Curriculum

Year 7 and 8 Curriculum

Students are based in a homeroom with a primary trained teacher. In their homeroom students learn reading, language skills, social studies and health. In class grouping caters for different abilities. For Mathematics, students from each year level join together and are placed in learning groups according to their level of achievement. Students are taught Science and Physical Education by specialist subject teachers.

Students experience a broad curriculum by rotating through modules of Art, Drama, Music, Japanese, Food Technology, Digital Technology, Design & Visual Communication, Hard Materials Technology, Dance, Robotics, Textiles Technology, Te Reo Māori. These are taught by specialist subject teachers.

Kaikorai Valley Junior College students have the advantage of being taught by a homeroom teacher and specialist subject teachers. Students are taught in specialist facilities such as the science laboratories, music suite, drama theatre, gymnasium, art rooms, computer suites, whare pukapuka (library) information centre and technology workshops.

Year 9 Curriculum

Students are placed in a Form Class, and study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, Health and Careers.

One Form Class may be a smaller group; a learning support class developed with the aim to help accelerate the learning of students who have previously struggled academically. There will also be teacher-aide support in this class in an effort to improve the students core subject’s skills.

High achieving students are identified and given extension work and opportunities to join extension programmes.

All students are regrouped with other students from their year level for module classes. All students rotate through modules of Art, Music, Drama, Food Technology, Design and Visual Communication, Hard Materials Technology, Digital Technology, Japanese, Te Reo Māori, Textiles Technology.

All subjects are taught by specialist subject teachers.

Year 10 Curriculum

Students are placed in a Form Class, and study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, Health and Careers.

One Form Class maybe a smaller group; a learning support class developed with the aim to help accelerate the learning of students who have previously struggled academically. There will also be teacher-aide support in this class in an effort to improve the students’ core subject’s skills.

High achieving students are identified and given extension work and opportunities to join extension programmes.

Students choose three other subjects of their choice. The current optional subjects are: Art, Music, Drama, Food Technology, Design and Visual Communication, Hard Materials Technology, Digital Technology, Japanese, Geography and History, Textiles Technology, Business Studies, Te Reo Māori.

All subjects are taught by specialist subject teachers.

Year 11 Curriculum

The aim at this level is to assist all students to meet the NCEA Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy requirements and gain at least 80 credits over the six subjects to gain the Level 1 National Certificate of Educational Achievement.

All Year 11 students study six subjects. English, Mathematics and Science are compulsory. Students select three subjects of their choice.  The current option subjects are Geography, History, Visual Art, Music, Drama, Design & Visual Communication, Hard Materials Technology, Digital Technology, Japanese, Physical Education, Skills for Employment, Food Technology, Textiles Technology and Te Reo Māori.

Year 12 Curriculum

The aim at this level is for students to gain at least 60 credits to obtain the Level 2 National Certificate of Educational Achievement. As well as the 10 University Entrance Literacy credits, students are also earning credits towards their Vocational Pathway.

All students must study English. Students then choose four optional subjects. These subjects can be academic, vocational or a mixture of both.

The current Year 12 options are: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Media Studies, Accounting, Geography, History, Visual Art, Music, Drama, Hospitality, Design & Visual Communication, Hard Materials Technology Wood and Metal, Digital Technology, Japanese, Physical Education,  Skills for Employment, Gateway, Otago Secondary Tertiary College. Textiles Technology and Photography.

Career counselling and work experience are offered to all. An extensive network of employers known to the school often means students can do work experience or find good occupations or apprenticeships to enter.

One afternoon a week all Year 12 students are involved in a variety of activities such as outdoor education, work experience, first aid, community service.  The students also participate in a project on the school's Urban Farm.

Students have the opportunity to study courses towards their vocational pathway at the Otago Secondary Tertiary College run by the Otago Polytechnic one day a week. Current courses on offer are: Automotive, Carpentry/Building and Construction, Cookery, Manaaki Tauira/Civil Engineering, Engineering, Agriculture/Horticulture, IT and Design, Sports' Exercise and  Health and Salon Skills.

Gateway is a structured workplace learning option for students who are ready to explore a career option in the workplace. Students are placed in a workplace usually one day a week.

STAR programmes are short courses leading to unit standard credits which give students experience in a career field.

Year 13 Curriculum

At Year 13 courses are arranged to meet the needs of the individual student. Careful guidance is given about the requirements to gain University Entrance, Vocational Pathways and the 60 credits needed to gain the Level 3 National Certificate of Educational Achievement. Able students are encouraged to enter the Scholarship examinations.

There are no compulsory subjects at year 13. Students are encouraged to select subjects that match their possible Vocational Pathway.

The current Year 13 options are: English, Media Studies, Calculus, Statistics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Media Studies, Geography, History, Visual Art, Photography, Music, Drama, Hospitality, Design & Visual Communication, Digital Technology, Japanese, Physical Education, Outdoor Pursuits, Hard Materials Technology Wood and Metal, Gateway, Otago Secondary Tertiary College, Textiles Technology.

Students have the opportunity to study courses towards their vocational pathway at the Otago Secondary Tertiary College run by the Otago Polytechnic one day a week. Current courses on offer are:  Automotive, Carpentry/Building and Construction, Cookery, Manaaki Tauira/Civil Engineering, Engineering, Agriculture/Horticulture, IT and Design, Sports' Exercise and  Health and Salon Skills.

Gateway is a structured workplace learning option for students who are ready to explore a career option in the workplace. Students are placed in a workplace usually one day a week.

STAR programmes are short courses leading to unit standard credits which give students experience in a career field.