The NZ Curriculum

A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

In the New Zealand Curriculum  (2007) (“NZC”),  there are some important messages about how learning will look and what learning will take place, as we prepare our young people for their futures.

Vision: The NZC provides a vision for New Zealand’s students and, as a state integrated school, we are part of the process of helping our country realise this vision of developing young people who will be confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners.

This vision puts students at the centre of our purpose, and is very much in keeping with the vision of Waikato Diocesan School for Girls: Preparing confident, resourceful and resilient young women to make a positive difference in their world. In achieving this vision, the WDSG community will promote its values of Courage, Empathy, Integrity, Tolerance, Respect and Diligence, underpinned by the Christian faith.

Values: The NZC identifies common values to be encouraged, modelled and explored. The values are excellence; innovation, inquiry and curiosity; diversity; equity; community and participation; ecological sustainability; integrity; and respect.

Key Competencies:  The NZC identifies competencies that all young people will need in order to live, learn, work and contribute as active members of their communities. They are thinking; using language, symbols and texts; managing self;  relating to others; and participating and contributing. Our teachers incorporate explicit opportunities for these competencies to be taught, practised and evaluated in their learning programmes. Parents can expect to see the language of the competencies reflected in feedback on their daughters’ progress.

Learning Areas: The NZC specifies eight learning areas that are intended to give New Zealand students a broad general education with a foundation for specialisation. It is compulsory for schools to provide learning in English, the Arts, Health & Physical Education, Learning Languages, Mathematics & Statistics, Science, Social Sciences and Technology until the end of Year 10.

Thereafter, schools provide the learning contexts that best meet the needs and aspirations of their own communities. Each learning area specifies its achievement objectives. Teachers at Dio are continuously reviewing and refining their units of work from Years 9 to 13 to reflect the objectives of their learning area under the NZC.

In the Technology learning area, there are two technological strands that were first introduced in 2018:

• Computational thinking for digital technologies:
  Students will develop an understanding of computer science principles that underlie all digital technologies. They’ll learn core programming concepts so that they can become creators of digital technology, not just users.

• Designing and developing digital outcomes:
  Students will learn how to design quality, fit-for-purpose digital solutions.

At Dio, all Year 9 students take a short course in this learning area, and it is available as an option up to NCEA Level 2 (Digital Design Innovation).

As you may be aware, over the next 5 years, the Ministry of Education is refreshing the NZC. For more information about this, please visit the following site: