CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Our Curriculum
At Kaipara College, we offer a rich and balanced curriculum tailored to all learners:
- English, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, and Health & Physical Education are central to our junior programme (Year 9 and Year 10).
- We have an emphasis on essential foundational literacy and numeracy skills through all courses.
- Junior students explore digital citizenship, financial literacy, and career pathways in one weekly 60-minute classes through their Year 9 and 10 years.
- Junior students have the opportunity to explore a range of subjects by rotation or choice and this include Te Reo Māori, Performing Arts, Music, Visual Art, Horticulture, Digital Technology, Materials Technology, Sports, Sports Academy, Enterprise, Digital and Visual Communication and Food Technology courses allow students to discover their passions and prepare for specialised studies in later years.
- Students enjoy a range of opportunities through their learning including year level and subject specific camps, trips, and performances and external organisations who visit and deliver workshops and expert experiences.
- Senior students (Year 11 - 13) tailor their learning pathways by selecting courses aligned with their aspirations, supported by our careers and guidance team and their kaitiaki (dean) and kaiārahi (whānau teacher). We offer a wide range of courses for students who need specific subjects for their pathways, we are able to support their application for courses through Kōtui Ako (The Online Learning School) - please note, application is not guaranteed entry. If you would like to know more about the curriculum, please contact Bernard Coleman DP Curriculum and Pedagogy at [email protected]
Te Waka Eke Panuku (Our Pastoral Curriculum)
Our pastoral curriculum, Te Waka Eke Panuku, lies at the heart of our school day through Whānau time. This is a time in our day where:
- Students join vertically structured whānau classes to cultivate tuakana-teina (peer mentoring) relationships.
- Students learn to live through the lens of our school values Te WAKA o Kaipara.
- Each whānau class belongs to one of four Tira (a travelling party - our version of the traditional House system), creating smaller communities within the wider school. This alignment deepens connections, strengthens ties, and provides opportunities for students to live and lead through our values.
- Through the Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework and their REACH strategies for academic motivation and success, students develop core skills in care, growth, support, and leadership.
- Academic mentoring and guidance, goal setting, NCEA tracking, social and emotional well-being activities, and sessions celebrating cultural diversity and school spirit occur frequently
Faculty of Special Education & Learning Support
Special Education Support
Our Faculty of Special Education (FSE) caters primarily for students with MoE funding (ORS), although this is not necessarily an entry requirement for the FSE. We have created a whānau environment, providing students with both academic and pastoral support. Students are encouraged to participate as much as possible and practically within mainstream classes and extracurricular activities as they are first and foremost members of the Kaipara College community.
The FSE provides them with an education around literacy, numeracy and key competency skills. We currently have three dedicated and highly skilled teachers in the FSE and an experienced team of teacher aides who facilitate the support and learning needs of these students. The FSE works closely with the Ministry of Education and other agencies to ensure wrap around support.
Student Learning Support
All students, regardless of specific funding or not, are supported as much as is possible and practical at Kaipara College according to their additional needs. We work collaboratively with all areas of the school to ensure that students are supported in a way that enables them to experience success.
We have an extremely experienced team of teacher aides who work alongside teachers in the mainstream classrooms, focusing on raising literacy and numeracy within the school. We also provide Special Assessment Conditions (SAC’s) support in assessments /exams for identified students. When a student is identified as needing support, we assess their needs and respond accordingly, involving family, outside agencies and RTLB, where appropriate.
The Learning Support Department is committed to providing the best possible support to all students attending Kaipara College and we welcome you to contact us if your child has additional needs and they may need support to enable them to be successful at Kaipara College.
For more information on Special Education or Learning Support, please email the Head of Faculty, Special Education & Learning Support, Jenny MacDonald
Tū Rangatira
Tū Rangatira is a Māori student agency group with a focused approach to Māori learning as Māori. Students join Tū Rangatira by invitation or by recommendation from existing members or staff. Students range from Years 9 to 13 and are a mix of students who are highly engaged in school, as well as students who struggle to engage.
