At St Andrew’s College we have a flexible curriculum, and we try to cater for all course combinations so that students can be confident that they can study the type of course they wish, year by year. Your choice of course will largely dictate our options structure, and so you are asked to consider carefully and select from the courses open to you.
This Curriculum User Guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the information provided at the student information sessions, the Course Selection Expo, and in the online curriculum offering (the ‘Curriculum Book’), to help you plan your courses for next year.
We recommend that students follow a broad course of study for as long as they can during their time at St Andrew’s – there is always the opportunity to try something new along the way. Of course, as you move through the College, you will also need to consider the different requirements for future study and career pathways. This applies particularly when studying in Years 12 and 13, and afterwards if tertiary level study is an option.
If you require further advice as you work through the selection process, please do not hesitate to contact your tutor, Dean or relevant subject teacher who will be able to assist you.
David Bevin HEAD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING (SECONDARY)
Course Selection Process Timeline
The 2026 Secondary School Curriculum and Course Selection process takes place throughout August. Parents/caregivers and students will receive all the information they require to plan course selections for next year, but we also encourage you to think about courses that you might do beyond next year.
Term 3 Weeks 1–3
Course Selection seminars for current students about NCEA subjects for 2026, with Head of Teaching and Learning, David Bevin, Careers Counsellor, Richard Webster, and Heads of Departments.
Tuesday 29 July
Link to online Curriculum Book emailed to parents, students, and staff.
Expression of Interest forms for Athlete Sports Development/Performance, and Ballet and Dance Studies open
Tuesday 5 August
Expression of Interest forms for Athlete Sports Development/Performance, and Ballet and Dance Studies close at 4.00pm
Friday 8 August
Course Selection Expo for parents/caregivers and students in Years 10–12, 3.45pm–5.00pm, Gym 1.
Tuesday 12 August
Option Selections will open during the afternoon on Tuesday 12 August. Current students in Years 9–12 will be emailed personalised links to make their 2026 Curriculum Option selections, as well as Sports and Cultural Option selections.
Parents/caregivers of students new to the Secondary School in 2026 will be emailed personalised links to make Option selections for their child (this includes parents/caregivers of students who are currently in Year 8 in the St Andrew’s College Preparatory School).
Wednesday 20 August
Online 2026 Curriculum Option selections, and Sports and Cultural Option selections close at 5.00pm
Term 4 (Late November)
The College emails all parents/caregivers with their child’s confirmed course of study for 2026.
Online Curriculum Options
Choosing subjects for the following year is an important process because of the implications for future subject choices and possible careers. It is vital that parents/ caregivers and students are well informed about subject choices, qualifications, and careers.
The Curriculum and Course Selection is accessible to everyone in an easy to digest format in the online ‘Curriculum Book’, and clearly viewable on any device.
2026
The Curriculum and NCEA
In addition to the Curriculum
Selecting your Options
Core and Option subjects by year level
There is an overview of the Secondary School Curriculum at the top of the page.
Guide to Online Curriculum Options
All Curriculum information for 2026 can be viewed online at stac.nz/Curriculum.
For parents/caregivers and students to make an informed choice about subject selections, this online information should be used alongside discussions with teachers, Heads of Departments, tutors, Deans, and our Careers Counsellor, Mr Webster, as well as attending the Years 10–12 Course Selection Expo on Friday 8 August
Please take time to carefully read all of the online information.
These pages contain further information:
• The Curriculum and NCEA –the New Zealand Curriculum, our Middle School and Senior College Curriculums, NCEA, careers education, University Entrance requirements and New Zealand Scholarship;
• In Addition to the Curriculum – Outdoor Education, Supporting Curriculum, Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE), our Ballet Company, Speech and Drama, and Instrumental and Vocal Tuition opportunities;
• Selecting Your Options –how to make online option selections and guidelines for option changes.
At the base of the page, you can access the year level Core and Option subjects pages, which list all subjects at each year level.
At the top of each year level Core and Option subject page, there is an overview of the course requirements at that year level.
Using the tabs above the subjects, you can filter to only see Core Subjects, Option Subjects, and By Application Subjects (Years 9–10) or Subjects where Students are Selected/By Application (Years 11–13).
