This course is for students who enjoy movement and want to explore the elements of Dance as a school subject. It involves learning and performing a variety of dance genres. Students will learn skills to choreograph interesting pieces of work and research the history of different styles.

Design and Visual Communication (DVC) is about drawing, developing design thinking, and communicating the design of three-dimensional spaces, and places and everyday items that we use in the built word. We focus on product design, the tangible items used in everyday life, and Spatial design which is about the designing of spaces and buildings that people occupy.

Visual communication is how design ideas and outcomes are presented to the viewer. These outcomes are expressed through: 

• freehand sketching, 
• line drawings using equipment including one and two point perspective drawings, 
• 3D computer CAD models with SketchUp and 
• a range of rendering and representation techniques including tone, shading and colour.

A laptop will be useful for using SketchUp to do our 3D computer CAD modelling.

Please click on the tabs below for subject information:

What is Design and Visual Communication

9 DVC Student Workbook Exemplar 2025

9 DVC Topics and activities

Year 9 Design Technology (Resistant Materials) is where ideas take shape and imagination meets making. In this course, students explore how everyday products are designed, created, and improved using materials such as wood, metal, plastics, and composites. 

Aligned with the new draft New Zealand Curriculum, learners develop practical skills alongside creative and critical thinking. They investigate real-world needs, experiment with tools and processes, and learn how design choices impact people, culture, and the environment. From sketching and prototyping to safely using workshop equipment, students are encouraged to test ideas, solve problems, and think like designers and makers—building confidence, curiosity, and capability for the future. 

Year 9 Digital Technologies: Create. Code. Think Smarter.

Curious about how technology is shaping the future? In Year 9 Digital Technologies, you’ll move beyond just using apps and start creating with them—exploring design, coding, data, artificial intelligence, and how digital systems really work.

This hands-on course builds your skills through creative, real-world projects:

• Design Like a Pro: Create bold digital designs using industry tools and develop your own visual style.
• Code: Build interactive projects in Scratch while learning key programming concepts and strengthening your problem-solving skills.
• Explore Artificial Intelligence: Discover how AI works and how it’s used in everyday life, while thinking critically about its impact.
• Tell Stories with Data: Learn to collect, analyse, and present data in clear and creative ways.
• Understand the Digital World: Explore how computers process information and how digital systems shape our lives.
• Work with Operating Systems: Learn how systems manage devices and data, and build practical skills managing files, using secure settings, and keeping your work safe.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong foundation in digital technologies and a portfolio that shows your creativity and thinking.

Create. Code. Think smarter.

That's just the blurb. Click here to really check it out!

Year 9 Digital Visual Arts: Create. Capture. Express.

Ready to ignite your creative spark? Step into the world of Digital Visual Arts (9DVA) and start bringing your ideas to life through design and photography.

This hands-on course lets you explore, experiment, and express yourself through exciting creative projects:

Design:
Create bold, eye-catching visuals through Typography and Logo Design, and Paper Box Character—learning how to make your ideas stand out.

Photography & Image Making:
Explore the art of photography by creating photograms, photography concepts, capturing and editing your own photos for a portfolio and building imaginative digital collage.

You’ll work with industry tools like Affinity Design, used by designers and artists around the world.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a portfolio full of creative work and the skills to express your ideas visually with confidence.

Create. Capture. Express.

https://sites.google.com/view/npghs9dva/home?authuser=0

Drama is an exciting hands on performing art that enables students to step into a role as characters in different times and places, developing students’ confidence, co-operation and performance skills. It suits students who like to learn by doing, who enjoy speaking and acting, telling stories and using their imagination.

Learning Content:

By the end of the course students develop skills to:

• Work co-operatively with others in group and whole class situations including games and improvisation;
• Use voice, body and space to create a storm scene from Shakespeare’s The Tempest;
• Move and speak as a chorus from a play from ancient Greece that is nearly 2,500 years old! 
• Learn physical comedy skills and create a scene for performance in a small group;
• Develop acting skills through rehearsing and performing short plays.

What skills can you learn from Drama?

In Year 9 English, students build confidence and creativity while developing core skills in reading, writing, speaking, and presenting. Throughout the year, they explore a wide variety of texts and learn how language can be used effectively for different audiences and purposes. Students are encouraged to think critically, express their ideas clearly, and enjoy literature in many forms. 

Do you enjoy cooking, being creative, and learning how food products are developed? Food Technology is an exciting hands-on course that combines practical cooking with theory lessons, giving you the opportunity to explore the science and technology behind the food we eat.This two-term course offers the best of both worlds, with weekly cooking sessions alongside classroom activities. Students investigate how raw ingredients are transformed into safe, high-quality food products and learn about the processes involved in designing and developing foods that meet people's needs.

Throughout the course, you will explore:

• Food science – understanding how ingredients work and why foods behave the way they do.
• Product design and innovation – creating and improving food products.
• Food processing techniques – learning how foods are made safely and efficiently.
• Sustainability and ethics – considering the environmental and social impacts of food production.
• Cultural and social influences on food – exploring how food reflects different cultures and lifestyles.

Food Technology is much more than just cooking. It is about understanding food as a designed product and developing practical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities that are valuable for everyday life and future careers in areas such as food science, nutrition, hospitality, product development, and health.If you enjoy being hands-on, working creatively, and cooking every week, Food Technology could be the perfect subject for you!

This course focuses on the health and wellbeing needs specific to Year 9 students. It provides support for their transition to high school and equips them with the skills and knowledge they need in making health enhancing decisions in a range of situations.

Topics covere

Identity 

What makes me me? What makes us us?

Drugs   

Alcohol, vaping, marijuana, caffeine 

- International Definition of Health 

- Influences on health and wellbeing   

- Health Models  

- Culture – A&V’s  

- Belonging  

- Mana – who am I?  

- Respect for diversity. 

- Stereotypes  

- Inequity 

- Bodies (hormones, puberty, fatigue, illness) 

- Emotions 

- Friendships 

- Bullying 

- Cyberbullying 

- School pressures  

- Role models & peer influences 

- Social media  

- Body Image – how this is shaped by self-talk, media, culture. Targeted advertising.  

- Consent, law & bodily autonomy 

- Emotions, values and behaviours 

- Hormonal changes and sexual development 

- Assertive communication 

- Power imbalances & coercion 

- Help & support

- Influences – media portrayal, peer pressure, culture.  

- Consequences  

- Strategies for keeping ourselves safe. 

This course is for students who need development in their reading and writing skills. The class work will support the English programme and also provide further practice with basic English skills. Literacy needs across the curriculum are also explored. The course will be structured to meet individual and class needs. 

The purpose of this course is to provide for students who have the need for additional skills in Literacy. The course is skills-based to support the regular work covered in the Year 9 English Curriculum with a strong focus on basic literacy skills in reading, writing and speaking.

This course is the first year of a comprehensive two-year programme designed to prepare students for senior school Mathematics. All students are expected to make progress at their own level. Students will be offered the chance to enter various Mathematics competitions and other extension opportunities. Calculators and devices are essential for this course. The course covers Phase 4 the new mathematics curriculum.

The learning is differentiated for students with diverse backgrounds and levels. All classes have access to modern online platforms and interactive tasks. Many activities are planned around real-life situations and aim at providing students with confidence in everyday calculations.

Learning Content:

The following strands of the Mathematics curriculum are covered:

• Number;

• Geometry;

• Measurement;

• Algebra;

• Probability

Music is a performing art that provides students with many opportunities for self-expression and assists them to develop to their full potential. Students will work according to their ability. Opportunities to extend skills are offered.

Learning Content:

By the end of the course students will be able to:

Demonstrate basic practical skills on guitar, drums, violin, keyboard and ukulele.

Use musical elements, instruments and technologies to create structured compositions.

Demonstrate knowledge of basic music theory notation.

This course is suitable for students who need support with the foundational concepts of Mathematics. The course will align with the 9MAT course, offering re-enforcement of the concepts required for students to achieve at Phase 4 of the curriculum.

This is a half year course, with 5 timetabled classes over the 10 day teaching cycle.

PE & SPORT SCIENCE WHAKATAUKI: 

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora- Healthy Body Healthy Mind or An active soul is a healthy soul

Our 100% practical course aims to promote physical participation and skill development in a variety of fun and challenging individual and team activities. We participate in a variety of venues including our Stadium, Gymnasium, Fields, Turf Courts, Beach Pit  and Local walkways.  Our well resourced department is staffed by an awesome team of dedicated Physical Education teachers. 

The core units allow participation and skill development and focus on the individual and team activities relating to:

- Outdoor/Indoor Games to develop core coordination skills

- Traditional team sport games involving catching and throwing skills

- Minor games developing tactical awareness and team cooperation skills

- Movement to music

- Adventure based learning

All practical work is linked to the following Health related concepts:

• Physical Activity /  Active Promotion of Movement

• Sport Studies

• Outdoor Education

NOTE: Students are expected to participate in all aspects of this course unless certified as medically unfit to participate in specific forms of physical activity.  Our courses are designed for all levels of Ability, Interest and Fitness. 

In an ever-changing world, an understanding of Science and its implications is essential to developing a rich appreciation and perception of our world. It helps students to clarify ideas, to question and experiment through measurement and observation.

Our new Year 9 course is split into two parts, Physical Science and Biological Science. 

The content covered under the Physical Science umbrella includes matter, chemical reactions, forces and motion and fluids and pressure. 

The content convered under the Biological Science umbrella includes biodiversity, genetics, body systems, plant systems and ecosystems. 

The broad range of topics covered builds a solid foundation for students as they prepare for Year 10 Science and beyond. 

Social Sciences helps students understand the people, places, and events that shape the world they live in. It explores how individuals and communities think, make decisions, and interact with one another across different cultures, times, and locations.

In Year 9 Social Sciences, students build a strong foundation in history, geography, economics, and civics, with a focus on both New Zealand and the wider world. The course encourages curiosity, discussion, and critical thinking, helping students make sense of current events and develop an informed perspective on local and global issues. Students will be encouraged to stay up to date with the news and reflect on how world events connect to their own lives.

The subject is divided into four themes.

HISTORY
Students will explore important events and changes from the past, with a focus on New Zealand between 1840 and 1914, as well as World War I. They will learn how these events have shaped the society we live in today and develop skills in analysing and interpreting historical information.

GEOGRAPHY
Geography helps students understand how people and the environment are connected. Topics include migration, coastal environments, and the challenges faced by growing cities. Students will explore real-world issues and consider possible solutions for a changing planet.

CIVICS AND SOCIETY
This area focuses on how New Zealand’s democracy works and how people can participate in society. Students will learn how laws are made, how rights are protected, and how individuals and groups can make a difference in their communities.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Students will develop practical financial skills and learn how money is earned, spent, and managed. They will also explore how the global economy works and how it impacts everyday life.

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to better understand the world around them and to become thoughtful, informed members of society.

Spanish – Introductory Course (Beginner)

Start your journey into Spanish and learn to communicate in fun, everyday situations! This beginner course is perfect for students who are new to the language and want to build confidence step by step.

You will begin developing your skills in listening, speaking and reading, learning how to understand and use simple Spanish in real-life contexts.

You’ll learn how to:

• ? Introduce yourself and talk about who you are
• ?‍?‍?‍? Describe your family
• ? Talk about food and drink you enjoy

Lessons are interactive and supportive, with plenty of opportunities to practise speaking, work with others, and build confidence.

This course is a great starting point if you’re curious about languages, enjoy learning about new cultures, and want to try something new in a fun and encouraging environment. ¡Vamos! ?

This course is an introduction and exploration of Te Reo Māori. It will give the students an insight into the history of the language and its intricacies.

The aim of this course is:

To develop students' knowledge in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga 

Karakia/ waiata/                                                                                   

To develop students' ability to produce projects on topics such as

Ōku runaruna/  My pastimes

Tōku Ao = My World

Learn how to use a sewing machine and develop skills and knowledge related to materials, sewing techniques and equipment. It is a creative "hands-on" course based on a project approach involving designing concepts and creating purposeful fabric outcomes.eg Tote Bag and a Patchwork Cushion.

LEARNING CONTENT:

• Develop sewing / machining skills;
• Develop knowledge about the structure and composition of textile materials;
• Interpret a given design brief; 
• Develop design ideas; 
• Apply sewing techniques to make a Tote Bag and Patchwork Cushion.

DESIGN AND MAKE A PATCHWORK CUSHION

MAKE A TOTE BAG

YEAR 9 PATCHWORK CUSHION COVERS

Unleash your creativity!

This is your chance to discover, play and express yourself with a range of disciplines and media. This Visual Arts programme sets the foundation for self-belief, creativity, and emotional expression. 

In 9ART you will be supported to develop skills with a variety of media in the selected fields of:

• Painting: express your family pet through drawing and painting, using acrylic paint and experience using AI as a tool to create a reference image for a painting
• Photography: explore through camera less photography and darkroom experimentation of how objects allow light to move through them to play with composition and tone
• Sculpture: discover how to model an organic form using casting plaster and draw inspiration from the artist Stephanie Kilgast to explore themes of under the sea and into the woods.

https://sites.google.com/view/visualartyear9art/home

Have you always had a desire to work with plant and/or animals in your future? Would you like to explore exciting future career opportunities and access scholarships to help fund your pathway? Are you curious about the natural world and keen to explore the science that drives it?  If this sounds like you then choose the Year 10 Animal and Plant Science option and begin an exciting journey into the core of biological understanding. This course introduces you to the anatomy and physiology of plants and animals and the scientific techniques used to explore complex biological questions.

Throughout the programme, you will study a range of engaging and relevant biological concepts. You will explore how animals and plants reproduce, investigate modern developments in genetic modification, and examine how human actions influence ecosystems and biodiversity. You’ll also learn a variety of propagation and cultivation techniques, from traditional horticultural practices to innovative and sustainable methods you can apply at home or in school projects. You will even learn how to create your very own fruit salad tree.

Students will also have the opportunity to gain credits that contribute towards their Level 1 NCEA qualification, giving you an early head start on your senior science learning.

This programme offers a rich blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skill development, providing an excellent foundation for future pathways in agriculture, conservation, biotechnology, veterinary science, and environmental management.

So if you’re interested in animals, plants, ecosystems, and their connection to human biology and the environment, or if you are considering a future working with animals or plants, then Animal and Plant Science is the ideal option subject for you.

If Animals and/or Plants are you thing then this is the course that opens those doors.

Your future starts here and it looks pretty exciting.

Past students who have studied Animal & Plant Science are already making an impact in the real world.  Like Nina who now works in the number 2 winery in New Zealand.  

Career pivot bears fruit for Nina

Nina Downer will always be grateful to her high school teacher Mr Barker. If not for him she wouldn’t be doing the job she loves.

The then 15-year-old had always thought she would become a veterinarian until she realised the job would need her to euthanise animals, something she couldn’t face. So her New Plymouth Girls High School teacher recommended viticulture.

“I had never really seen grapes before, never seen vineyards. So it was something completely new,” the Young Viticulturist of the Year, says. “Now I definitely eat a lot of grapes!

“I wasn’t naïve about animals. My mum said when I first got a pet lamb, it was only maybe day two into the early morning feeding when I asked when I could eat it.

