Year 9 Curriculum

At Year 9 all students study:

• English, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology.
• One language for half a year.
• A term each of Computer Applications and Business Studies.
• Two Arts Options, a Major and a Minor.

Arts Option Information

One is selected as a Major (26 weeks) and one as a Minor (13 weeks).

Drama: This course aims to introduce students to basic performance techniques and practical drama skills through group work, improvisation, script work and theatre history. The course consists of a wide variety of practical activities supported by theory work.

Music: This course is a general introduction to music theory, listening skills and creating and performing music. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills on keyboard, guitar recorder and voice.

Performance Music: This exciting practical course will provide students who have an interest in playing wind or brass instruments with the opportunity to learn through rehearsing and performing on their instrument.

Pacific Arts: This course offers a selection of visual arts, craft, music and dance including activities from Maori, Aboriginal, Pasifika, Asian and New Zealand cultures.

Visual Arts: This course offers a range of theoretical and practical art-based activities. It includes a selection of drawing, design, painting, printmaking, sculpture and art history.

Language Option Information

One language is studied in Year 9 for half a year.

Chinese: Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin). Students will be working at Curriculum Levels 1 and 2. The Hanyu Pinyin (romanised) writing system will be used in conjunction with Chinese characters. Cultural aspects will be integrated with the teaching of the language.

ELS English: English Language Support - extra support is provided to cater for students who are speakers of other languages. This course follows a mainstream programme developed from the National Curriculum and may last for one half year (2 terms) or for the whole year.

German: This course aims to develop basic communication skills related to daily life situations. It involves listening, speaking, reading and writing activities in ways which are fun. Cultural aspects are also included.

Japanese: This course allows students to use Japanese in practical situations. Students are introduced to "hiragana" script and will be writing confidently by the end of the course.

Maori: This introductory course is based on the communicative approach to language learning. The aim is to get students to be communicative in speaking very basic, but correct Maori. There are four units: Pronunciation and greetings, Talking about oneself, Talking about the whanau, Talking about school.

Additional Programmes

Lynfield College has an excellent reputation for its well established programmes for very able students and for those who are requiring learning support or second language support.

• Learning Support Programme

  Identification of learning difficulties and ongoing monitoring of progress along with in-class help, withdrawal for individual or small group tuition and individual education programmes are the key elements. Specialist staff work with the students and are in regular contact with parents and other appropriate outside agencies.

• Advanced Learners' Programme

  We seek to provide a programme which allows acceleration and enrichment in core subjects at a junior level. At the present time our most able academic students in Year 10 are offered a full NCEA Level 1 course in Geography and Science as well as some standards in Level 1 English and Mathematics. These students are also encouraged to extend themselves through a variety of external exams, competitions and submissions.

• ESOL Programmes

  Two programmes are offered to Year 9 students:

  • Students with very limited English language are placed in an immersion programme where the students spend a large part of their day depending on their level of need. The aim of this programme is to raise their level of language so that they may be placed into a regular class.
  • Students capable of operating in a regular class, but who still need some assistance are placed in a regular core English class with a teacher who is also a trained ESOL teacher.

Year 10 Curriculum

The compulsory core consists of: English, Health , Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies.

All students do two full year options for three periods per week each.

In Year 10, your course will consist of:

English	5 periods per week
Mathematics	4 periods per week
Science	4 periods per week
Social Studies	4 periods per week
Physical Education	3 periods per week
Health	2 periods per week
Option 1	4 periods per week
Option 2	4 periods per week

The following option subjects are offered. Students do two. As the subjects are organised into two blocks in the timetable, some combinations may not be possible.

Business Studies	Music
Chinese	Stage and Performing Arts
Drama	Technology Hard Materials
English Language Support	Technology Soft Materials
Food Technology	TIM
German	Visual Arts
Graphics	Visual Arts - Craft
Japanese	Youth Award Scheme (YAS)
Maori

Students in the enhanced classes may do NCEA Level 1 in some subjects. (Geography replaces Year 10 Social Studies). Students doing the accelerate programme in Year 10 will be identified by the Dean and Mrs Davis before the end of each year.

Year 10 Option Choice Guidelines

Year 10 Subject Guide

This pdf format version of the Year 10 Subject Guide contains guidelines for subject choices and descriptions of the Year 10 option subjects offered at the College. These subject descriptions contain information on the prior study required, costs and main areas of study.

Year 10 Subject Guide

Before making your option choices talk to people:

• the teachers in charge of subjects you are considering
• your Year 9 Technology and Option teachers
• your parents
• your Dean or Form teacher
• the Careers Guidance teacher, Mrs Keir
• senior students

Think about:

• Doing something you like and are interested in
• Doing something you know you are good at
• Your future career. Check you are on the right path by seeing Mrs Keir or the material in the careers room or library
• What you would like to study in the senior school, especially in Year 11. There are some subjects that you must do in year 10, before you can do them in Year 11. There are some subjects that carry on through to Year 13 and others that do not. Check through the subject flow chart below as you plan your course.

Senior Subject Guide

This pdf format version of the Senior Subject Guide contains guidelines for making option choices, information on qualifications (including requirements for entry to University), option blocks and descriptions of all subjects offered at the College. These subject descriptions contain information on the Level, assessment types, prior study required, main areas of study, methods used, career relevance/possibilites, and cost/equipment.