For more information on Tū Rangatira, please email the Head of Department Maori Studies, Brianne Te Paa
Senior Academic Prizegivings
The Kaipara College will hold an academic prizegivng for year 12 & 13 combined on 29 October at 7pm in the Kaipara College hall. Celebration of learning will happen for Year 11 & our Junior Year levels during the day at the end of the year.
There are numerous awards offered for students that have performed commendably but the most prestigious and sought-after awards are the Dux and Proxime Accessit awards and the Subject and Faculty awards. Kaipara College is extremely keen to recognise these gifted and diligent young people and also to support their continuing education at the tertiary level.
Kaipara College Dux Calculation Protocols
The GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated in the same manner as NZQA use for the NCEA GPA.
The GPA is calculated over the student’s best 80 credits from a maximum of five approved subjects. These credits are then weighted by awarding points based on the level of achievement.
Only Level 3 Achievement Standards count.
The school’s formative assessment of externally assessed Achievement Standards counts for credit total and the GPA calculations.
NCEA level 3 credits gained before Year 13 can be counted towards the best 80 credits used for the Dux calculation.
The student with the highest GPA from their best 80 Level 3 credits is Dux.
A student must complete all compulsory standards taught in each course they are enrolled in. Regardless of the reason, there cannot be any withdrawals from any achievement standards in any course entered, including practice exams.
There is no weighting given to any form of assessment beyond taking into account the credit value of the achievement standard.
Scholarship is not included in the Dux calculation.
If students have an equal GPA from their best 80 credits, then the student with the most standards at ‘Excellence’ is Dux.
If there is still a tie, then the student with the most standards at ‘Merit’ is Dux.
If there is still a tie, then both students will jointly be awarded Dux.
The runner-up is the Proxime Accessit.
The Principal’s decision is final.
Deadline for Grade Included in Calculations for Dux: 5 PM, five working days before the ceremony
Kaipara College First in Year Level Calculation Protocols
The GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated in the same manner as NZQA use for the NCEA GPA.
The GPA is calculated over the best 80 credits from a maximum of five approved subjects. These credits are then weighted by awarding points based on the level of achievement.
Only credits applicable to the student’s current year level and gained from achievement standards count.
The school’s formative assessment of externally assessed achievement standards counts for credit total and GPA calculations.
The student with the highest GPA from their best 80 Level 3 credits is First in Year.
A student must complete all compulsory standards taught in each of the courses they are enrolled in, including practice exams. Regardless of the reason, there cannot be any withdrawals from any achievement standards in any course entered.
There is no weighting given to any form of assessment beyond taking into account the credit value of the achievement standard.
If students have an equal GPA from their best 80 credits, then the student with the most standards at ‘Excellence’ is First in Year.
If there is still a tie, then the student with the most standards at ‘Merit’ is First in Year.
If there is still a tie, both students will be awarded First in Year jointly.
Deadline for Grade Included in Calculations for First in Year: 5 PM, five working days before the ceremony
2024 Year 12 & 13 Prizegiving
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| 2024 Dux Braydon Gelderman with Principal, Cindy Sullivan | 2024 Proxime Accessit Tom Benge with Principal, Cindy Sullivan |
2023 Year 13 Prizegiving
 2023 Dux Luca Donne with Principal, Cindy Sullivan |  2023 Proxime Accessit Sherley Peng with Principal, Cindy Sullivan |
2022 Year 13 Prizegiving
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| 2022 Dux Jennifer Smith with Principal, Cindy Sullivan (left) and her mother, Suzanne | 2022 Proxime Accessit Olivia Moore with Principal, Cindy Sullivan |
2021 Year 13 Prizegiving
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| 2021 Dux Gemma Bayly with Kāiarahi, Claire Farnan, left and Principal, Cindy Sullivan, right | Gemma and family |
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| 2021 Proxime Accessit Josh Wishart with Kāiarahi, Israil Foreman | Josh and family |
2020 Year 13 Prizegiving
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| 2020 Dux Ella Cunningham with then Principal, Steve McCracken | 2020 Proxime Accessit Victoria Carter |