“I still love working with animals, we've got goats and chickens in the vineyards,” the Felton Road Wines supervisor says.

Nina shifted around a lot as a child of dairy farmers who started off share milking in South Taranaki. When they moved to the Wairarapa, she did her last high school year in Masterton – and hasn’t had the opportunity to thank Mr Barker for the career switch, completing her viticulture and oenology degree at Lincoln University.

Nina has won her region’s Young Viticulturist of the Year for the past three years and took out the winner’s title this year.

“I was 22 the first year I did it, I think back to what I knew back then, and how shy and awkward I was with public speaking, and my confidence in myself and what I'm doing now. It's changed so much, it's really pushed me.”

Nina will now compete in the prestigious Young Horticulturist of the Year, a competition involving six horticultural sectors, in Auckland in November.

Nina loves that her role is varied: “Jobs are constantly changing throughout the year, it's quite diverse in what I get to do. And every season is different, with no two days or two seasons the same. We got frost this spring, so that's brought in new challenges this year, and learning opportunities as well. So it keeps me interested.”

As a machinery operator her main duties are cultivating, mulching, mowing, and “lot of spraying and tractor work”.

“When I'm not in the tractor, I'm normally supervising, running a team of people with canopy management that we do throughout the summer, and pruning in the winter. Or we're doing any maintenance with irrigation.”

She marvels at the pace of automation in her industry so early in her career.

“There's been a rapid increase of technology. Covid really amped that up, especially in Marlborough, because they have such a large area and there was the struggle of bringing people into the country. That really pushed along a lot of technology, like the pruning tools, to fill that labour gap.

“If you told me when I first started in viticulture that we'd be spraying with drones I would have found that pretty out there. With any new technology, everyone's a little bit sceptical. I'm sure when the first machine harvesters came in, people probably were shocked.”

One focus for Nina is a replanting project, with the team slowly removing own-rooted vines that are susceptible to the soil infestation Phylloxera, and replanting using grafted vines that are tolerant.

“I get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that I am trying to improve what's there and ensure sustainability, as giving back is really important to me.”

And she loves that Felton Road employs overseas workers who bring a wealth of varied knowledge.

“You meet so many cool and interesting people throughout the year. We've got quite a few people in the vineyard and viticulture wasn’t their first job, and they have different ways of looking at what we do. It can bring new ideas.

“We have a very big contingent from France this year and a couple Germans, a girl from Israel. You get to learn a lot about how they do things differently.”

So on days off, Nina returns the favour, by taking them on runs or hikes around Central Otago, or cooking pot luck dinners. And she is building a group of contacts for when she ventures offshore.

“I am still learning quite a lot at Felton Road, but it is in the long term plans to go overseas and see Europe and Canada.”

Year 10 Business Studies is an introduction to the business world in which we all live and a “taster” for subjects in the senior school. 

The course covers 6 key areas: 

Personal Financial Management – to help understand everyday finances. 

Basic Business Functions - the introduction to basic business setups and structures which employ over 2 million New Zealanders nationally.

Accounting – the study of how we can use financial information to make informed decisions. 

Enterprise – learning and developing entrepreneurial skills through the practice of making a product to take to the market day. This tests your real skills in making money, you keep the profit.

Economics – an introduction to the economy, or the part of a society that creates wealth.

Technology for Success - an employer's course to using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint professionally ready for Year 11 and beyond. Certificates that can be used on your CV (curriculum vitae)!

This course is for students who enjoy movement and want to explore Dance as a subject for NCEA Level 1. The course involves learning and performing a variety of dance genres. You will learn skills to choreograph interesting pieces of work and research the history of different styles.

Year 10 DVC: Design. Visualise. Bring Ideas to Life.

Want to design the world around you? In Year 10 Design and Visual Communication (DVC), you’ll explore how ideas turn into real products and spaces—learning to think and draw like a designer.

You’ll work across two exciting areas:
Product Design – designing the everyday objects we use
Spatial Design – designing buildings and spaces people live and work in

Show your ideas visually:
Learn a range of techniques to communicate your designs with impact:

• Freehand sketching
• Precise technical drawing
• 3D digital modelling using SketchUp
• Rendering with tone, colour, and style

Think like a designer:
Discover influential designers and design movements, and use these ideas to inspire your own projects and creative decisions.

A laptop is essential for creating 3D models, researching ideas, and presenting your work like a professional. (Tablets at not recommended)

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to take an idea and turn it into a detailed, visual design ready to share.

Design. Visualise. Bring ideas to life.

 Click to see a tiny home project.

Please click on the tabs below for subject information:

What is Design and Visual Communication

10 DVC tiny trailer home project

Design Technology(Resistant materials) is our hard materials technology subject and is a subject for students who are curious about materials and who love making things. 

Students engage in technological practice, which encourages risk taking and development of unique outcomes to address a need or opportunity. Ideas are expressed through drawing, modelling and prototyping and are then made in our workshop.

 Students will usually have 3-4 design projects covering small to medium scale products such as wooden treasure boxes, small occasional tables, toys and jewellery made from metal, plastics, bone and other materials. Essential knowledge about tools, equipment, properties of materials and their suitability for their project are taught in a way to encourage confidence and creativity. 

This subject is suitable to all students, especially those interested in creative design and manufacture. 

Year 10 Digital Technologies: Design. Build. Level Up.

Ready to build, create, and explore in the digital world? In Year 10 Digital Technologies, you’ll move from beginner creator to confident designer/developer—building more advanced digital projects. This course is your chance to experiment with exciting digital tools and bring your ideas to life. 

This course pushes your creativity and problem-solving abilities through projects:

Design & Create: Build games, websites, graphics, and 3D models while developing your own style and ideas.
Code & Develop: Strengthen your programming skills to create interactive programs in python and HTML/CSS.
Design for People: Learn how to design user-friendly, accessible interfaces using real UX/UI principles and testing.
Work Like a Pro: Manage projects using industry-style workflows—organising files, using cloud tools.
Stay Smart & Safe: Explore systems, security and networks, and learn to design responsibly with privacy and ethics in mind.

Data & Insights: Discover how data is collected, cleaned, and transformed into visual stories—while learning to spot bias and limitations.

By the end of the year, you’ll have a portfolio of digital outcomes. If you're curious about how technology works, love to create, and are ready to tackle fun challenges, Year 10 Digital Technologies is where you belong.

 Design. Build. Level up.

That's just the blurb. Click here to really check it out!

Has your creative spark been ignited? Grow your digital creativity!

Embrace the dynamic world of 10DVA to grow your digital creativity and express yourself through powerful digital platforms. 

In 10DVA students will invest in four projects that provide tools for the modern world in the fields of:

• Photography
• Design (Digital Portrait or Character)
• Illustration
• Logo/Branding and Stop Motion

You will develop hands on experience with Adobe Creative Suite – 

Photoshop: Image editing and compositing

Illustrator: Vector graphics and logo design and 

These powerful programmes will provide opportunity to listen to ‘design talks’ from people in the community to elevate ideas in digital art making so you can make your mark in the digital world! 

https://sites.google.com/view/10dva/home

This course is for students with an enthusiasm for acting and performing, especially those who enjoyed year 9 Drama and want more! 

In Drama, students gain acting skills by creating and playing a range of characters. 

They create their own dramatic works using conventions such as chorus, duologue, mimed action, slow motion and their imaginations. 

Students in year 10 Drama rehearse and perform a scripted class production for an invited audience in our school hall. 

They learn to work effectively in groups and develop their creativity. Students in this course need to be prepared to perform in front of others and attend some rehearsals and performances out of class time. 

Topics in this course include:

•  improvisation
• devising
• acting skills
• class production
• costume design 
• the study of the 16th century Italian masked theatre form Commedia dell’Arte.

What skills can you learn in Drama

Year 10 English builds on students’ growing skills, preparing them for senior study with a dynamic and engaging programme. Students explore a rich mix of written, oral, and visual texts while developing confidence in their ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and express themselves with clarity and creativity. The course places a strong emphasis on real-world communication, helping students refine the literacy skills they need for success beyond the classroom. 

In year 10 Food Technology students are expected to think and work more like real food technologists — not just making food, but designing, testing, and refining food products using evidence and deeper scientific understanding.

They move from:

• “learning how and why processes work” (Level 9)
  to
•  “applying, analysing, and improving those processes in complex situations” (Level 10)

Year 10 Food Technology is about:

✅ Designing food products for real users
✅ Using food science to guide decisions
✅ Understanding and controlling processing methods
✅ Testing, refining, and improving outcomes
✅ Critically evaluating impacts (social, environmental, cultural)

It’s food innovation and product development, not just cooking 

This course aims to encourage and promote a holistic sense of well-being across a range of health related contexts. The Year 10 Health programme will provide students with information and key skills necessary to maintain health, develop assertiveness and empower students to make positive decisions in a range of situations. The Year 10 Health programme is designed to build on the content covered in Year 9 Health Education.

• Models of Health 
• MHS Five ways to Well-being  
• This is Me
  
  

• Dealing with big emotions  
• Positive v negative self-talk
• Bullying
• Pressures & impact of our life online.
• Diverse abilities

• Reproductive systems  
• Contraception/STI’s
• Consent & relationships  
• Gender diversity  

• Legal v Illegal drugs  
• Drug research project  

This course is for students who need development in their reading and writing skills. The class work will support the English programme and also provide further practice with basic English skills. Literacy needs across the curriculum are also explored. The course will be structured to meet individual and class needs.

The purpose of this course is to provide for students who have the need for additional skills in Literacy. The course is skills-based to support the regular work covered in the Year 10 English Curriculum with a strong focus on basic Literacy skills in reading, writing and speaking.

This course is based on the new Phase 4 of Mathematics in the New Zealand Curriculum. The following topics will be covered: Number, Probability, Statistics, Measurement, Algebraic Processes and Graphs. Students will be expected to incorporate Numeracy Strategies for addition and subtraction, multiplication and division as well as proportional thinking into their mathematical processes. A range of teaching approaches are used including collaborative activities and the use of ICT. Calculators and devices are essential for this course

This course is for students who enjoy listening to and making music. The course involves learning about different musical genres, reading notation, composing, and playing music together and individually. Students are encouraged to learn an instrument in order to gain the most from this course. Music is a great subject to take to learn interpersonal skills, communication skills, and develop a sense of self-expression.

Open Entry. Some L1 credits available for exceptional musicians.

This course is for students who need support to develop their numeracy skills in preparation for the Numeracy CAA. The class work will provide further mathematical practice with basic numeracy skills. The course will be structured to meet individual and class needs. This is a full year course, with 5 lessons per 10 day cycle.

Learning Content:

The purpose of this course is to provide for students who have the need for additional numerical skills. The course has a strong focus on basic numeracy skills in number sense, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and proportional thinking.

PE & SPORT SCIENCE WHAKATAUKI: 

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora- Healthy Body Healthy Mind or An active soul is a healthy soul

The course aims to promote physical participation and skill development in a variety of individual and team activities. The Year 10 Physical Education component is designed to be a continuation of the Year 9 core units - catching, throwing, striking and coordination.  These skills will be developed in both game based and structured practicals.  

The course emphasis is on 100% practical active participation while learning and developing physical skills, enjoying active movement and co-operation utilising the department's extensive sporting resources and environments; Stadium, Old Gym, Small Gymnastic room, Fields, Turf and the Fitness Centre.  

Our close proximity to the Te Henui stream and its wonderful walking/biking tracks provide us with the opportunity to take our classes out of the school grounds and exercise utilising these natural environments.

Science inspires many different ideas; white lab coats, microscopes, an astronomer peering through a telescope, a naturalist in the rainforest, the launch of the space shuttle, and bubbling beakers. While these images reflect some aspects of science, none of them provide the full picture because science has so many facets. This course builds on the skills and knowledge established in Year 9 Science.

Social Science is all about people — how we think, feel, and act — and how this changes across different cultures, times, and places. In this course, you’ll explore real‑world issues that matter right now, looking at how society and the environment are changing and what this means for our future.

What will we explore?

He Tangata, He Whenua
Take a deep dive into the history of Taranaki and discover how local events have shaped people’s lives. From the Treaty of Waitangi and raupatu to land wars, reconciliation, and redress, you’ll explore the past while thinking about how we move forward together.

Future Focus
How do we use the Earth’s resources — and at what cost? You’ll investigate sustainability, climate justice, and the choices people and communities are making to protect the planet for future generations.

Government Decisions
Ever wondered how different governments affect people’s lives? You’ll compare New Zealand’s system with another country such as China or North Korea and analyze how decisions made at the top impact everyday people.

How you’ll be assessed

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

• Recall and explain key ideas
• Use sources and evidence to answer questions
• Complete an inquiry into a chosen environmental justice issue

This will change when the new curriculum is confirmed

Discover a language spoken all over the world and open the door to new cultures, travel, and experiences! This course is a fun and engaging introduction to Spanish, designed to build your confidence and prepare you for NCEA Level 1 Spanish.

You will develop your skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, learning how to communicate in everyday situations while expressing your own ideas.

Explore exciting and relatable topics, including:

• ✈️ Travel and holidays
• ? School life
• ?️ Around town
• ? Food and drink
• ? Fashion and style
• ? Free time and hobbies

As well as learning the language, you’ll discover what life is like in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, from traditions and food to music and culture.

Lessons are interactive and enjoyable, with opportunities to work with others, practise speaking, and build confidence in a supportive environment.

If you enjoy creative learning, discovering new cultures, and want a subject that connects you to the wider world, Spanish is a great choice! 

PE & SPORT SCIENCE WHAKATAUKI: 

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora- Healthy Body Healthy Mind or An active soul is a healthy soul

This course is designed for students who enjoy their own chosen sport or those just wanting to participate in physical activity and want further opportunities for active sport practicals. Students will have the opportunity to develop and work on their own training program (Individual training) and study the theory of exercising and training for improved performance. Students will also study Anatomy, Sport Nutrition, Injuries, Training Methods to Improve Performance,  Fitness Centre Workout Programmes and Sport Psychology.  

Students who are interested in this subject but are not looking to carry on in Sport Science in Level 1 (Year 11) are welcome to take this course.

Throughout the year you also visit:  Aquatic Centre for an Aqua Jog workout, Bowlarama, Boxfit Club, Mega Bounce session, Community Sport Event, bring equipment from home relating to a 'Wheels' theme  ie: Skateboard/Scooter/Rollerskate or Bike for a practical action session on the foreshore.  

We offer 5 spells of 10 Sport Education classes over the 10 Day timetable (Students spend 1 spell in a Theory classroom based lesson, 2 Spells doing Individual Training and 2 Spells of game based practicals)

NB: We offer a chance for our sport students to get extra training time in their selected codes or students who do not train specifically for a sport can utilise time to workout in the fitness centre or enhance selected health based or skill based techniques of their choice or a teacher designed programme.  

This course is now closed - to go on wait list please apply for an exemption. 

This course develops the skills and language acquired in Year 9 and lays a foundation for study at Level 1. Students will further develop the five skills of listening, reading, writing, speech making and, holding conversations. You will learn more about Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga. The topics studied include: 

Family Connections, 

Around Town, 

Food and Drink, 

Sport and Pastimes.