Note: By Application Subjects and Subjects where Students are Selected/By Application appear under both their own tab, and the Option Subjects tab.
You can print a copy of your Favourite subjects.
By Application Subjects are indicated by the letter ‘A’ and a teal green band.
Core Subjects are indicated by the letter ‘C’ and a dark blue band.
Option Subjects are indicated by the letter ‘O’ and a light blue band.
Only the subjects available at the selected year level are listed.
Side navigation (base of page on mobile devices) allows navigation between information pages and year level subject pages.
To view subjects by individual study-area, use the Categories dropdown filter.
Each subject has title, course code, and lessons per week listed. NCEA subjects in Years 11–13 show the number of internal standards, external standards, and the credits.
For each subject, you can expand and read the description by clicking on the arrow.
Within the subject description, you can easily navigate between subject pathways by using the buttons at the bottom.
Subjects can be marked as Favourite by clicking on the heart icon.
Selecting Your 2026 Curriculum Options
Subjects which are ‘By Application’
Complete an Expression of Interest form by Tuesday 5 August, 4.00pm
If you wish to select one of the subjects below, you will need to complete the relevant Expression of Interest form. You will also then need to choose the relevant subject when you make your 2026 online Option selections:
• Athlete Sports Development (Years 9–10) or Athlete Sports Performance (Years 11–13);
• Ballet and Dance Studies (Years 9–11).
The Expression of Interest form links will be sent via email on Tuesday 29 July. The form will close and access will be removed at 4.00pm on Tuesday 5 August. Applications will be reviewed before Option selections open on Tuesday 12 August
Please note, you do not need to complete an Expression of Interest form for other courses that are By Application or Selection.
Option selections will be open online from the afternoon of Tuesday 12 August.
Current Students of St Andrew’s College (Years 9–12)
Once open, students must check their College email for personalised links to make their online Option selections.
Students New to the Secondary School in 2026 (including current Year 8 students at the Preparatory School)
Once open, parents/caregivers will receive an email with personalised links to make their child’s online Option selections.
Option selections will close, and access to the online form will be removed at 5.00pm on Wednesday 20 August.
Option selections must be submitted by the time and date above. Failure to do so will mean that students are less likely to be able to take their preferred combination of subjects.
Option Changes
The same link in the Option selections email can be used to revisit and review selections made at any time prior to the deadline. Only the Options selected as at 5.00pm on Wednesday 20 August will be considered final and processed.
Subject Entry Requirements
Please carefully read the Entry Requirements for Years 11–13 subjects. If there is a clash of Option choices, which can only be resolved by a change to a course, the Timetable team will notify the student, asking them to choose an alternative course. Deans will assist the student in making an alternative selection.
For further details visit: stac.nz/SelectingOptions
Years 9 and 10 Subjects Overview
YEAR 9
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
Digital Literacy
English Mathematics
Music (Core)
Physical Education and Health
Religious Education
Science
Social Studies
Te Ao Māori (The Māori World)
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 9
Select six subjects, with two of them being back-up subjects, each being three lessons per week.
Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE)
Agriscience
Art
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economic Studies
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French
Geography
History
Literacy
Materials Technology
Media
Music
Spanish
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language)
BY APPLICATION/SELECTION
Athlete Sports Development
Ballet and Dance Studies * ESOL
* Full year, double semester, counts as two options.
YEAR 10
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
English Mathematics
Physical Education
Religious Education
Science
Social Studies
Te Waka
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 10
Select six subjects, with two of them being back-up subjects, each being three lessons per week.
Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE)
Agriscience
Art
Classical Studies and History
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economic Studies
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French *
Geography
Literacy
Materials Technology
Media
Music
Spanish *
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language) **
BY APPLICATION/SELECTION
Athlete Sports Development
Ballet and Dance Studies * ESOL
** Students can choose to do one semester (counts as one option) or a full year, double semester (counts as two options).
