Secondary School Curriculum and Course Selection Guide 2025
2025 Secondary School Curriculum and Course Selection
2025 Secondary School Curriculum and Course Selection Guide
Introduction
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 booklet is designed to be used in conjunction with the information provided at the parent/caregiver and the student information sessions, the Course Selection Expo, and 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 students move through the College, they 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 child’s 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 2025 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 2025, with Head of Teaching and Learning, David Bevin, Careers Counsellor, Richard Webster, and Heads of Departments.
Thursday 1 August
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
Monday 5 August
Expression of Interest forms for Athlete Sports Development/Performance, and Ballet and Dance Studies close at 9.00am
Friday 9 August
Course Selection Expo for parents/caregivers and students in Years 10–12, 3.45pm–5.00pm, Gym 1.
Tuesday 13 August
Option Selections will open during the afternoon on Tuesday 13 August. Current students in Years 9–12 will be emailed personalised links to make their 2025 Curriculum Option selections, as well as Sports and Cultural Option selections.
Parents/caregivers of students new to the Secondary School in 2025 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 21 August
Online 2025 Curriculum Option selections, and Sports and Cultural Option selections close at 5.00pm
Monday 25 November (Term 4)
The College emails all parents/caregivers with their child’s confirmed course of study for 2025.
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.
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.
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.
Guide to Curriculum Options Online
All Curriculum information for 2025 can be viewed online at stac.nz/Curriculum
For parents/caregivers and students to make an informed choice about subject selections for 2025, 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 9 August.
Please take time to carefully read all of the online information.
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 2025 Curriculum Options
Subjects which are By Application
Complete an Expression of Interest form by Monday 5 August, 9.00am
If you wish to select one of the below subjects, 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 2025 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 Thursday 1 August. The form will close and access will be removed on Monday 5 August, 9.00am, so that applications can be reviewed before Option selections open on Tuesday 13 August
Option selections will be open online from the afternoon of Tuesday 13 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 2025 online Option selections.
Students New to the Secondary School in 2025 (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 2025 online Option selections.
Option selections will close, and access to the online form will be removed, at 5.00pm on Wednesday 21 August.
Option selections must be submitted by the above time and date. 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 email can be used to revisit this website at any time prior to the deadline to review the selections made. Only the final selections taken on the Wednesday 21 August deadline will be 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 work with the student to make an alternative selection.
Years 9 and 10 Academic Curriculum Core and Option 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. The selection of French, or Ballet and Dance Studies, equates to two of your subject options because they are full-year courses, that is, they run in both Semester 1 and Semester 2. If studied for a full year, Te Reo Māori equates to two of your subject options. If studied for one semester, it is one of your options.
Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE)
Agriscience
Art
Athlete Sports Development **
Ballet and Dance Studies * **
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economic Studies
ESOL **
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French *
Geography
History
Literacy
Materials Technology
Media
Music
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language) †
YEAR 10
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
English Mathematics
Physical Education and Health
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. The selection of a language (French, Spanish), or Ballet and Dance Studies, equates to two of your subject options because they are full-year courses, that is, they run in both Semester 1 and Semester 2. If studied for a full year, Te Reo Māori equates to two of your subject options. If studied for one semester, it is one of your options.
Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE)
Agriscience
Art
Athlete Sports Development **
Ballet and Dance Studies * **
Classical Studies and History
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economic Studies
ESOL **
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French *
Geography
Literacy
Materials Technology
Media
Music
Spanish *
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language) †
* Full year, double semester, counts as two options ** By Application † Students can choose to do one semester (counts as one option) or a full year, double semester (counts as two options)
Careers Education on our website
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
NCEA – The National Certificate of Educational Achievement
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is New Zealand’s national qualification for senior secondary students. NCEA is part of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and is the main secondary school qualification. For further information, please visit www.nzqa.govt.nz
For further information on the Curriculum and NCEA, visit stac.nz/CurriculumNCEA
Useful tips on how parents/ caregivers can help, along with links to online resources can be found here.
Year 11 Academic Curriculum Core and Option Subjects Overview
YEAR 11 (NCEA LEVEL 1)
At Year 11, all students study English, Mathematics and Science, and are required to participate in the Physical Education and Health Education/Study Programme. All students are also required to take three other option subjects. They study six subjects for NCEA.