Students will develop skills and knowledge related to textile materials, sewing techniques, equipment and the design process. This course of study is based on a project approach and involves students using testing and trialling to develop purposeful and sustainable outcomes to a given brief. Students are taught about the structure, composition and performance properties of natural and man-made textile materials.

Students will be given an opportunity to complete four projects: 

1  Sewing Bag - Develop and apply sewing techniques eg seams, seam finishes, drawstring casing and machine embroidery to create a drawstring bag for storing sewing projectsMAKE PYJAMA PANTS

2 Pyjama Pants - Apply knowledge and skills to make a custom pair of Pyjama Pants.

3 Express Yourself - Follow the design process to create a Sweatshirt with an Applied Design 

4 Carry On - Repurpose materials to make a sustainable bag with seams, darts, tucks, edgestitching, lining, interfacing.

SWEATSHIRT WITH SCREEN PRINT APPLIED DESIGN

SWEATSHIRT WITH EMBROIDERED APPLIED DESIGN

CARRY BAG MADE FROM REPURPOSED MATERIALS

Want to celebrate your Creativity & Culture?

Embark on an exciting journey of creative exploration, developing foundational skills across a range of artistic disciplines including Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Art History. This course is designed to ferment both technical knowledge and personal expression, encouraging you to discover their unique artistic voice.

Throughout the year, you will explore diverse subject matter such as:

• portraits and the art of capturing identity
• landscapes inspired by natural and imagined environments
• cultural patterns and Aotearoa, New Zealand icons and symbols
• the vibrant world of flora and fauna
• the expressive and symbolic work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo

You will learn to work with a variety of materials and techniques, gaining confidence in visual storytelling and creative problem-solving. You will also engage with the work of artists from Aotearoa and around the world, building an understanding of how art reflects and shapes cultural perspectives.

The course culminates in the opportunity to exhibit selected artworks in our Student Exhibition at a local gallery, celebrating student creativity within the wider community.

This programme is perfect for students who love to make, imagine, and express—and who are ready to take their first steps into the exciting world of visual arts.

http://sites.google.com/view/npghsyear10visualarts/home

Design Technology is a practical subject in which students follow design briefs to develop and make a practical outcomes. The focus is on designing and making, using tools, materials and processes. The concept of Tikanga will be explored through process, materials and ideas. Ideas will be developed through drawing and modelling before being made. Investigation of designers, makers and products develops an understanding of the importance of manaaki whenua (care of the land) and manaaki tangata (people). Auahatanga (innovation) skills will be integrated into technological practice as students design and make their product. There will be a choice of contexts offered which include: wooden furniture, storage items and jewellery. 

Year 11 Animal and Plant Science is designed for students who are keen to explore how science is used in the real world to grow healthy plants and animals in Aotearoa New Zealand. Throughout the year, students will gain hands-on experience investigating primary production systems and the biological processes that support them, earning 21 Level 1 NCEA credits as they learn.

Students will explore how essential life processes, such as photosynthesis, nutrition, and reproduction, are managed on farms, orchards, and other primary production systems to improve productivity and animal or plant health. They will investigate why different regions of New Zealand produce different foods and fibre, looking at how climate, soils, market demand, and cultural values influence the purpose and location of primary industries across the country.

Building a strong foundation in soil science, students will learn how physical, chemical, and biological soil properties are managed to provide the best growing conditions for plants. Students will also study the roles microorganisms play in farming and food production systems, examining how environmental factors influence their growth and how microorganisms in turn affect their surroundings.

You’ll discover how microorganisms such as helpful gut microbes and harmful disease-causing pathogens interact with their environment and affect the health of humans and animals. You’ll learn how factors like food, hygiene, temperature, and medicine influence microbial growth, giving you valuable insight into digestion, immunity, and the spread and prevention of disease — knowledge that links directly to future pathways in health, veterinary care, and biotechnology.

This course blends practical investigation with scientific knowledge and critical thinking, connecting learning to real agricultural and horticultural contexts. It supports pathways into senior Agricultural and Horticultural Science, Biology, and other science-based subjects. It also opens future opportunities toward exciting tertiary study and careers in agriculture, animal science, veterinary fields, biotechnology, environmental science, and the wider food and fibre industries.

If you enjoy learning through real-life applications, care about how we feed a growing population, or have an interest in working with plants, animals, or the environment, then Year 11 Animal and Plant Science is an excellent choice for you.

Past students who have studied Animal & Plant Science are already making an impact in the real world.  Like Nina who now works in the number 2 winery in New Zealand.  

Career pivot bears fruit for Nina

Nina Downer will always be grateful to her high school teacher Mr Barker. If not for him she wouldn’t be doing the job she loves.

The then 15-year-old had always thought she would become a veterinarian until she realised the job would need her to euthanise animals, something she couldn’t face. So her New Plymouth Girls High School teacher recommended viticulture.

“I had never really seen grapes before, never seen vineyards. So it was something completely new,” the Young Viticulturist of the Year, says. “Now I definitely eat a lot of grapes!

“I wasn’t naïve about animals. My mum said when I first got a pet lamb, it was only maybe day two into the early morning feeding when I asked when I could eat it.

“I still love working with animals, we've got goats and chickens in the vineyards,” the Felton Road Wines supervisor says.

Nina shifted around a lot as a child of dairy farmers who started off share milking in South Taranaki. When they moved to the Wairarapa, she did her last high school year in Masterton – and hasn’t had the opportunity to thank Mr Barker for the career switch, completing her viticulture and oenology degree at Lincoln University.

Nina has won her region’s Young Viticulturist of the Year for the past three years and took out the winner’s title this year.

“I was 22 the first year I did it, I think back to what I knew back then, and how shy and awkward I was with public speaking, and my confidence in myself and what I'm doing now. It's changed so much, it's really pushed me.”

Nina will now compete in the prestigious Young Horticulturist of the Year, a competition involving six horticultural sectors, in Auckland in November.

Nina loves that her role is varied: “Jobs are constantly changing throughout the year, it's quite diverse in what I get to do. And every season is different, with no two days or two seasons the same. We got frost this spring, so that's brought in new challenges this year, and learning opportunities as well. So it keeps me interested.”

As a machinery operator her main duties are cultivating, mulching, mowing, and “lot of spraying and tractor work”.

“When I'm not in the tractor, I'm normally supervising, running a team of people with canopy management that we do throughout the summer, and pruning in the winter. Or we're doing any maintenance with irrigation.”

She marvels at the pace of automation in her industry so early in her career.

“There's been a rapid increase of technology. Covid really amped that up, especially in Marlborough, because they have such a large area and there was the struggle of bringing people into the country. That really pushed along a lot of technology, like the pruning tools, to fill that labour gap.

“If you told me when I first started in viticulture that we'd be spraying with drones I would have found that pretty out there. With any new technology, everyone's a little bit sceptical. I'm sure when the first machine harvesters came in, people probably were shocked.”

One focus for Nina is a replanting project, with the team slowly removing own-rooted vines that are susceptible to the soil infestation Phylloxera, and replanting using grafted vines that are tolerant.

“I get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that I am trying to improve what's there and ensure sustainability, as giving back is really important to me.”

And she loves that Felton Road employs overseas workers who bring a wealth of varied knowledge.

“You meet so many cool and interesting people throughout the year. We've got quite a few people in the vineyard and viticulture wasn’t their first job, and they have different ways of looking at what we do. It can bring new ideas.

“We have a very big contingent from France this year and a couple Germans, a girl from Israel. You get to learn a lot about how they do things differently.”

So on days off, Nina returns the favour, by taking them on runs or hikes around Central Otago, or cooking pot luck dinners. And she is building a group of contacts for when she ventures offshore.

“I am still learning quite a lot at Felton Road, but it is in the long term plans to go overseas and see Europe and Canada.”

The focus upon decision making in organizations is where ākonga develop the skills required in the real world. The ability to consider, select and justify organizational options is a key element of the course.

Commerce is a balanced course which allows ākonga with both academic and vocational skills to succeed. Ākonga apply their learning in a challenging and business-like way which gives them an experience which can be taken into their future careers. 

Commerce is a key subject for those who wish to go onto study BACE subjects, Business Studies, Accounting, eConomics or Enterprise in Year 12 or 13.

This course is for students who enjoy movement and want to learn skills to create interesting and effective pieces of choreography. The course involves learning and choreographing movement sequences using a variety of genres. Students will learn about the Elements of dance and are required to study a dance genre and understand its development. 

Design and Visual Communication (DVC) is about drawing and communicating the design of our three-dimensional world, through products we use and spaces we occupy.

Design thinking encompasses the ideation, exploration, progression, and communication of design ideas. These are in response to both te ao Māori and other design heritage influences which are shown in the students own project work. 

Within DVC our design focus consists of three-dimensional product design and spatial design (architecture).

Product design focuses on the development of tangible items that have a specific function and use within people's everyday lives. 

Spatial design is about the designing of three-dimensional spaces in terms of how they are experienced, occupied, or used by people. This incorporates concepts from architecture and interior design.

Visual communication addresses how design ideas and outcomes are appropriately presented to the viewer. Design ideas and outcomes are expressed through: 

• freehand sketching, 
• line drawings, 
• computer CAD models and 
• a range of rendering and representation techniques including tone, texture and colour.

A laptop is essential for using SketchUp to do 3D computer CAD modelling, along with composing and presenting research and visual information. The school will supply the students with the Pro version of SketchUp to generate and communicate 2D and 3D CAD drawings, models and page layout composition which are incorporated into their project assessments.

Please click on the tabs below for subject information:

What is Design and Visual Communication

Outdoor Seating Design Project

Cabin Design Project

Cabin CAD Working Drawings

1 Digital Technologies: Build. Code. Create.

Ready to go beyond using tech and start creating it? In Level 1 Digital Technologies, you’ll build the skills to design, plan, and develop your own digital outcomes like a real developer. This course is about the full process—taking an idea from concept through planning, creation, testing, and refinement into something that works.

Create real projects:

Code with Python: Build a functional program and see your ideas come alive through effective code. (Internally assessed)
Build a Website: Design and develop your own website from scratch, then bring it to life by publishing it online using GitHub Pages. (Internally assessed)

Design for the real world:
Design a website for a specific purpose and audience, using Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) principles to guide your decisions. This design work connects directly to your website project and is assessed in the end-of-year exam, alongside your understanding of HCI. (External assessment)

We keep things current, so projects may evolve with new technologies and trends—meaning what you learn is always relevant and future-focused.

By the end of the course, you won’t just understand digital technologies—you’ll have planned, built, and published your own digital creations.

Build. Code. Create.

That's just the blurb. Click here to really check it out!

Learn skills that will ignite your digital creativity!

Launching into 1DVA will provide a foundation for those interested in Photography, 2D Graphic Design OR Character Illustration. Grow an understanding of Design principles and experience the photographic medium to develop images that you can communicate with.

In 1DVA you will be supported to learn Design through either:

Graphic Design: typography and logo design, double page spread and poster design 

OR

Character Illustration: typography and logo design, character design, graphic novel and novel cover. 

Students will develop a range of skills using the Adobe Creative Suite software – Photoshop, Illustrator and digital drawing software.

Level 1 Drama is a full NCEA course. 

Drama is the expression of ideas, feelings and experience on stage. Students explore a range of characters and stories in their performance work and have the opportunity to see live and recorded theatre. Students also participate in a class production. 

Drama develops self-confidence, creativity and discipline, complimenting learning in English, Social Studies and History, Health, and other Visual and Performing arts.

In this practical course, students develop their acting and performance skills through playing a role from a script, exploring Theatre Aotearoa, devising their own drama in a group and the study of a live theatre performance. Students will be expected to attend some rehearsals and performances out of class time.

Year 11 English is designed to help students grow as confident communicators and critical thinkers. Across the year, students explore a range of texts, practise different styles of writing, and develop the skills needed for NCEA Level 1 success. 

This course involves the study of food and eating patterns that reflect health-enhancing attitudes towards nutrition for New Zealanders. Students look at how food influences and effects wellbeing, decision making, Strategies and influences. Safe food handling practices and strategies in the preparation and storage of food for individuals and the community will be reinforced through practical work. Students can only take 1FNT or 1HEA, you cannot take both. 

Students will work towards achieving NCEA Level 1 credits in French through their development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The course will cover topics such as: Health, Leisure Activities, Holidays, Travel and My Town.   Please note that this course may be taught through Te Kura, the correspondence school, in which case the subject overview and assessments will be as per the course offered by Te Kura. 

Geography remains a dynamic and relevant subject as people come to terms with the changes within our planet and how this impacts people now and in the future.

Get ready to explore the world! 

The course kicks off by building essential visual skills that help students clearly present and explain different environments. Through hands-on exploration, students will investigate our local school climate and nearby river systems, bringing geography to life through real-world examples. 

Students will dive into the fascinating stories of world cities — including the one they dream of visiting most. They'll uncover how these cities grew, why people flock to them to live and travel, and the powerful ways they shape lives and the environment.  

In addition, students study how volcanic processes create our maunga (Taranaki) and how natural and cultural process interact to have an impact on the sustainability of our awa (rivers) in the region. 

Finally, students will be able to explore different current case studies (including coral reefs and climate change) on how Geography is in the news and relevant for their future careers and ultimately, the future of our planet.

Geography helps support a variety of careers from Science to Humanities, including earth science, marine biology, environmental studies, international studies, cultural/indigenous studies, law, business and commerce, tourism and urban planning and design. 

Through Health Studies, students can learn about how actions can enhance hauora, as well as exploring ways to manage change situations that impact it. They learn that hauora is more than a matter of personal choice and individual responsibility and explore the impact of health issues not only for themselves, but for interpersonal relationships, whānau and their communities. This learning helps ākonga develop strategies to strengthen their sense of identity and self-worth, and foster healthy relationships. Students can only take 1HEA or 1FNT, you cannot take both.

History examines the past to understand the present. Taking history means becoming a detective of the past. You'll learn to analyse evidence, question sources, and construct compelling arguments – skills essential for any career path.

Discover how events unfold, why people make the choices they do, and develop your own informed opinions about the world around you. History empowers you to think critically and communicate effectively. 

The skills that are developed during this course are invaluable in any future study and career choices such as law, journalism, international relations and criminology. 

Topics studied include Black Civil Rights in the USA, Hitler’s rise to power and the fight for independence in Vietnam.

This practical-based course introduces students to the world of Hospitality through innovation, creativity, and the aesthetic presentation of food for the hospitality industry and beyond. Students will work towards achieving a range of Unit Standards while developing the knowledge and skills required in a professional kitchen environment.Throughout the course, students will learn and practise industry-standard food safety, hygiene, and kitchen procedures, as well as techniques for preparing and presenting food to a high standard. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, organisation, safe work practices, and creating visually appealing dishes. This course provides an excellent foundation for further study in Hospitality and pathways into the food and service industries. 

This course encompasses the new Mathematics & Statistics learning matrices. It covers logical thinking skills and mathematical methods and will equip students with a variety of strategies for investigating real life situations and solving problems. It provides a solid base for the study of Mathematics and Statistics at Level 2 and beyond. Topics include Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability. 

This course is about applying music skills in the contexts of performance, composition, and analysis. Reading music notation is an important aspect of the course. Learning an instrument or singing is essential and can be undertaken through itinerant music lessons at school or privately. Each student will be assessed in approximately 20 credits from the menu of standards available.

Our Level 1 Science course is a fantastic introduction to our senior science subjects. We cover the fundamentals of chemistry, biology and physics building upon the content covered in our junior science programme. The course challenges students to think for themselves and shape their own opinions based on their observations, investigations and discussions of ideas. Studying science opens so many doors to both career pathways, problem solving and opportunities beyond the classroom.

Social Studies is all about people — who we are, what we believe, and how we shape the world around us. In this course, you’ll explore different societies, cultures, and ideas about human rights, while discovering how these change over time and across different places.

Rather than just learning from textbooks, you’ll investigate real-world issues that are happening right now in Aotearoa and around the world. Through a range of case studies, you’ll look closely at current events and explore why they matter.

Social Studies is not just about understanding change — it’s about being part of it. You’ll have the opportunity to take action on an issue that matters to you, planning and carrying out a social action that challenges or supports systems in society.

This subject is highly relevant to everyday life and encourages you to think critically, consider different perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of how the world works — and how you can make a difference in it.

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop foundational skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in Spanish, working towards NCEA Level 1 credits.

Students will explore a range of relevant and engaging topics, including:

• ?️ Holidays and travel
• ? Leisure activities
• ? Health and wellbeing
• ?️ My town and daily life

The class environment is supportive and collaborative, with a relaxed atmosphere that encourages participation and confidence-building. Learning activities are often interactive and student-led, fostering independence and personal responsibility for progress.

As this class may be combined with Level 2 and 3 students, learners are expected to demonstrate good independent learning skills. The mixed-level setting provides a positive learning environment where level 2 and 3 students support and mentor the level 1 students, promoting strong relationships and a sense of community.

This course is well suited to students who are motivated, curious about other cultures, and willing to engage actively in their learning.

PE & SPORT SCIENCE WHAKATAUKI: 

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora- Healthy Body Healthy Mind or An active soul is a healthy soul

This is a great base course to start our Senior Sport Science students pathway in NCEA Physical Education.  It covers all the important theoretical and practical aspects of Sport Science and Physical Education required to gain  full Level 1 PE credits that  go towards our students NCEA qualifications.  

Students who are interested in this subject but are not looking to carry on in Sport Science in Level 2 or 3 are welcome to take this course aswell.

It consists of many challenging and interesting practical topics relating to Sport and Physical activity. The theory topics covered include: Anatomy, Biomechanics, Sport Studies,  Te Whare Tapa Wha Hauora concepts,  Fitness Studies and Skill Analysis. These are taught in both a practical and classroom setting.  

Please note this is not a 100% practical course and classroom based theory is a component of the course.

We offer 20 Level 1 Physical Education Credits (10 Internal and 10 External).  These are full NCEA Credits to go towards your Level 1 Certificate. 

Note: Students who did not take Year 10 Sport are still able to take this course and will not be disadvantaged. 

This course offers students an opportunity to experience the different aspects of Māori Performing Arts in areas such as haka, poi, waiata-ā-ringa, and Pōwhiri. The course offers theory and practical work and is supportive of Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga.

This course is now closed - to go on wait list please apply for an exemption. 

Students will work towards achieving NCEA Level 1 credits in Te Reo Māori through their development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The course will cover: Formal greetings, Identifying language concepts particular to Māori. Achievement.

YEAR 11 IDENTITY PROJECT

YEAR 11 STORAGE PROJECT

YEAR 11 IDENTITY PROJECT 

Students will develop knowledge and skills in using fabric/materials, sewing techniques and processes to develop outcomes that are fit for purpose. 

The course of study is based on a project approach involving research, designing, testing, making, and evaluating using textiles materials. 

Students will develop and demonstrate an understanding of the value of Kaitiakitanga by considering sustainability when selecting and using textile materials.

Students will undertake 3 units of work:

Unit One:  Experimenting with Materials

Unit Two: Storage

Unit Three:  Identity

Whakapapa through Art

This is your chance to explore and discover your whakapapa and genealogy and express it through art making. You will explore and express the rich connections between your personal cultural identity and the collective culture of our Kura, School. Through hands-on artmaking, develop your foundational skills in visual arts by experimenting with a variety of techniques inspired by established and emerging artists from Aotearoa, New Zealand.

In 1ART you will be encouraged to draw from your own experiences, cultural backgrounds, and significant symbols to create meaningful artworks. Emphasis will be placed on storytelling through visual language, fostering a deeper understanding of self and community.

Throughout the course, your will be supported to embark on exciting projects to:

• Learn and apply specific art-making techniques
• Investigate and respond to the work of Aotearoa-based artists
• Develop a personal visual language using symbolism and cultural motifs
• Create a body of work that reflects your identity and values

The course culminates in the opportunity to exhibit selected works in our annual Taranaki Schools Exhibition (Student Exhibition) at a local gallery, celebrating student creativity within the wider community.

https://sites.google.com/view/npghslevel1visualarts/home

This is a compulsory subject for all Year 11 students. Students who have passed the CAA tests prior to entering Year 11 will not be required to take this subject and student's first reserve option will take the place of this subject.

Core Generic Skills. This course runs for four hours per timetable cycle (10 days) in conjunction with 1LCR and 1NCR.  The aim is to support students in gaining additional credits towards their Level 1 NCEA qualification by completing a selection of Unit Standards. Topics include: Keeping ourselves safe, Workplace, Financial literacy.

Numeracy. This course runs for four hours per timetable cycle (10 days) in conjunction with 1CGS and 1LCR. The aim is to develop students’ mathematics and statistics skills to ensure they are ready to sit the Co-requisite Numeracy test.

Literacy. This course runs for four hours per timetable cycle (10 days) in conjunction with 1CGS and 1NCR. The aim is to develop students’ reading and writing skills to ensure they are ready to sit the Co-requisite Literacy tests in Reading and Writing. Students will also develop research, interviewing and listening skills and complete Unit Standards.

Students will have two opportunities to sit the CAA tests: Term 2 and Term 4.

This course offers students an opportunity to experience the different aspects of Māori Performing Arts in areas such as haka, poi, waiata-ā-ringa, and Pōwhiri. The course offers theory and practical work and is supportive of Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga.

Design Technology(Resistant Materials)  focuses on designing and making products using materials that are hard, durable, and require tools or machines to shape—such as wood, metals, plastics, and composites.

At this level, students go beyond basic making skills and begin to:

• Design with purpose – creating solutions to real-world problems using a structured design process
• Work with resistant materials – safely using hand tools and machinery to cut, shape, join, and finish materials like timber and metal
• Understand materials and their properties – learning why certain materials are chosen for strength, durability, sustainability, or appearance
• Develop practical skills – producing high-quality, functional products (e.g., furniture, hardware items, or engineered objects)
• Evaluate and improve – testing their ideas and refining designs to better meet user needs

Students are also encouraged to think about innovation, sustainability, and real-world applications, preparing them for careers in trades, engineering, product design, or manufacturing.

Resistant Materials Technology is about combining creative thinking with practical skills to design and build strong, functional products using real materials and tools.

 There will be a choice of contexts offered including furniture, storage and jewellery. 

Accounting is often described as the language of business—a vital skill that influences the decisions of individuals, organisations, and entire economies. Choosing Accounting at Level 2 provides students with a strong foundation in financial understanding, making it an excellent pathway for anyone considering further study in Commerce at tertiary level.

This course brings accounting to life through a strong focus on real-world application. Students explore how actual businesses operate, learning how they manage finances, maintain internal controls, and make informed decisions. A key feature of the course is the opportunity to work with accounting software, allowing students to process transactions and experience how modern businesses handle their financial data.

Throughout the year, students develop practical and analytical skills by working through a range of internally assessed standards. These include:

• Understanding core accounting concepts and how businesses use them in practice
• Processing financial information using accounting software
• Preparing financial reports for entities with accounting systems
• Exploring real business subsystems such as accounts receivable and inventory management

By the end of the course, students will not only understand how businesses track and manage their finances, but also how to interpret this information to support effective decision-making.

Level 2 Accounting offers more than just theory—it provides valuable, transferable skills that will benefit students in further study, careers in business, and everyday financial life.

Level 2 Animal and Plant Science builds on your knowledge of New Zealand’s food and fibre industries by exploring how science drives modern production systems. Throughout the year you will gain real-world experience investigating how plants and animals grow, how they respond to their environment, and how farmers and growers use science-based techniques to increase productivity, improve welfare, and protect the environment. This programme supports a wide range of future pathways into agricultural science, horticulture, environmental studies, animal health and behaviour, and biotechnology-related careers.

Students will complete an extended practical investigation where they design and carry out a scientific study in a real production context, collecting primary data over time to reach valid conclusions about growth and production. This investigation includes exciting food production context of fermentation and brewing beer, where students can study yeast growth, fermentation rates, and environmental factors that affect the brewing process, and even take home their finished product if they choose.

They will deepen their understanding of how physical environmental factors such as temperature, light, frost, wind, and water are managed using specialised techniques to optimise plant growth and crop yield in New Zealand’s commercial production systems. 

Students will also examine how management practices influence livestock growth and development, linking nutrition, breeding, health, welfare, and farm systems to the quality and quantity of food and fibre produced.  Alongside this, they will explore how livestock behaviour and responses to stress, handling, and the environment to inform modern, ethical, and safe management practices in New Zealand, ensuring high standards of animal welfare and efficient farm operations.

Students will also get to choose either a plants or animals option. If they are wanting to focus on plants they can explore how management practices influence plant growth and development in New Zealand’s commercial horticultural systems. They will learn how growers use techniques such as pruning, irrigation, crop training, and nutrient management to maximise yield, improve quality, and meet market requirements, while investigating the science behind how plants respond to these actions.

For those who want an animal focus, students will investigate livestock reproductive techniques used in commercial farming, such as artificial insemination, sire selection, embryo transfer, scanning, and hormone control. They will learn how these techniques support improved fertility, genetics, timing, and economic success within modern livestock production.

This course is an ideal choice for students who enjoy applied science and hands-on learning, especially those considering future work or study in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary nursing, animal science, environmental management, food technology, fermentation sciences, or biotechnology. It develops scientific inquiry skills, data literacy, laboratory techniques, and real-world biological understanding. Knowledge that is directly valuable to New Zealand’s largest and most innovative industry.

Past students who have studied Animal & Plant Science are already making an impact in the real world.  Like Nina who now works in the number 2 winery in New Zealand.  

Career pivot bears fruit for Nina

Nina Downer will always be grateful to her high school teacher Mr Barker. If not for him she wouldn’t be doing the job she loves.

The then 15-year-old had always thought she would become a veterinarian until she realised the job would need her to euthanise animals, something she couldn’t face. So her New Plymouth Girls High School teacher recommended viticulture.

“I had never really seen grapes before, never seen vineyards. So it was something completely new,” the Young Viticulturist of the Year, says. “Now I definitely eat a lot of grapes!

“I wasn’t naïve about animals. My mum said when I first got a pet lamb, it was only maybe day two into the early morning feeding when I asked when I could eat it.

“I still love working with animals, we've got goats and chickens in the vineyards,” the Felton Road Wines supervisor says.

Nina shifted around a lot as a child of dairy farmers who started off share milking in South Taranaki. When they moved to the Wairarapa, she did her last high school year in Masterton – and hasn’t had the opportunity to thank Mr Barker for the career switch, completing her viticulture and oenology degree at Lincoln University.

Nina has won her region’s Young Viticulturist of the Year for the past three years and took out the winner’s title this year.

“I was 22 the first year I did it, I think back to what I knew back then, and how shy and awkward I was with public speaking, and my confidence in myself and what I'm doing now. It's changed so much, it's really pushed me.”

Nina will now compete in the prestigious Young Horticulturist of the Year, a competition involving six horticultural sectors, in Auckland in November.

Nina loves that her role is varied: “Jobs are constantly changing throughout the year, it's quite diverse in what I get to do. And every season is different, with no two days or two seasons the same. We got frost this spring, so that's brought in new challenges this year, and learning opportunities as well. So it keeps me interested.”

As a machinery operator her main duties are cultivating, mulching, mowing, and “lot of spraying and tractor work”.

“When I'm not in the tractor, I'm normally supervising, running a team of people with canopy management that we do throughout the summer, and pruning in the winter. Or we're doing any maintenance with irrigation.”

She marvels at the pace of automation in her industry so early in her career.

“There's been a rapid increase of technology. Covid really amped that up, especially in Marlborough, because they have such a large area and there was the struggle of bringing people into the country. That really pushed along a lot of technology, like the pruning tools, to fill that labour gap.

“If you told me when I first started in viticulture that we'd be spraying with drones I would have found that pretty out there. With any new technology, everyone's a little bit sceptical. I'm sure when the first machine harvesters came in, people probably were shocked.”

One focus for Nina is a replanting project, with the team slowly removing own-rooted vines that are susceptible to the soil infestation Phylloxera, and replanting using grafted vines that are tolerant.

“I get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that I am trying to improve what's there and ensure sustainability, as giving back is really important to me.”

And she loves that Felton Road employs overseas workers who bring a wealth of varied knowledge.

“You meet so many cool and interesting people throughout the year. We've got quite a few people in the vineyard and viticulture wasn’t their first job, and they have different ways of looking at what we do. It can bring new ideas.

“We have a very big contingent from France this year and a couple Germans, a girl from Israel. You get to learn a lot about how they do things differently.”

So on days off, Nina returns the favour, by taking them on runs or hikes around Central Otago, or cooking pot luck dinners. And she is building a group of contacts for when she ventures offshore.

“I am still learning quite a lot at Felton Road, but it is in the long term plans to go overseas and see Europe and Canada.”

Design your world!

This is your chance to be curious about the world of design and express yourself through powerful digital platforms!

This programme expands your understanding of design practice, whether it is in Graphic Design or Character Illustration. You will select one of those design areas that excites you to learn and develop skills in specific software to design a series of briefs. 

Design making will be either be:

• 2D Graphic Design: typography, logo, double page spread, poster/book cover, website/social media content OR 
• Character Illustration: graphic novel, character and poster design 

Communicating ideas will be taught using a range of media to apply hand drawn and digital outcomes using the Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop and Illustrator and digital drawing software.

Let your imagination go wild!

French Art Unveiled: From Rococo Grace to Revolutionary Grit!

Step into the heart of 19th-century France, a time of revolution, innovation, and radical artistic change. You will explore the extraordinary creativity of French artists as they responded to a rapidly changing world. From the grandeur of Neo-Classicism to the emotional intensity of Romanticism, the gritty realism of Realism, and the luminous breakthroughs of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, this course traces the bold steps that led art toward modernism.

Students will investigate how major historical events—such as the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution—shaped the ideas, techniques, and themes of the time. Through the study of key artworks and influential artists, students will develop skills in visual analysis, critical thinking, and historical interpretation.

