Stimulating curriculum choices The curriculum offered by Waitakere College is one designed to give each and every student a chance to enjoy learning and to achieve success at a level that is right for them. At the same time we are committed to seeing that every student leaving the college has the qualifications, the experience and the skills necessary to successfully compete for entry into tertiary education, work-based training or meaningful employment. Overview Waitakere College continues to offers one of the broadest range of subjects available in Auckland secondary schools. The breadth of subjects available allows students access to a large number of vocational and educational pathways upon leaving school. Many courses are highly academic. These are for students intending to go on to university study. Courses at Level 3 and scholarship are offered in: The sciences, arts, business, languages, social sciences, computing, mathematics and statistics, performing and fine arts, music, graphics, design and media. A large number of other courses are based on the development of skills for Polytch courses, apprenticeships and for the workplace. These include: furniture making, carpentry, hospitality and food technology, tourism, business administration and childcare.
Years 9 and 10 The junior school programme encompasses the compulsory subjects of the national curriculum; English, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Education, Health and Technology and allows students to select from a large range of subjects. The Year 9 programme provides students with a taste of what is available in later years. The focus of Year 10 is the development of the skills and understandings needed in preparation for NCEA. Additional courses in the junior school include Media and Enterprise studies. The college is renowned for its junior performing arts academy.
Year 11 Students at Year 11 undertake a course of study towards NCEA Level 1. The courses are comprised of Achievement or Unit Standards or a mixture of the two. Years 12 and 13 There are over 70 courses on offer to students at Years 12 and 13 (See our curriculum map for details) – plenty for students to follow their interests, strengths and their dreams for the future. Most Year 12 students will undertake a course of study at Level 2 NCEA and most Year 13 students at Level 3. However, a significant feature of our curriculum and timetable structure is that it allows students to work at a level appropriate for them in each subject. Consequently a Year 12 student might be working at Level 2 in most subjects, at Level 3 in those subjects in which they excel and at Level 1 in a subject that they struggle with. Many of our Year 12 and Year 13 students are involved in the Gateway programme, which provides opportunities for ‘real-world’ learning in the workplace. Every Thursday this group of Waitakere College students head out to workplaces as diverse as boat building yards, the police, banks, photographic studios, film and TV stations, restaurants and hotels and engineering workshops. Students involved in Gateway have the opportunity to gain a very real appreciation of what is involved in a career of the type they are experiencing. Students also become work ready as they develop vocational skills and gain Level 2-4 credits in Industry Unit Standards. Waitakere College is one of only 20 schools in the country and of only four in Auckland who are part of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme (See Gateway for more detail). School Donations & Subject Fees Unfortunately schools cannot operate on the Government’s grant alone. We are grateful for the valuable contribution parents/care-givers make. The Annual Levy per family is: | 1 child | $120 | | 2 children | $180 | | 3 or more children | $200 |
The levy can be paid annually, or by instalments. Arrangements can be made, under certain circumstances, for regular automatic payments. Subject Fees
A number of subject areas charge a fee to cover cost of materials used for items that students keep. This information is available at the time students are choosing their subjects for the following year. |
