Through the Social Sciences, students develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to better understand, participate in, and contribute to the local, national, and global communities in which they live and work; engage critically with societal issues; and evaluate the sustainability of alternative social, economic, political, and environmental practices.

Students explore the unique bicultural nature of New Zealand society that derives from the Treaty of Waitangi. 

They learn about people, places, cultures, histories, and the economic world, within and beyond New Zealand. 

They develop understandings about how societies are organised and function and how the ways in which people and communities respond are shaped by different perspectives, values, and viewpoints. As they explore how others see themselves, students clarify their own identities in relation to their particular heritages and contexts.

In Years 9 and 10 students will take Social Studies as a compulsory subject. They can then opt to take Geography and/or History from Year 11 onwards. Once students reach Year 12 onwards they can also choose to take Classical Studies or Tourism Studies. 

If students choose to complete the IB qualification, they can select from either Geography or History as their Group 3 subject.