By the end of the course, students will:

• understand the social, political, and technological forces that influenced 19th-century French art.
• analyse and interpret artworks using art historical language and frameworks.
• explore how artists challenged tradition and paved the way for modern art movements.

Whether you're passionate about history, fascinated by visual culture, or curious about how art reflects and shapes society, this course offers a rich and inspiring journey through one of the most transformative periods in art history.

Biology is the study of living things and how they interact with each other and the environment. Ākonga learn about biological concepts at the organism, cellular, and molecular levels. This knowledge is backed up with internal assessments on ecology, practical investigation skills, and research skills. Through this subject, ākonga develop scientific skills and learn how to understand and analyse scientific information. Biology helps students better understand themselves and the world around them, and it is useful for many careers. This course is designed for students who have an interest in science and the living world and are considering tertiary study and a career within the Biological Sciences. Level 2 Biology is an academic course with the focus being on the three external achievement standards. The concepts taught in this course are fundamental and are a key requirement for university studies in the sciences.

Business Studies is available to students who are interested in the experience of starting and running their own business or have an interest in the world of business. 

It has an operational business focus and requires a commitment to being part of a Young Enterprise team to set up and run a business enterprise. All businesses take part in the Taranaki and National YES (Young Enterprise Scheme) Competition. 

Three internal assessments are intertwined into the course and run parallel with the business activities in addition to an external examination to allow for an endorsement for the subject. There are additional L2 Unit Standards which are optional for students to choose should they want additional credits.

Successful students are encouraged to continue onto Level 3 Business Studies, which gains University Entry accreditation, to continue their experience in developing and mastering their business skills alongside the YES program.

Learning in Chemistry is fundamental to understanding the world in which we live and work. Chemistry is the “central science” which overlaps with both Biology and Physics, so is an ideal subject to combine with either of these. This course is designed for any student who has an interest in Science and intends to continue to tertiary study. Level 2 Chemistry is an academic course with the focus being on the three external achievement standards. 

In Level 2 Classical Studies we study events, literature, art, politics, people and ideas of ancient Greece. We examine the way these were significant and the way they influence our world today. Classical Studies provides students studying humanities and STEM subjects with the literacy, research and analytical skills required at tertiary level. Transferable skills necessary to function effectively in the 21st Century are also learned. The broad-ranging nature of Classical Studies makes it relevant to a wide and varied range of careers.  

Students complete both internals and select two of the three external standards to sit. 

This course is for students who enjoy movement and want to learn skills to create interesting and effective pieces of choreography. The course involves learning and choreographing different dance sequences. This will include solos and group performances.

Students are required to view, interpret and respond to a dance performance. 

Design and Visual Communication (DVC) is about communicating the design of our three-dimensional world, through products we use and spaces we occupy.

Design thinking encompasses the ideation, exploration, progression, and communication of design ideas.

Within Design and Visual Communication, design consists of three-dimensional product design and spatial design.

    Product design focuses on the development of tangible items that have a specific function and use within people's everyday lives. 

    Spatial design is about the designing of three-dimensional spaces in terms of how they are experienced, occupied, or used by people. This incorporates concepts from architecture and interior design.

Visual communication addresses how design ideas and outcomes are appropriately presented to the viewer. Design ideas and outcomes are expressed through freehand sketching, line drawings, computer CAD models and a range of rendering and representation techniques including tone and colour.

A laptop is essential for using SketchUp to do our 3D computer CAD modelling. An expectation of the course is that students will be gaining skills in the use of SketchUp to assist in the generation of design ideas and Layout to compose their portfolios. 2D CAD working drawings are generated for the external assessment. The Pro version of SketchUp is supplied to senior DVC students for this course use.

Please click on the tabs below to view subject information:

What is Senior DVC

L2 DVC Spatial design project

Design Study Organic Architecture

L2 DVC Desk Design Working-Drawings

2 Digital Technologies: Create Something That Matters

Want more freedom and creativity? In Level 2 Digital Technologies, you’ll take the lead on your own project—creating a digital solution based on something you care about.

This course is about building your confidence while working through a real development process:

Start with an idea: Choose a problem or opportunity that interests you and turn it into a project proposal.
Design your solution: Plan how your digital outcome will work, trying out ideas and improving them as you go.
Build & improve: Develop your solution, test it, and make it better step by step.

Your final project shows what you’ve created and how your thinking developed along the way.

Share your thinking:
At the end of the year, the exam focuses on explaining your process—how you planned, designed, and improved your outcome.

This course is all about creativity, choice, and building something you’re proud of—at your own pace, with support along the way.

Create something that matters.

That's just the blurb. Click here to really check it out!

Level 2 Drama is a full NCEA course. 

This course builds experience and skills for those with a passion for acting and developing performance work. 

It continues to have a strong practical focus. 

Students engage with more challenging texts to develop their acting skills, devise drama based on an historic event, perform in a class production for an invited audience and explore non-realistic or political theatre forms such as Epic theatre. 

Students taking this course will also have the opportunity to see live professional theatre. 

Learning in Level 2 Drama compliments learning in English, Social Studies and History, Classics, Health and Media studies as well as the other Visual and Performing arts. 

This course is creative, challenging and satisfying. Students will be expected to rehearse and perform out of school time for some assessments.

Where can you Drama journey take you

Level 2 Economics dives into the real-world economic issues facing New Zealand today — like inflation (rising prices), unemployment, international trade, and economic growth. You’ll explore how these challenges impact households and businesses, and how government policies can shape the economy in response.

From the cost of groceries to job opportunities, from exporting goods to growing the economy — Economics helps you understand the big picture behind the headlines.

You’ll learn to:

• Use economic models to make sense of real-life problems
• Explain how markets work — and why they sometimes don’t
• Understand the trade-offs governments face when trying to fix big issues
• Evaluate how economic decisions affect the well-being of different groups in society

Economics trains you to think clearly, weigh up decisions, and back your ideas with evidence — skills that are useful in any career.

Year 12 English is an engaging and academically rewarding course that challenges students to think deeply, communicate with sophistication, and develop their individual voice. Through a rich combination of creative, analytical, and research-based learning, students refine the skills needed for NCEA success and beyond, while gaining a deeper appreciation of how language shapes meaning in the world around them. 

Level 2 Food and Nutrition (New Zealand)  builds on basic food skills and introduces students to more advanced knowledge about nutrition, food preparation, and the relationship between food and wellbeing.

At this level, students learn to plan, prepare, and evaluate a wider range of more complex dishes while demonstrating safe and hygienic kitchen practices. The course also explores key nutrition concepts such as the role of nutrients in the body, how dietary needs change across different life stages, and how factors like culture, budget, and lifestyle influence food choices.

Practical work remains a strong focus, with students developing independence in the kitchen and learning to adapt recipes and techniques. Alongside this, they complete assessments that involve research and analysis—such as evaluating food choices for health outcomes or investigating how food-related decisions impact personal and family wellbeing.

Overall, Level 2 Food and Nutrition aims to equip students with practical life skills, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how food choices affect health, preparing them for further study or everyday life.

This course involves the study of the influence of food on the health and well-being of New Zealanders. Nutritional concerns for families due to societal issues of availability of food, the relationship of the determinants of health and people’s attitudes and values will be investigated. Locally produced foods will be evaluated for their sustainable practices. Students will research an individual’s beliefs and values which shape food practices with the focus on Veganism. Practical work will be undertaken. 

Students will work towards achieving up to 20 NCEA Level 2 credits in French from a choice of achievement standards.  They will do this through further development of their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The course will cover topics such as: The Environment, Travel and Transport, Healthy Lifestyle and the Future.  Please note that this course may be taught through Te Kura, the correspondence school, in which case the subject overview and assessments will be as per the course offered by Te Kura.

Level 2 Geography builds on essential geographic skills and concepts while exploring real‑world environments and contemporary issues that shape how we live. This course combines practical investigation, critical thinking, and global awareness to help students better understand people, places, and processes.

Students begin by researching coastal processes that create and shape our favourite beaches. This topic includes a field trip, allowing students to apply geographic skills in the field while investigating how natural processes influence the coastal environments where we live.

The course also examines where we live, with a focus on the management of national parks. Students explore how these environments are valued, managed, and protected, and the challenges involved in balancing conservation and human use.

Another key topic investigates an important geographic issue, developing students’ ability to analyse causes, consequences, and possible responses at different scales.

Students then explore how geographic skills can be used to explain social issues, with a particular focus on crime rates. Through data analysis and mapping, students investigate patterns and trends to better understand why crime varies between places.

The final topic focuses on the causes and impacts of global inequality, examining differences between countries and evaluating possible solutions. This topic is ideal for students interested in travel, different cultures, international trade, commerce, and politics, as it explores how global connections influence opportunities and quality of life.

Throughout the course, key geographic skills and concepts are fully integrated, including research skills, data collection, spatial analysis, and critical thinking.

Level 2 Geography offers a meaningful and engaging pathway for students who want to better understand the world—and their place in it.

This course provides students with up to date, relevant knowledge about health issues relating to hauora (sense of wellbeing). It will complement students’ other areas of study at Level 2 and provides students with skills that will not only progress them academically through the senior health education programme, but also provide valuable life skills for decision making in the real world. This learning helps ākonga develop strategies to strengthen their sense of identity and self-worth, and foster healthy relationships. 

History provides students with a wide range of transferable skills applicable to future study or careers as it develops the ability to understand and analyse issues and events. Other marketable skills include students being able to express themselves clearly, both verbally and in writing, and to put forward ideas and arguments in a concise manner. Students will gain skills in gathering, assessing and analysing material, as well as organising material in a logical and coherent way. 

Topics include the Salem Witch Trials and the 1981 Springbok Tour. 

All students will sit approximately 19 credits from the MENU of 23 credits. 

The selection of standards will make up IQPs (Individual Qualifications Plans) negotiated with students.  

Level 2 Hospitality i gives students a practical introduction to the fast-paced and people-focused hospitality industry. This qualification helps learners develop essential skills needed for entry-level roles in cafés, restaurants, and catering environments.

Students gain hands-on experience in areas such as food preparation, basic cookery techniques, safe food handling, and customer service. They also learn how to work effectively as part of a team, communicate with customers, and maintain high standards of hygiene and professionalism.

The course combines classroom learning with practical training, often in a simulated or real hospitality setting. By the end, students are better prepared for employment or further study in hospitality, with a strong foundation in kitchen  operations.

This course is a practical based subject that challenges your abilities and creative flair in providing dishes suitable to meet the needs of the hospitality industry.

This course has a strong emphasis on algebra and calculus. It is a course that will appeal to students who enjoy maths, enjoy problem solving and enjoy calculating x. It covers logical thinking skills and mathematical methods and will equip students with a variety of strategies for investigating real life situations and solving problems. It provides a solid base for the study of Calculus and/or Statistics at Level 3. Topics include Trigonometry, Algebra, Calculus, Graphical Methods and Probability. This course is a pathway to engineering and would support the maths required for the sciences.

This course is the perfect mix of hands-on creativity and deep thinking. You’ll investigate the powerful role media plays in shaping society and how it influences the way we see different people, issues, and events.

Throughout the year, you'll examine how media represents specific groups and how media products are carefully crafted to connect with targeted audiences. Then, you’ll step behind the camera to design, create, and produce your own short documentary or mockumentary on a topic that matters to you.

This is a course where your voice counts! Whether you're analysing how media changes the world or creating something that might just do the same. It's ideal for students who enjoy a balance of creative work and critical reflection.

This course is a mixture of practical work and theoretical/analytical contexts where students are encouraged to sit at least one external. Students choose approximately 20 credits from a menu of standards on offer and are expected to be learning an instrument or singing to take this course. 

Through the Lens of Creativity!

This programme offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of photographic genres including Still Life, Portraiture, Documentary, Abstraction, and Survey. Students are encouraged to select their own subject matter, allowing for personal expression and creative freedom. Students will make a portfolio that communicates a concept. Topics may include:

• Cultural Identity
• Political or Social issues
• Historical or environmental 
• Personal, whānau generational

Students will develop foundational skills in photographic image-making through:

• Studio Lighting Techniques
• Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
• Creative Composition and Visual Storytelling

In 2PHO you will have the chance to showcase your work in a local gallery as part of the Taranaki School Exhibition (student exhibition), gaining real-world experience in presenting and curating your art practice. 

 https://sites.google.com/view/level2photography/home 

Level 2 Physics helps unlock the wonders of the physical world. Students delve into the captivating principles that govern motion, energy, and forces, and uncover the secrets behind the phenomena that shape our daily lives. Through experiments, discussions, and real-world applications, students will develop a deeper understanding of light and sound, mechanics, electricity, electromagnetism, and nuclear physics. The subject provides a pathway towards many interesting careers including architecture, astrophysics, climate science & meteorology, engineering, forensics, health science and medicine.

Dive deep into topics that matter—express yourself in your own way.

Step into a learning experience where your passions drive your progress. Shape Your Future is a dynamic, project-based programme designed to empower students to explore their interests through meaningful, hands-on learning. With multiple teachers guiding the way, students will engage in rich, interdisciplinary projects that foster creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.

At the heart of this programme is a commitment to relationships and well-being, ensuring that every student feels supported and inspired. English is the only compulsory Learning Area, seamlessly embedded across four diverse Project Frameworks, allowing literacy skills to flourish in authentic contexts.

Students will be guided through a design thinking process—Discover, Interpret, Ideate, Experiment, and Outcome—to shape projects that matter to them. Along the way, they’ll develop key focus dispositions such as curiosity, resilience, empathy, and innovation.

To spark ideas and deepen understanding, students will experience off-site visits, hear from guest speakers, and connect with real-world challenges. Whether working independently or as part of a team, students will learn to think critically, act creatively, and shape a future that reflects who they are and what they care about.

Shape Your Future isn’t just a course—it’s a launchpad for lifelong learning.

Your Voice, Your Vision, Your Venture!

https://sites.google.com/view/npghsshapeyourfuture/home

Social Studies at Level 2 introduces students to aspects of Psychology and Sociology to study how individuals and groups from different times, cultures and places participate, deal with change and the conflict this can bring. Dive into fascinating topics like social justice, deviancy, globalization, power, and identity.  Several case studies are examined throughout the year based on current events and real-world topics. 

Social Studies is a highly relevant subject. Develop crucial skills in critical thinking, research, and communication as you analyse complex social issues and discover how you can make a difference in your community and the wider world.

Social Studies is useful for many career pathways that involve working and supporting with people, including: Commerce, Health Services, Law and Criminal Justice, Teaching and Social Work.

Grow your confidence and stand out with a language spoken across the globe! This course offers the opportunity to gain up to 20 NCEA Level 2 credits in Spanish through a range of achievement standards.

You will continue to build your skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, becoming more confident expressing your ideas and understanding others in real-life situations.

Topics are relevant, interesting, and connected to the wider world, including:

• ? The environment and global issues
• ✈️ Travel and transport
• ? Healthy lifestyles and wellbeing
• ? The future and your place in it

Lessons are engaging and interactive, with opportunities to collaborate, share ideas, and take ownership of your learning. This course is ideal for students who want to challenge themselves, develop independence, and gain skills that are valuable for travel, future study, and global careers.

