; 2023).

Heretaunga College is also committed to ensuring our students have access to contextualised and interest-based learning opportunities.  Student choice and agency are realised when students select their learning programmes from our wide range of courses targeted at providing learning for pathways of all kinds.  Our mentoring programme supports the academic learning and progress of our students; and ensures that the overall hauora of our young people is maximised to ensure success in all its forms.

Junior School

Year 9 and 10 students can learn from a wide variety of course options; some courses are semester-based and others are year-long courses.  Contextualised learning opportunities are provided to ensure student interest and engagement.  This curriculum ensures equity of access to all learning areas across the curriculum, as a means to ensure all student interests, talents and abilities are supported through their course options.

Senior School

All senior school courses are full year courses.  A wide variety of contextualised and interest-based learning opportunities are provided for students to select from. At year 11, students are encouraged to keep breadth in their course selections to ensure open future pathways. At year 12, students will begin to become more specialised as they become more aware of their pathway preferences.  At year 13, students will ensure their course selections are more closely aligned with their potential future pathways. 

All pathways at Heretaunga College are academic pathways.  NCEA provides significant flexibility and breadth in assessment opportunities that support a wide variety of future pathways for all ākonga.  All senior courses provide NCEA credits towards relevant qualifications.

At year 11, compulsory courses come from the English and Mathematics curriculum areas.  It is also recommended that students at year 11 choose a Science-based course. 

At year 12, the compulsory course must come from the English curriculum area.  

At year 13, there are no compulsory course requirements.