YEAR 11 NCEA FAQS: stac.nz/NCEA_Y11
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
• select one of English/English Literature;
• one of General Mathematics and Statistics/ Mathematics and Statistics Applied/ Mathematics and Statistics Extension;
• students in 10N, 10O and 10H can take ‘double science’, meaning students must take both Biology and Chemistry (11BCIM) and Physical Chemistry (11PHCH). 10N, 10O, and 10H students who choose to do one Science subject must select Science;
• all other Year 10 students select one of Science or Practical Science. If they choose both Biology and Chemistry (11BCIM) and Physical Chemistry (11PHCH), they must have HOD Science approval first;
• Physical Education and Health Education/Study 2 lessons Physical Education and Health, 1 lesson Health Education, 1 lesson Study.
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 11
Select three Option subjects and two back-up Option subjects. (Full year, 4 lessons each. Total of 12 lessons a week).
Agriscience
Art
Athlete Sports Performance **
Ballet and Dance Studies **
Biology and Chemistry
Commerce with Accounting
Commerce with Economics
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
ESOL **
Fabric Technology
Food and Health
French
Geography
History
Materials Technology
Music
Physical Chemistry
Physical Education (NCEA)
Spanish
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language)
Vocational Education and Training **
** Subjects where Students are Selected/By Application
Year 12 Academic Curriculum Core and Option Subjects Overview
YEAR 12 (NCEA LEVEL 2)
At Year 12, all students study English and are required to participate in the Physical Education/Religious Education/Study/Life Programme.
All students are also required to take five other subjects, studying a total of six subjects for NCEA.
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
Full year, 4 lessons each.
• select one of English/English Literature;
• Physical Education/Religious Education/ Study/Life Programme (1 lesson for each, one term Leadership Programme instead of Study).
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 12
Select five Option subjects. (Full year, 4 lessons each week. Total of 20 lessons a week).
Accounting Agribusiness
Agriscience
Art: Design
Art: Painting
Art: Photography
Athlete Sports Performance **
Biology
Business Management
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economics
English Extension **
ESOL **
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French
Geography
History
Materials Technology
Mathematics Applied
Mathematics with Calculus
Mathematics and Statistics
Media Studies
Music
Physical Education (NCEA)
Physical Education and Recreation (NCEA)
Physics
Science
Spanish
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language)
Travel and Tourism
Vocational Education and Training **
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum ** Subjects where Students are Selected/By Application
Year 13 Academic Curriculum Core and Option Subjects Overview
YEAR 13 (NCEA LEVEL 3)
At Year 13, students are required to participate in the Physical Education/ Religious Education/Health Education/ Study/Life Programme. All students study five subjects for NCEA. Students may choose to sit the Scholarship examination (additional to the NCEA Level 3 examination) in one or more subjects.
COMPULSORY CORE SUBJECTS
Full year, 4 lessons each.
Physical Education/Health Education/ Religious Education/Study/Life Programme.
• Semester 1: 1 Focus period, 1 Life Programme + 1 PHEC and 1 HLED or 1 RLED and 1 STDY;
• Semester 2 – 1 Focus period, 1 Life Programme + 1 RLED and 1 STDY or 1 PHEC and 1 HLED.
YEAR 13 NCEA FAQS: stac.nz/NCEA_Y13
For further information on each subject, visit stac.nz/Curriculum
SELECTING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEAR 13
Select five Option subjects. (Full year, 4 lessons each week. Total of 20 lessons a week).
Accounting
Agribusiness
Agriscience
Art: Design
Art: Painting
Art: Photography
Athlete Sports Performance **
Biology
Business Management
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Design and Visual Communication
Digital Technology
Drama
Economics
English Literature
English
English Extension **
ESOL **
Fabric Technology
Food and Nutrition
French Geography
History
Materials Technology
Mathematics General
Mathematics with Calculus
Mathematics with Calculus Extension **
Mathematics and Statistics
Media Studies
Music
Physical Education (NCEA)
Physical Education and Recreation (NCEA)
Physics
Physics and Chemistry Extension **
Science
Spanish
Statistics
Te Reo Māori (Māori Language)
Travel and Tourism
Vocational Education and Training **
** Subjects where Students are Selected/By Application