Spanish is not just a subject—it’s a way to connect, communicate, and open doors to new opportunities.

PE & SPORT SCIENCE WHAKATAUKI: 

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora- Healthy Body Healthy Mind or An active soul is a healthy soul

This course allows students to develop and apply the concepts of training and relevant sport scientific knowledge to help them understand the concepts of Skill Development,  Team building and Leadership models using Outdoor Education practicals.  This course is has a good degree of deep learning relating to Anatomy and Movement analysis theory. The course topics and practicals allow students to work together to examine and implement theory concepts in both classroom and practical settings. 

Students who are interested in this subject but are not looking to carry on in Sport Science at Level 3 (Year 13) are welcome to take this course.

Practicals involve: Sport and Games, Uni Cycling/Juggling, Badminton, Sport Skill Analysis, Fitness Games and Adventure Based Learning. Students gain a very good knowledge of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Training/Fitness concepts. This is both a theoretical and practical course. Each student will be assessed in approximately 18 credits from the menu of standards available.

Please note this is not a 100% practical course and classroom based theory is a component of the course.

This course is designed for those students who want to continue with Mathematics, but do not have a specific need for Algebra or Calculus. Students who take this course will have an interest in social sciences, healthcare, psychology, and education. Topics include Experiments, Questionnaires, Trigonometry, Networks and Probability and will prepare students for entry into the Internal Level 3 Statistics course. This  course requires a high level of literacy. The majority of the course comprises of internal standards.

This course will give students an opportunity to experience the different aspects of Māori Performing Arts in areas such as haka, poi, waiata-ā-ringa and pōwhiri. This course offers theory and practical work and is supportive of Te Reo me ōna Tikanga Māori. 

Students will work towards achieving NCEA Level 2 credits in Te Reo Māori through their further development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The course will cover topics such as; Social Media, Environment, Travel and Transport, Healthy Lifestyle and Current National issues . Achievement.

Students will develop knowledge and skills in selecting and applying materials and techniques to make purposeful textile outcomes. 

The course of study is project based and involves research, designing, selecting and testing materials and techniques to develop sustainable textile outcomes that meet the needs of the end user.  

Students will undertake 3 technology projects:

• Tailored Shirt, 
• Sustainable Fashion 
• Pattern Adaptation

Level 2 Tourism – Turn Your Passion for Travel into Opportunity

Tourism is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing industries—and there’s a real demand for skilled people right now. This course is your chance to get a head start.

If you’re interested in working in outdoor adventure, events, airlines, hotels, or hospitality, you’ll gain the foundational skills and knowledge needed to begin your journey into these exciting careers. You’ll learn what it takes to succeed in the tourism industry and explore real pathways you can follow after school.

Not sure about a career in tourism yet? No problem. This course is also perfect for students who love the idea of travelling the world. You’ll learn how to plan trips, choose destinations, and make smart decisions about when, where, and how to travel—plus how to get the best value for money.

✅ Gain around 20 NCEA credits
✅ Discover real career pathways in a growing industry
✅ Learn practical travel planning skills
✅ Ideal for future travellers and people who enjoy working with others

Tourism opens doors—where could it take you? ?✈️

Note: This course is not university-approved. Students planning to attend university are encouraged to take Level 2 Geography alongside or instead of Tourism.

This course is for students who want to begin WITT and PITO courses and training for a specific career one day a week, for Terms 1,2 and 3, while still at school. Students will gain credits towards NCEA Level 2. On the other four days of the week, students attend their regular classes, including a specific VOC Class, where they will complete a range of generic unit standards and have time to catch up on work missed from other subjects. Courses available at Level 2: Agriculture,  Automotive, Beauty & Makeup, Cookery, Digital Media, Electrical, Equine, Hairdressing, Joinery,  Plumbing, Restaurant Service, Sport & Fitness, Barbering.

Individual programmes have a range of standards. Students generally have available 20 to 30 credits.

Nature Takes Over!

Unleash your creativity across three dynamic fields of artmaking: Printmaking, Sculpture, and Painting!

In this hands-on Level 2 Visual Arts course, you will dive into a series of short, skill-building projects designed to introduce and develop techniques in each discipline. Whether you're engraving, carving, assembling, casting, layering, or painting, you'll gain confidence in your ability to express ideas visually.

To inspire and inform your practice, you’ll explore the work of diverse artists from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and around the world. These artist studies will help you understand how different materials, methods, and cultural perspectives can shape powerful visual narratives.

As the course progresses, you’ll generate your own art-making proposition based on the theme “Nature Takes Over”—a concept that invites exploration of the natural world’s resilience, beauty, and impact. You’ll then choose your preferred field and develop a sustained body of work in the form of a portfolio, showcasing your personal interpretation of the theme through a series of connected artworks.

This course is perfect for students who love to experiment, think creatively, and want to build a strong foundation in a visual arts field. 

Gateway gives senior secondary students opportunities to gain workplace experience, industry-specific skills, and qualifications while still at school. It is delivered through the VOC class and helps students move into further education, training, apprenticeships, or employment.

How the Programme Works

Students:

• Attend a VOC class at school.
• Complete core unit standards covering:
  • Career planning
  • CV preparation
  • Interview skills
  • First aid
  • Health and safety
• Choose industry-specific unit standards related to their career interests.
• Spend one day per week in a workplace during Terms 2 and 3 (up to a 10-week placement).

Students must complete at least 20 industry-based credits during the year.

Benefits for Students

The programme offers:

• Greater understanding of a chosen career pathway.
• Practical industry experience while still at school.
• Development of workplace communication and professional skills.
• Opportunities to build networks with employers and mentors.
• The ability to work toward industry qualifications.
• Potential pathways into apprenticeships or employment.

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to:

• Maintain excellent attendance at their workplace placement.
• Meet workplace expectations for punctuality, behaviour, and dress standards.
• Follow all workplace instructions and health and safety requirements.
• Arrange their own transport to placements and training unless alternative arrangements have been made.

Who Should Apply?

Gateway is aimed at students who demonstrate:

• Strong communication skills.
• Good time management.
• Reliability and self-motivation.
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Selection Process

Places are limited because funding is limited. Students are carefully selected before being accepted into the programme and matched with local workplaces.

In summary: Gateway is designed for motivated Year 12 and 13 students who want hands-on experience in a career area, industry qualifications, and a stronger pathway into future training or employment.

Courses are offered which include core generic careers papers and unit standards that cover specific career interests. Students must be able to function independently as they work through their unit standards in the classroom. Possible areas of study are: Legal Studies, Health/Nursing, Agriculture. Please see the careers staff to discuss other possible areas of interest which may be catered for in CLB. Interviews will be conducted with Mr Zimmerman to ascertain course availability.

Individual programmes have a range of achievement standards. Students generally have available 20 to 30 credits.

Level 2 Economics dives into the real-world economic issues facing New Zealand today — like inflation (rising prices), unemployment, international trade, and economic growth. You’ll explore how these challenges impact households and businesses, and how government policies can shape the economy in response.

From the cost of groceries to job opportunities, from exporting goods to growing the economy — Economics helps you understand the big picture behind the headlines.

You’ll learn to:

• Use economic models to make sense of real-life problems
• Explain how markets work — and why they sometimes don’t
• Understand the trade-offs governments face when trying to fix big issues
• Evaluate how economic decisions affect the well-being of different groups in society

Economics trains you to think clearly, weigh up decisions, and back your ideas with evidence — skills that are useful in any career.

Level 2 Tourism – Turn Your Passion for Travel into Opportunity

Tourism is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing industries—and there’s a real demand for skilled people right now. This course is your chance to get a head start.

If you’re interested in working in outdoor adventure, events, airlines, hotels, or hospitality, you’ll gain the foundational skills and knowledge needed to begin your journey into these exciting careers. You’ll learn what it takes to succeed in the tourism industry and explore real pathways you can follow after school.

Not sure about a career in tourism yet? No problem. This course is also perfect for students who love the idea of travelling the world. You’ll learn how to plan trips, choose destinations, and make smart decisions about when, where, and how to travel—plus how to get the best value for money.

✅ Gain around 20 NCEA credits
✅ Discover real career pathways in a growing industry
✅ Learn practical travel planning skills
✅ Ideal for future travellers and people who enjoy working with others

Tourism opens doors—where could it take you? ?✈️

Note: This course is not university-approved. Students planning to attend university are encouraged to take Level 2 Geography alongside or instead of Tourism.

This course is for students with a specific career interest, who will attend WITT/TOPEC for two days every week and work towards Level 3 New Zealand Certificates. The other three days students will attend their regular timetabled subjects, including the option of two Career Training lines/classes. In these classes students will catch up with work missed from their other subjects and complete generic Unit Standards. Students must be able to work independently. Level 3 NZ Certificates include: Make Up and Skincare, Cookery, Sport, Recreation and Exercise and Outdoor Experiences.

Individual programmes have a range of standards. There are 54 credits available, but students will choose ones appropriate to their chosen area. 

Accounting is the language of business. 

The Level 3 Accounting course focuses the financial accounting requirements of Companies and Partnerships. It has a strong focus on how financial decisions are made and how to run an efficient business. The course is a mixture of both theoretical knowledge and practical accounting practice.

Students will complete 17 credits in the course with an option to complete Accounting 3.4 - Prepare a report for an external user that interprets the annual report of a New Zealand reporting entity.

Accounting is a practical subject that focuses on real businesses and looks at how to decide if a business is a good investment. The skills that the students learn in Accounting lead to careers in Business, Commerce, Tourism, Management, Marketing, Banking, Information Technology, Finance and Self-Employment. 

Why Choose Level 3 Animal & Plant Science?

Are you excited by the idea of working with animals, plants, food, technology, and the environment? Do you want a career that is hands-on, future-focused, globally connected and well-paid? New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is our biggest industry, and it’s crying out for passionate, technology savy, skilled young people. Studying Level 3 Animal and Plant Science is one of the smartest choices you can make for your future.

In this course, you’ll investigate a real production issue in our primary industries. Collecting and analysing your own data and providing science-based solutions that real producers would care about. This builds the exact research and communication skills highly valued in university science and industry roles.

You’ll explore the opportunities behind profitable primary production, understanding the economic forces that shape the food and fibre industry. The knowledge that employers are look for.

You’ll dive into market forces and global trade, discovering how NZ exports like kiwifruit, beef, lamb, wine, apples, dairy, wool, seafood, and honey reach the world, and how consumer demand is changing fast.  You will also learn how the entire production process works together to meet demanding market standards such as food safety, sustainability credentials, and premium product quality.

And because the world wants food that is grown responsibly, you will tackle a major environmental issue in NZ primary production, analysing how we can protect soil, water, climate, and biodiversity while continuing to feed millions.

Where can this lead?

This course sets you up perfectly for:

• Agriculture, horticulture, veterinary, food science, and environmental science degrees
• Institute of Technology pathways in vet nursing, agritech, farm systems, nursery production, aquaculture
• Apprenticeships and cadetships in agriculture and horticulture
• High-tech future roles in precision agriculture, genetics, sustainability and climate adaptation

The range of pathways into future qualifications are massive.

University Degrees

(Offered across universities such as Massey, Lincoln, Waikato, Otago, Canterbury, Victoria, University of Auckland, AUT)

Agriculture & Animal Science

* Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSci)

* Bachelor of Animal Science (BAnSci)

* Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc – competitive entry)

* Bachelor of AgriCommerce / AgriBusiness

* Bachelor of Livestock Production Science

* Bachelor of Equine Science

Plant, Food & Biotechnology

* Bachelor of Horticultural Science

* Bachelor of Science (Majors in: Plant Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Food Science, Biochemistry)

* Bachelor of Food Technology (Honours)

* Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology (Winemaking)

* Bachelor of Wine Science

* Bachelor of Brewing and Beverage Science *(offered as specialisations at some universities/institutes)

Environmental & Sustainability Sciences

* Bachelor of Environmental Science

* Bachelor of Environmental Management

* Bachelor of Ecology / Conservation Science

* Bachelor of Marine Biology

* Bachelor of Climate Change Science

Technology, Data & Engineering

* Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering *(specialisations through engineering programmes)*

* Bachelor of Applied Science (AgriTech or Environmental areas)

* Bachelor of Data Science (Agri-data pathways emerging)

Diplomas & Applied Certifications

(Mainly through **Toi Ohomai, SIT, UCOL, Wintec, EIT, Otago Poly, Telford**, PrimaryITO)

Primary Industries

* NZ Diploma in Agribusiness Management (Level 5)

* NZ Diploma in Horticulture Production (Levels 5–6)

* NZ Diploma in Apiculture

* NZ Diploma in Forestry Management

Animal Health & Production

* NZ Diploma in Vet Nursing (Level 6)

* NZ Certificate or Diploma in Agriculture (Levels 3–5)

* Equine Studies (Diploma)

* Livestock Production Systems

Food & Laboratory Sciences

* NZ Diploma in Applied Science

* NZ Diploma in Food and Beverage Processing

* Brewing and Fermentation programmes (various providers)

Pathways Through Training and Employment

Primary Industry Cadetships (Farms, orchards, kiwifruit, dairy, forestry)

Apprenticeships through Primary ITO in:

  * Dairy farming

  * Horticulture

  * Fruit production

  * Viticulture

* Graduate programmes with major NZ agribusiness companies

New Zealand’s food and fibre industries need:

Scientists

Technicians

Production managers

Sustainability specialists

Export and market experts

These careers come with high employment rates, excellent salaries, and significant scholarship support.

Scholarships & Industry Support

There are a huge number of lucrative scholarships available for students heading into food and fibre careers — many worth $5,000–$20,000+ per year. Universities, industry groups (like L A Alexander Trust, Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, HortNZ, Zespri, Balance), and major employers are actively recruiting science-focused students because the sector urgently needs skilled leaders.

Employers offer paid internships, and fast-track young people into leadership and science-based roles. The opportunities are real and growing every year.

If you want a career that matters…

• Solving global food challenges
• Improving animal welfare
• Protecting our environment
• Growing sustainable, premium products
• Using science and technology every day

Past students who have studied Animal & Plant Science are already making an impact in the real world 

Career pivot bears fruit for Nina

Nina Downer will always be grateful to her high school teacher Mr Barker. If not for him she wouldn’t be doing the job she loves.

The then 15-year-old had always thought she would become a veterinarian until she realised the job would need her to euthanise animals, something she couldn’t face. So her New Plymouth Girls High School teacher recommended viticulture.

“I had never really seen grapes before, never seen vineyards. So it was something completely new,” the Young Viticulturist of the Year, says. “Now I definitely eat a lot of grapes!

“I wasn’t naïve about animals. My mum said when I first got a pet lamb, it was only maybe day two into the early morning feeding when I asked when I could eat it.

“I still love working with animals, we've got goats and chickens in the vineyards,” the Felton Road Wines supervisor says.

Nina shifted around a lot as a child of dairy farmers who started off share milking in South Taranaki. When they moved to the Wairarapa, she did her last high school year in Masterton – and hasn’t had the opportunity to thank Mr Barker for the career switch, completing her viticulture and oenology degree at Lincoln University.

Nina has won her region’s Young Viticulturist of the Year for the past three years and took out the winner’s title this year.

