All Year 9 & 10 students will study the following for a full year:
English
Health & Physical Education
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Year 9 study 6 other subjects, 3 per semester and Year 10 study a mix of semester and/or full year courses from the following curriculum areas:
The Arts
Technology
Learning Languages
Integrated Studies
Enrichment & Extension courses (invitation only)
At Hillcrest High individual courses are planned in consultation with deans at senior level. All senior students must take at least five subjects in their course. Classes will run provided there is sufficient demand to make class sizes practical.
Courses for seniors can be arranged across the year levels. For instance, Year 11 students are able to take some subjects at NCEA Level Two and in some instances NCEA Level Three. Year 12 students may study some subjects at NCEA Level One, Two or Three. Year 13 students can study at any NCEA level.
In Year 12, students who wish to go on to university study are strongly recommended to take at least four subjects that are offered at NCEA Level Three in Year 13. For more detailed information see Heads of Departments.
YEAR 11
All students study a minimum of six subjects, which includes physical education (compulsory).
All students study a course in English and/or Te Reo Maori, and a course in mathematics.
A balanced programme is strongly recommended.
A six-subject NCEA course is available. This will be an option for a limited number of students based on teacher recommendation and results in the junior school.
X’ classes in each of English, Maths and Science will be offered. High achieving students will be selected for these classes based on teacher recommendation and results in the junior school.
YEAR 12
All students study five or six subjects.
English and/or Te Reo Maori are the only compulsory subjects for study.
Year 12 students will participate in a recreation programme.
High achieving Year 12 students will be invited to enter the Cambridge AS exams in English and/or Mathematics.
YEAR 13
All students study five or six subjects
All students are involved in an independent study programme that aims to equip them with essential organisation to succeed at tertiary level.
High achieving students are encouraged to enter Scholarship examinations on a subject by subject basis.
NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (NCEA)
NCEA will operate at Years 11, 12 and 13 in 2020 and students will be assessed internally and externally for credits towards the Certificate.
NCEA Level 1 requires students to obtain 80 credits; 10 literacy and 10 numeracy credits must form part of the 80 credits. Students will receive an Achieved, Merit or Excellence level for each Achievement Standard attained within each subject. Unit Standards are counted towards the 80 credits. However, in most Unit Standards, Achieved is the only pass level.
NCEA Level 2: 60 of the 80 credits required must be at Level 2 or above. Level 2 cannot be attained unless the Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements have been met.
NCEA Level 3: 60 of the 80 credits required must be at Level 3 or above. Level 3 cannot be attained unless the Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements have been met.