Senior Subject guide

Qualifications

NCEA: National Certificate of Educational Achievement

Information about NCEA for Caregivers

Credits required for a Certificate are as follows:

Level 1	80 credits at Level 1	8 credits in literacy, 8 credits in numeracy
Level 2	80 credits	At least 60 credits from Level 2
Level 3	80 credits	At least 60 credits from Level 3

Scholarship

For the latest information on NZ Scholarship, please refer to the NZQA web site.

Entrance to University

You will qualify for entrance to a University in New Zealand if you have:

• a minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of 14 credits at level 3 or higher in each of two subjects from an approved subject list (see below), with a further 14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects

• a minimum of 14 credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau on the National Qualifications Framework

• a minimum of 8 credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Maori; 4 credits must be in Reading and 4 credits must be in Writing. The literacy credits will be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards.

Remember that university entrance gets you into university but universities publish details of entry criteria for particular courses. Some university courses do not have places for all the students who want to enrol.

To enhance your chance of selection into programmes with limited entry:

• Students studying Level 3 subjects at Year 13 should choose five Level 3 whole subjects from the approved list produced by NZQA (see below).

• Students should aim for the highest achievement level possible in each standard. This is advised because the University will rank students' best 80 Level 3 credits from subjects on the approved list.

• Students should consult the admission charts in the University publications and ensure they choose any required subjects for the degrees they are interested in studying. Information from the Universities is available at the Careers office - make an appointment to see Mrs Keir.

The list of NZQA approved subjects for entrance to University offered at the College is below. At least two subjects used for the University Entrance qualification must be from this list. The third may be from any subject or combination of subjects within separate Level 3 NZQA Domains. This includes Technology subjects offered at Level 3 at the College.

Year 11: NCEA Level 1

• All students must do 3 consecutive years of Mathematics and Science (Years 9 to 11).

• All students must do 4 consecutive years of English (Years 9 to 12).

• A candidate may only do one Technology Materials option: Hard Materials or Soft Materials

• Students take SIX subjects including Physical Education and Health. With the Deans approval a student may do Physical Education as a seventh subject in a flexi time period.

• A candidate with Level 1 Science in Year 10 must do Level 1 Science Physical and/or Human Biology in Year 11. (Level 2 Biology, Physics or Chemistry cannot be studied until year 12).

• In some courses there are Achievement Standards, Unit Standards or a combination of both. Different courses offer different combinations to allow for students who would struggle doing a full programme of 24 credits of Achievement Standards eg. Maths Applied, Science NZ. Some students will be recommended to take a particular course by the Faculty Manager.

• Most subjects consist of 20 - 24 credits.

• To obtain a Level 1 National Certificate a candidate needs to get at least 80 credits. Within the 80 at least 8 will be for Literacy and 8 for Numeracy.

Full descriptions of all subjects offered at the College are contained in the Senior Subject Guide (pdf format).

Year 12 - NCEA Level 2

• All students must take a programme of six subjects.

• All students must do 4 consecutive years of English or have a minimum of Level 2 English.

• A well-balanced course is required.

• Achievement Standards and Unit Standards can provide credits for Tertiary entrance or qualifications - see the University entrance requirements.

• Students doing Visual Arts may do only TWO of: Visual Arts Design, Visual Arts Photography, Visual Arts Craft, Visual Arts Paint/Print. Art. See the HOD Visual Arts.

• Computing students may take only ONE of: ITH, ITD. Neither ITH nor ITD should be taken with ISM. For students taking Level 2 ICT the maximum number of computing courses is two.

• Candidates with appropriate Level 2 results may do Level 3.

• Those students aiming at doing a degree course should take great care that their selected courses are also available as a Level 3 course in Year 13. It is a good idea to choose your Year 13 courses and work backwards to your Year 12 choices. (You will need 5 courses at Level 3)

Full descriptions of all subjects offered at the College are contained in the Senior Subject Guide (pdf format).

Year 13 - NCEA Level 3

• All students are encouraged to return for a fifth year of education. The Level 3 standards provide a stimulating academic challenge with NZ Scholarship exams being available. The results of Level 3 standards will be used to qualify for entrance to University and to 'limited entry' courses. There are opportunities to mature personally and to develop leadership skills.

• All year 13 students take FIVE courses. (A sixth may be taken with the approval of your Dean)

• If you are aiming at a degree course you are best to do a full Level 3 programme (5 courses). Check the requirements for entry to University and for limited entry courses.

• Most Year 13 students study for Level 3 in order to gain entry to University courses. However, a full (5 course) Level 3 programme is not appropriate for anyone who has not gained a Level 2 Certificate. Permission from the Dean and relevant Heads of Department will only be given in exceptional circumstances for those students to do a full Level 3 course.

• Students need to check the requirements of future courses to ensure an appropriate Year 13 programme is selected.

• No more than TWO Physical Education related subjects can be taken.

• Computing students may take only ONE of: ITH, ITD. Neither ITH nor ITD should not be taken with ISM.

• Candidates with appropriate qualifications may do a university paper. Provisional enrolment for these is usually required before the end of November of the previous year. (see your Dean or Mrs. Davis)

Full descriptions of all subjects offered at the College are contained in the Senior Subject Guide (pdf format).