“I was 22 the first year I did it, I think back to what I knew back then, and how shy and awkward I was with public speaking, and my confidence in myself and what I'm doing now. It's changed so much, it's really pushed me.”

Nina will now compete in the prestigious Young Horticulturist of the Year, a competition involving six horticultural sectors, in Auckland in November.

Nina loves that her role is varied: “Jobs are constantly changing throughout the year, it's quite diverse in what I get to do. And every season is different, with no two days or two seasons the same. We got frost this spring, so that's brought in new challenges this year, and learning opportunities as well. So it keeps me interested.”

As a machinery operator her main duties are cultivating, mulching, mowing, and “lot of spraying and tractor work”.

“When I'm not in the tractor, I'm normally supervising, running a team of people with canopy management that we do throughout the summer, and pruning in the winter. Or we're doing any maintenance with irrigation.”

She marvels at the pace of automation in her industry so early in her career.

“There's been a rapid increase of technology. Covid really amped that up, especially in Marlborough, because they have such a large area and there was the struggle of bringing people into the country. That really pushed along a lot of technology, like the pruning tools, to fill that labour gap.

“If you told me when I first started in viticulture that we'd be spraying with drones I would have found that pretty out there. With any new technology, everyone's a little bit sceptical. I'm sure when the first machine harvesters came in, people probably were shocked.”

One focus for Nina is a replanting project, with the team slowly removing own-rooted vines that are susceptible to the soil infestation Phylloxera, and replanting using grafted vines that are tolerant.

“I get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that I am trying to improve what's there and ensure sustainability, as giving back is really important to me.”

And she loves that Felton Road employs overseas workers who bring a wealth of varied knowledge.

“You meet so many cool and interesting people throughout the year. We've got quite a few people in the vineyard and viticulture wasn’t their first job, and they have different ways of looking at what we do. It can bring new ideas.

“We have a very big contingent from France this year and a couple Germans, a girl from Israel. You get to learn a lot about how they do things differently.”

So on days off, Nina returns the favour, by taking them on runs or hikes around Central Otago, or cooking pot luck dinners. And she is building a group of contacts for when she ventures offshore.

“I am still learning quite a lot at Felton Road, but it is in the long term plans to go overseas and see Europe and Canada.”

…then Level 3 Animal and Plant Science is the course that opens those doors.

Your future starts here and it looks pretty exciting.

Create Designs That Speaks Volume!

In 3ARD you will establish a proposition based on an interest or passion that ignites your world. Design making will be either be:

• 2D Graphic Design: relevant briefs such as typography, logo, double page spread, poster/cover design, website/social media content OR 
• Character Illustration: logo, graphic novel, world building, game and poster design.

You will communicate ideas through a range of media, hand drawn and industry standard software - Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and/or digital drawing software. These skills are transferable to a range of Vocational Pathways in the Creative Industries.

Get ready to make your mark on the world!

Rebirth & Revolution: Two Eras, One Vision!

Art History invites you to explore one of two transformative periods in art: Early 20th Century European Modernism and Early Italian Renaissance. You will choose one of these powerful areas of study to investigate how artists responded to the world around them—through innovation, rebellion, and a reimagining of what art could be.

Whether examining the bold experimentation of Modernist pioneers or the intellectual revival of Italian Renaissance masters, you will uncover how art reflects and shapes human experience across time.

Through the lens of historical and political events—such as the Black Plague, Italian Wars, Spanish Civil War, Great Depression, and World Wars I and II—gain an insight into the forces that influenced artistic change. You will also explore the impact of writers and philosophical thought, engaging with ideas from Frederick Hartt,
Leon Battista Alberti, Sigmund Freud, Henri Bergson, and Friedrich Nietzsche, and how these thinkers helped shape the cultural and psychological landscape of their time.

You will:

• analyse key artworks and movements within their historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts.
• recognise the diversity of artistic approaches across cultures, states and time periods.
• develop critical thinking and visual literacy skills.

This course is ideal if you are interested in the Creative Industries, Humanities, or seeking a deeper understanding of world history through art.

Biology is the study of living things and how they interact with each other and the environment. Ākonga learn about plants, animals, ecosystems, evolution, and how biology connects with technology. Through this subject, they develop scientific skills and learn how to understand and analyse scientific information. Biology helps students better understand themselves and the world around them, and it is useful for many careers, including health, environmental science, forestry, and zoology. This course is designed for students who have a keen interest in the biological world and are thinking of tertiary study and a career within Science. Level 3 Biology is an academic course with the focus being on the three external achievement standards as many Science degrees at university require students to have a good grasp of these biological concepts. 
  
 

Business Studies is available to students who are interested in the experience of starting and running their own business or who have an interest in the world of business. It has a business focus and involves the commitment of being part of a Young Enterprise team who set up and run a business enterprise. All businesses take part in the Taranaki and National YES (Young Enterprise Scheme) competition. This covers 3.4 and 3.6.

Internal assessments are intertwined into the course and run parallel with the business activities and an external standard will also be offered.

There is also an opportunity to undertake the 3.1 External Assessment  designed to demonstrate understanding of how internal factors interact within a business that operates in a global context.

All three assessments offer University Entry level accreditations, with a total of 19 credits. 

For those looking to boost their level 3 credits can also undertake a level 3 Unit Standard describing how they contribute within a team or group which has an objective. This is optional.

This course is most appropriate for those students who have an interest in continuing the study of Mathematics, the Sciences, Engineering, Economics or any field which uses analysis as a tool. It has an emphasis on applying mathematics to solving problems and encourages mathematical reasoning and methodology. Topics include Differentiation, Integration, Solving Systems of Equations and Trigonometry. 

Learning in Chemistry is fundamental to understanding the world in which we live and work. Chemistry is the “central science” having an overlap with both Biology and Physics and as a consequence, combines well with either of these. This course is designed for students who have an interest in Science and intends to continue to tertiary study. Level 3 Chemistry is an academic course with the focus being on the three external achievement standards. For success in this subject, students ideally would have passed two of the three Level 2 Chemistry NCEA External Standards. 

In Level 3 Classical Studies we study events, literature, art, politics, people and ideas of ancient Greece. We examine the way these were significant and the way they influence our world today. Classical Studies provides students studying humanities and STEM subjects with the literacy, research and analytical skills required at a tertiary level. Transferable skills necessary to function effectively in the 21st Century are also covered. The broad-ranging nature of Classical Studies makes it relevant to a wide and varied range of careers. 

Students complete both internals and select two of the three external standards to sit.

Courses are offered which include core generic papers and Unit Standards that cover a specific career interest.  

Students must be able to work independently as they work through their Unit Standards.

Possible areas of study are: Legal Studies/Pre Nursing and Agriculture.

Please see the careers staff to discuss other possible areas of interest which may be catered for in CLB.

This course is for students who enjoy movement and want to learn skills to create interesting and effective pieces of choreography. The course involves learning and choreographing a dance that includes a theme and the use of production technologies. This could include solos and group performances. Students are required to view, interpret and respond to a dance performance.

Design and Visual Communication (DVC) is about communicating the design of our three-dimensional world, through products we use and spaces we occupy.

Design thinking encompasses the ideation, exploration, progression, and communication of design ideas.

Within Design and Visual Communication, design consists of three-dimensional product design and spatial design.

    Product design focuses on the development of tangible items that have a specific function and use within people's everyday lives. 

    Spatial design is about the designing of three-dimensional spaces in terms of how they are experienced, occupied, or used by people. This incorporates concepts from architecture and interior design.

Visual communication addresses how design ideas and outcomes are appropriately presented to the viewer. Design ideas and outcomes are expressed through freehand sketching, line drawings, computer CAD models and a range of rendering and representation techniques including tone and colour.

A laptop is essential for using SketchUp to do our 3D computer CAD modelling. An expectation of the course is that students will be gaining skills in the use of SketchUp to assist in the generation of design ideas and Layout to compose their portfolios. 2D CAD working drawings are generated for the external assessment. The Pro version of SketchUp is supplied to senior DVC students for this course use.

Please click on the tabs below to view subject information:

What is Senior DVC?

Level 3 DVC Spatial Design Project

Level 3 Design Technology will build on previous years’ learning to enable students to undertake more complex design and creation challenges with reference to societal issues such as sustainability and ethics. Assessment will be through practical work supported by a portfolio. Creativity and experimentation are encouraged as well as the use of time and resource management skills. Students will investigate current practitioners and consider the wider implications of design and manufacture. Students can choose the contexts they wish to develop on consultation with the teacher and referencing the available resources.

3 Digital Technologies: Your Vision. Level Up.

Ready to take your ideas to the next level? In Level 3 Digital Technologies, you’ll create a project that’s bigger, more refined, and truly your own. Whether you’re building on a previous idea or starting fresh, this is your chance to develop something meaningful and push it further than ever before.

Grow your idea:
Choose a problem or opportunity that matters to you and shape it into a project with real purpose.

Design smarter:
Use advanced research and design thinking to plan, test ideas, and make confident decisions.

Build, test, improve:
Develop your digital outcome step by step, refining it until it’s polished, effective, and something you’re proud of.

Your project becomes the focus of your external submission, showing not just what you made—but how you developed your thinking along the way.

Show your thinking:
In the end-of-year exam, you’ll explain your process, reflecting on how your ideas evolved and improved.

This course is all about independence, creativity, and taking your skills further—no matter where you’re starting from.

Your vision. Level up.

That's just the blurb. Click here to really check it out!

Level 3 is a full NCEA course and University Entrance approved subject. 

In this course, students will extend their performance skills and improve their knowledge of theatre through studying the work of leading playwrights and practitioners from Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. 

This course builds experience and skills for those with a passion for acting and developing performance work. It continues to have a strong practical focus. 

Students examine how theatre is used to provoke an audience and reflect human experience. 

Work is increasingly sophisticated, and students develop independence as performers. Students engage with challenging texts to develop their acting skills, devise drama based influenced by an international theatre practitioner and perform in a class production for an invited audience. 

Students taking this course will also have the opportunity to see live professional theatre. Learning in Level 3 Drama compliments learning in English, Social Studies and History, Classics, Health and Media studies as well as the other Visual and Performing arts. 

This course is creative, challenging and satisfying. Students will be expected to rehearse and perform out of school time for some assessments. 

The NZ Scholarship Drama examination is available to ambitious students. 

Where to study Drama after you finish school

Level 3 Economics gives students the tools to understand how markets work — and why they sometimes fail. You'll explore how consumers and producers make decisions, what drives prices, and how government policies like taxes, subsidies, and price controls can change outcomes. Using real-world examples and economic models, you’ll analyse issues like inequality, efficiency, and market power — and learn to explain them clearly and critically.

You’ll learn to:

• Use economic models to make sense of real-life problems
• Explain how markets work — and why they sometimes don’t
• Understand the trade-offs governments face when trying to fix big issues
• Evaluate how economic decisions affect the well-being of different groups in society

Economics trains you to think clearly, weigh up decisions, and back your ideas with evidence — skills that are useful in any career.

An Economics background can be helpful in future employment in fields such as Business & Finance, Government and Policy, Public Health, Law, Media and Journalism, and Education amongst many others.

Year 13 English is a challenging and enriching course designed to refine students’ critical thinking, creativity, and independence. Students engage deeply with literature, film, and ideas, while developing sophisticated writing and analytical skills. The course supports success in NCEA Level 3 and prepares students for university study and lifelong engagement with language and literature. 

Level 3 Food and Nutrition is a course that examines the complex relationships between food, nutrition, and wellbeing in both personal and societal contexts. Students develop advanced knowledge of nutritional requirements across the lifespan and explore current health and nutrition issues affecting individuals, families, and communities in New Zealand and beyond.

The course places a strong emphasis on critical thinking and inquiry, as students investigate how cultural, economic, environmental, and ethical factors influence food choices and food systems. Learners analyse and evaluate nutrition information, food trends, and policies, and apply this understanding to propose practical, evidence-based solutions that promote hauora (holistic wellbeing).

Assessment includes a combination of research-based internal standards and external examinations, requiring students to demonstrate their ability to interpret information, justify decisions, and connect theory to real-world contexts.

Level 3 Food and Nutrition provides valuable preparation for tertiary study and career pathways in health sciences, nutrition and dietetics, hospitality, education, and community-focused professions.

 Practical work will be undertaken. 

Students will work towards achieving 20 NCEA Level 3 credits in French through a choice of achievement standards.  They will do this by the continued development of their higher-level skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The course will cover topics such as: Human Rights, The World of Work, Arts and Culture.   Please note that this course may be taught through Te Kura, the correspondence school, in which case the subject overview and assessments will be as per the course offered by Te Kura.

Level 3 Geography offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of natural and cultural environments and how they have changed over time and across space, with a strong emphasis on building a sustainable future. Throughout the year, students develop a deeper understanding of significant world issues, strengthening their critical thinking and problem‑solving skills for the future.

The course begins with an in-depth investigation of a global issue, where students examine the causes and consequences of the issue in different locations around the world. Students then explore political and geographic perspectives through the European migration crisis, analysing how different groups are affected, how their perspectives shape responses, and how decisions influence the modern world.

A key component of the course is a future-focused inquiry into planning and sustainability in New Plymouth. Students collect and analyse real data on an issue of personal interest and evaluate possible approaches for a more sustainable future.

Finally, students investigate tourism development, with a particular focus on Vietnam, examining how tourism operates and its impacts on both people and places. This helps when students want to travel and understand our world better

Students are able to take Level 3 Geography for the first time, and the subject is widely recognized as English‑rich, supporting entry into many university courses.

Geography equips students with versatile skills that are highly valued across a range of career pathways, including Earth and environmental sciences, marine biology, cultural and Indigenous studies, environmental design, international relations, law, business and commerce, tourism, and urban and regional planning.

Geography is a subject that connects the world to your future.

Health at this level is an academic subject with its conceptual underpinning and capacity for critical thinking, rather than being just a subject aiming to promote health in young people’s lives. It is certainly a subject with academic legitimacy addressing both academic knowledge and life skills. This course requires students to use research skills to perceptively analyse the following health issues: A New Zealand health issue, ethical issues, health practices and poverty’s impact on life outcomes such as disease, sexual health or life expectancy. 

In many future career pathways it will be important to, collect, evaluate and communicate information. Studying History allows you to learn how to make balanced and impartial judgments and teaches the skills required to research a variety and huge amount of material, analyse it, make conclusions and identify key points to write about in a succinct manner. 

Content for the externally assessed component covers the reign of Henry VIII and the English Reformation. 

All students will sit approximately 20 credits from the MENU of 25 credits. 

The selection of standards will make up IQPs (Individual Qualifications Plans) negotiated with students.  

Level 3 Hospitality is your gateway into one of New Zealand’s most dynamic and people-focused industries. This hands-on course brings hospitality to life, giving you real-world skills in food and beverage service, café and restaurant operations, customer service, and workplace teamwork. You’ll learn in practical environments that mirror the fast-paced hospitality scene, building confidence, creativity, and professionalism along the way.

Whether you dream of working in cafés, restaurants, hotels, events, or cruise ships—or want a strong foundation for further study—Level 3 Hospitality opens doors. It’s all about energy, connection, and creating memorable experiences, making it the perfect launchpad for an exciting career in hospitality, both in Aotearoa and beyond.