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum
NCEA – The National Certificate of Educational Achievement
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is New Zealand’s main qualification for senior secondary students, and forms part of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. For further information, please visit nzqa.govt.nz
For further information on the Curriculum and NCEA, visit stac.nz/CurriculumNCEA
St Andrew’s College Careers Education
The main emphasis in career guidance is on helping individuals to make their own career decisions based on a true understanding of their abilities, skills, interests, work values and personality, and on the options open to them.
Today, people more frequently face ongoing, successive work and study transitions, and career changes and developments. Therefore, such an approach also aims to equip them with the skills to make career-planning decisions in the future. Career guidance is not simply based on the concept of matching people and jobs.
For further information on Careers Education and how parents/caregivers can help with subject choices, including links to useful resources, visit stac.nz/CareersEducation
Useful tips on how parents/ caregivers can help, along with links to online resources can be found here.
Year 11 Subjects Overview
YEAR 11 (NCEA LEVEL 1)
Students study six subjects for NCEA.
At Year 11, the compulsory Core subjects are: English, Mathematics, and Science, as well as the Health Education/Physical Education and Study Programme
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
Health Education/Physical Education Study Programme
Select one of each Core subject: English or English Literature
General Mathematics and Statistics * or Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Core Science or ** General Science
* From the students who choose General Mathematics and Statistics, a group will be invited to be part of the Mathematics and Statistics Extension course.
** Students in 10N, 10O and 10H can take ‘Double Science’, meaning students must take both Biology and Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. 10N, 10O, and 10H students who choose to do one Science subject must select General Science
All other Year 10 students select one of General Science or Core Science. If they choose both Biology and Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry, they must have HOD Science approval first.
YEAR 11 NCEA FAQS: stac.nz/NCEA_Y11
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 11
Students must select three Option subjects and two back-up Option subjects. (Full year, 4 lessons each. Total of 12 lessons a week).
Agriscience Art
Biology and Chemistry **
Commerce with Accounting
Commerce with Economics
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Fabric Technology
Food and Health
French
Geography
History
Materials Technology Music
Physical Chemistry ** Physical Education (NCEA)
Physical Education and Leadership
Spanish Te Reo Māori (Māori Language)
BY APPLICATION/SELECTION
Athlete Sports Performance Ballet and Dance Studies
ESOL Pathways
Year 12 Subjects Overview
YEAR 12 (NCEA LEVEL 2)
Students study six subjects for NCEA.
At Year 12, English is the only compulsory Core subject, as well as the Religious Education/Physical Education/Study/Life Programme
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
Religious Education
Physical Education
Study Life Programme
Select one: English or English Literature
YEAR 12 NCEA FAQS: stac.nz/NCEA_Y12
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 12
Students must select five Option subjects and two back-up Option subjects. (Full year, 4 lessons each week. Total of 20 lessons a week).
Accounting
Agribusiness
Agriscience
Art: Design
Art: Painting
Art: Photography Biology
Business Management
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economics
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French
Geography
History
Materials Technology
Mathematics Applied
Mathematics with Calculus
Mathematics and Statistics
Media
Music
Physical Education (NCEA)
Physical Education and Recreation (NCEA)
Physics
Science
Spanish
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language)
Travel and Tourism
BY APPLICATION/SELECTION
Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE)
Athlete Sports Performance
English Extension
ESOL
Pathways
Year 13 Subjects Overview
YEAR 13 (NCEA LEVEL 3)
Students study five subjects for NCEA.
At Year 13, the compulsory Core subjects are: Religious Education/Health Education/ Physical Education/Study/ Te Waka Programme/Senior College Electives Programme
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
Full year:
Focus period
A combination of three of the following subjects per Semester:
Religious Education
Health Education
Physical Education Study
Te Waka Programme
Senior College Electives Programme
NCEA SCHOLARSHIP 2026
Students may choose to sit the Scholarship examination (additional to the NCEA Level 3 examination) in one or more subjects. Course Outlines for all subjects, including Scholarship, will be made available at the beginning of 2026.
YEAR 13 NCEA FAQS: stac.nz/NCEA_Y13
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 13
Students must select five Option subjects and two back-up Option subjects. (Full year, 4 lessons each week. Total of 20 lessons a week).