Course work involves equipping students with knowledge, skills and confidence in the selection, preparation and serving of food and beverages to standards required by the hospitality industry.

This course is your backstage pass to the world of media. Across the year, you'll dive into a range of films and TV shows, unpacking the magic behind genre, director style, and audience appeal. Then, you'll flip the script and take the lead, creating your very own short film in a genre that inspires you.

You’ll explore how meaning is made through different perspectives, and discover how to connect with an audience. From analysing iconic scenes to scripting, shooting, and editing your own work, this course is a dynamic blend of creativity and critical thinking.

Whether you're a future filmmaker or just have a love for storytelling, this course gives you the freedom to express your voice through the lens of the media world.

This course has a focus on music analysis (with an external examination), arranging, composition and research. Performance is offered but not compulsory. This course is beneficial for proficient note-readers. Each student chooses a programme of study equalling approximately 20 credits from a menu that best suits their interests and needs. Entering Scholarship Music is encouraged for those who feel they can manage the workload.

Make Your Mark: Painting the World Through Your Eyes

Do you want to Express, Explore, Evolve through Painting? Dive into the world of 3PAI!

This advanced course invites you to expand your creative horizons through a deep exploration of painting mediums, including acrylics, oils, and mixed media. Designed for students ready to refine their technical skills and develop a personal artistic voice, this programme encourages experimentation, critical thinking, and conceptual growth.

You will:

• build a strong skill set by learning and applying a range of painting methods and techniques.
• establish a self-generated proposition based on a person interest or passion, which will guide the development of your portfolio.
• engage in visual inquiry to regenerate and evolve ideas, deepening your understanding of the visual world.
• study and respond to the work of artists from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and internationally, using these influences to inspire both methodology and conceptual development.

The course culminates in the creation of a sustained body of work presented in a portfolio format, showcasing each student’s unique interpretation and artistic journey. This programme supports pathways into the Creative Industries, Fine Arts, and Design, while fostering a lifelong appreciation for visual culture and personal expression.

Capture the Moment, Frame Your World!

Do you want to develop an understanding of your visual world and use contemporary photography and personal experience to inform an exciting proposition? Embrace 3PHO and learn about camera functionality, an extensive range of photographic conventions, digital methods and techniques to produce a body of photographs that you will present as a portfolio. 

You will gain hands-on experience with industry-leading tools, learning about Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop and Lightroom. These are the same powerful programs used by artists worldwide! 

Learn to see the unseen. Study the lens, master the vision!

Level 3 Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines and leads to a range of rewarding careers such as architecture, astrophysics, climate science & meteorology, engineering, forensics, health science and medicine. Students will continue to develop the ability to use concepts, principles, investigative skills, and models to explain physical phenomena and systems. The course focusses on wave systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and modern physics.

Ink Your Imagination!

Printed Matter with Meaning - Printed matter is everywhere—from the receipt at the supermarket to the ticket that grants entry to your favorite event. In this course, you'll explore how these everyday items can become powerful tools for communication and artistic expression.

Through the lens of printmaking, you'll dive into the world of ink, texture, and repetition to create works that reflect a personal proposition—an interest, passion, or idea that matters to you. Whether it's music, social justice, ancestry and whānau or nature, your unique perspective will drive the development of your printed pieces.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with a range of printmaking techniques and methods, such as:

• Woodcut printing
• Intaglio
• Monoprinting
• Collagraphs
• Screen printing

As you build your skills, you’ll produce a cohesive body of work that showcases your technical ability and conceptual depth, culminating in a portfolio that reflects your creative journey.

This course is ideal for students who want to make their mark—literally and figuratively—by transforming everyday printed matter into meaningful visual art.

Form, Space, and the Power of Three Dimensions!

Sculpture offers a unique freedom—the freedom to mold, assemble, and transform materials into meaningful expressions. In this course, you’ll explore how sculptural practice can be both individual and collaborative, engaging with materials in ways that challenge convention and invite innovation.

Through a series of dynamic workshops, you’ll experiment with:

• Object-based sculpture
• Performance and installation
• Social practice and participatory art

These explorations will deepen your understanding of sculptural types and their potential to communicate ideas in space and time.

At the heart of your creative journey will be a personal proposition—an interest or passion that drives your work. This guiding idea will help you regenerate and evolve concepts, shaping a body of work that reflects both your technical growth and conceptual depth.

Whether you're casting, constructing, or collaborating, this course empowers you to think in three dimensions and make art that resonates.

Dive deep into topics that matter—express yourself in your own way.

Step into a learning experience where your passions drive your progress. Shape Your Future is a dynamic, project-based programme designed to empower students to explore their interests through meaningful, hands-on learning. With multiple teachers guiding the way, students will engage in rich, interdisciplinary projects that foster creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.

At the heart of this programme is a commitment to relationships and well-being, ensuring that every student feels supported and inspired. 

Students will be guided through a design thinking process—Discover, Interpret, Ideate, Experiment, and Outcome—to shape projects that matter to them. Along the way, they’ll develop key focus dispositions such as curiosity, resilience, empathy, and innovation.

To spark ideas and deepen understanding, students will experience off-site visits, hear from guest speakers, and connect with real-world challenges. Whether working independently or as part of a team, students will learn to think critically, act creatively, and shape a future that reflects who they are and what they care about.

Shape Your Future isn’t just a course—it’s a launchpad for lifelong learning.

Your Voice, Your Vision, Your Venture!

https://sites.google.com/view/npghsshapeyourfuture/home

Social Studies is all about people — how we think, what we believe, and why we act the way we do. It explores how different cultures and societies make decisions, solve problems, and deal with big challenges. By examining policy — how it is created, debated, and shaped — Social Studies draws on ideas from Psychology and Sociology to understand how individual personalities and beliefs can influence entire countries, sometimes for generations. It's a great way to understand the world around you — and your place in it.

Social Studies helps you develop valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and empathy — all of which are highly sought after by employers. If you're interested in fields like Commerce, Health, Law, Criminal Justice, Social Work, or Education, Social Studies provides a strong foundation. It also prepares you for further study in subjects such as Psychology, Sociology, Media and Communications, Political Science, and more.

Take your Spanish to the next level and stand out with skills that open doors to global opportunities. This course offers the chance to gain up to 20 NCEA Level 3 credits in Spanish.

You will refine your ability to communicate confidently and fluently in Spanish, continuing to develop advanced skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The course encourages you to express ideas, analyse perspectives, and engage with meaningful real-world topics.

Areas of study include:

• ? Human rights and global issues
• ? The world of work and future pathways
• ? Arts, culture, and identity

Learning is interactive, giving you opportunities to share your opinions, think critically, and connect with global perspectives. This course is ideal for students who enjoy exploring big ideas, building independence, and preparing for future study or travel.

For highly motivated students, there is also the opportunity to work towards Scholarship Spanish, providing an extra challenge and a chance to excel.

Spanish at this level is more than a subject—it’s a powerful skill that helps you connect, communicate, and confidently step into the world.

PE & SPORT SCIENCE WHAKATAUKI: 

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora- Healthy Body Healthy Mind or An active soul is a healthy soul

-The course has a strong emphasis on understanding key Sport Science and Physical Education theory relating to Anatomy/ Physiology/Biomechanics and Fitness Studies. We learn through participation in a series of practicals. This course prepares students for University PE/Sport Science or Health based courses, Polytechnic or Adventure courses also sport industry employment. 

-Students who are interested in this subject but are not looking to carry on in Sport Science at Tertiary level are welcome to take this course.

-Topics covered include: Issues in Sport/ Skill Analysis of Sport/ Sport Nutrition/ Survey for Life-long Participation in Physical Activity. Students participate in a Paddleboarding course and a wide range practical activities. 

-There are 19 NCEA Level 3 credits available (We offer up to 22 Credits).  

-Scholarship PE is also available in this course for interested students. 

This course provides a grounding for future study in Mathematics, Economics, Accountancy, Biology, Geography and Medical and Social Sciences. It develops Level 2 Mathematics skills further in the areas of statistics and probability and relies heavily on the use of statistical software. We use statistical methods to make sense of our information rich age, turning data into knowledge. Topics include Bivariate Investigations, Statistical lnference, Time Series, Probability Theory and Probability Distributions. 

This course provides the grounding for future study in Social Sciences, Economics, Accountancy, Biology and Journalism. It follows on and develops the ideas covered in 2STAT and relies heavily on the use of statistical software. We use statistical methods to make sense of our information rich age, turning data into knowledge. Topics include Bivariate Data, Time Series, Formal Inference, Critical Path Analysis, and Evaluating Statistical Reports. 

This course will give students an opportunity to experience the different aspects of Māori Performing Arts in areas such as haka, poi, waiata-ā-ringa and pōwhiri. This course offers theory and practical work and is supportive of Te Reo me ōna Tikanga Māori.

Students will work towards achieving NCEA Level 3 credits in Te Reo through the continued development of their higher skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The course will cover topics such as: Human Rights, The World of Politics, Arts and Culture.

This is a course of study which provides students with an opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge that enables them to generate designs, investigate and select appropriate materials and techniques and create purposeful outcomes. It is based on a project approach involving research, designing, trialling, evaluating and making using textiles.

 Projects to be undertaken are:  

• Pants Pattern Adaptation, 
• Fit for Purpose (own choice)
• Formal Garment
• Design Critique Report  

Level 3 Tourism – Explore the World & Your Future

Ever thought about working in travel, events, airlines, or even running your own adventure business? This course brings the world to you while helping you plan your own place in it.

You’ll explore some of the most exciting tourist destinations across Asia, the Pacific, and Australia, and discover what makes them so popular. Along the way, you’ll step into real-world tourism roles—learning what it takes to succeed in industries like outdoor adventure, event management, hospitality, and aviation.

Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world—and right here in Aotearoa New Zealand. You’ll investigate how it impacts the economy and communities, while building practical skills you can actually use when planning your own travel experiences.

Whether you’re dreaming of a career in tourism or just want to travel smarter, this course gives you the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about where to go and how to get there.

✅ Gain around 20 credits towards NCEA
✅ Learn real-world skills for travel and careers
✅ Explore global destinations and industries
✅ Perfect for future travellers and people-persons

Start your journey here. Where could Tourism take you? 

This is not a university approved subject and does not count toward university entrance

For students who want to begin WITT courses and training for a specific career 1 day a week while still at school. Students will gain credits towards NCEA Level 3. On the other 4 days of the week, students attend their regular classes, including a specific Trades Academy class, where they will complete a range of generic units and have time to catch up on work missed from other subjects. Courses include Level 3:  Equine and Agriculture.

Gateway gives senior students opportunities to gain workplace experience, industry-specific skills, and qualifications while still at school. It is delivered through the VOC subject and helps students move into further education, training, apprenticeships, or employment.

How the Programme Works

Students:

• Attend a VOC class at school.
• Complete core unit standards covering:
  • Career planning
  • CV preparation
  • Interview skills
  • First aid
  • Health and safety
• Choose industry-specific unit standards related to their career interests.
• Spend one day per week in a workplace during Terms 2 and 3 (up to a 10-week placement).

Students must complete at least 20 industry-based credits during the year.

Benefits for Students

The programme offers:

• Greater understanding of a chosen career pathway.
• Practical industry experience while still at school.
• Development of workplace communication and professional skills.
• Opportunities to build networks with employers and mentors.
• The ability to work toward industry qualifications.
• Potential pathways into apprenticeships or employment.

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to:

• Maintain excellent attendance at their workplace placement.
• Meet workplace expectations for punctuality, behaviour, and dress standards.
• Follow all workplace instructions and health and safety requirements.
• Arrange their own transport to placements and training unless alternative arrangements have been made.

Who Should Apply?

Gateway is aimed at students who demonstrate:

• Strong communication skills.
• Good time management.
• Reliability and self-motivation.
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Selection Process

Places are limited because funding is limited. Students are carefully selected before being accepted into the programme and matched with local workplaces.

In summary: Gateway is designed for motivated Year 12 and 13 students who want hands-on experience in a career area, industry qualifications, and a stronger pathway into future training or employment.

                                     Course Enrolment Process

Students should review the range of courses offered by the universities below and identify the paper(s) they wish to enrol in:

Please note: 

Approval must be obtained from Mr Taylor before meeting with Kimiora to complete the enrolment process.

As a general rule, the school will support payment for one paper per student per year.

                                                                                                                           University of Canterbury - Distance courses

                                                                                                                           Waikato University - Uni start courses

                                                                                         https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/faculties-schools/management/student-experience/leadership-academy/

                                                                                                                        Massey University Accelerator plus 

                                                                                                                              Victoria University VicStart courses

Level 3 Study

Level 2 Economics dives into the real-world economic issues facing New Zealand today — like inflation (rising prices), unemployment, international trade, and economic growth. You’ll explore how these challenges impact households and businesses, and how government policies can shape the economy in response.

From the cost of groceries to job opportunities, from exporting goods to growing the economy — Economics helps you understand the big picture behind the headlines.

You’ll learn to:

• Use economic models to make sense of real-life problems
• Explain how markets work — and why they sometimes don’t
• Understand the trade-offs governments face when trying to fix big issues
• Evaluate how economic decisions affect the well-being of different groups in society

Economics trains you to think clearly, weigh up decisions, and back your ideas with evidence — skills that are useful in any career.

Level 3 Economics gives students the tools to understand how markets work — and why they sometimes fail. You'll explore how consumers and producers make decisions, what drives prices, and how government policies like taxes, subsidies, and price controls can change outcomes. Using real-world examples and economic models, you’ll analyse issues like inequality, efficiency, and market power — and learn to explain them clearly and critically.

You’ll learn to:

• Use economic models to make sense of real-life problems
• Explain how markets work — and why they sometimes don’t
• Understand the trade-offs governments face when trying to fix big issues
• Evaluate how economic decisions affect the well-being of different groups in society

Economics trains you to think clearly, weigh up decisions, and back your ideas with evidence — skills that are useful in any career.

An Economics background can be helpful in future employment in fields such as Business & Finance, Government and Policy, Public Health, Law, Media and Journalism, and Education amongst many others.

Level 3 Tourism – Explore the World & Your Future

Ever thought about working in travel, events, airlines, or even running your own adventure business? This course brings the world to you while helping you plan your own place in it.

You’ll explore some of the most exciting tourist destinations across Asia, the Pacific, and Australia, and discover what makes them so popular. Along the way, you’ll step into real-world tourism roles—learning what it takes to succeed in industries like outdoor adventure, event management, hospitality, and aviation.

Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world—and right here in Aotearoa New Zealand. You’ll investigate how it impacts the economy and communities, while building practical skills you can actually use when planning your own travel experiences.

Whether you’re dreaming of a career in tourism or just want to travel smarter, this course gives you the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about where to go and how to get there.

✅ Gain around 20 credits towards NCEA
✅ Learn real-world skills for travel and careers
✅ Explore global destinations and industries
✅ Perfect for future travellers and people-persons

Start your journey here. Where could Tourism take you? 

This is not a university approved subject and does not count toward university entrance