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Year 9 & 10 Subjects 2024

Introduction

In Years 9 & 10 there are many subjects for you to choose from. We want you to have the chance to develop areas of personal interest or strength, as well as the chance to try things you have never experienced before. Make the most of this opportunity to experience a range of subjects before deciding what you want to specialise in when you get to the senior school.

Reminders when choosing your subjects

Read the subject descriptions carefully before making up your mind. Discuss the subject choices that may be right for you with parents/caregivers.

Choose subjects that build on your strengths and interests, as well as subjects that may aid in the growth and development of areas where you may have room for improvement.

Look ahead to see where subjects lead in the senior school. Use the Curriculum Overview  to help you with this. If you want more detailed information you can access the senior course booklet in the Subjects and Curriculum folder under the 4students tab on our website.

Remember to ask for advice and guidance. There are many people who can help you decide on the course that is right for you.

  • Deans 2024
    • Year 9 Dean – Mrs Fort
    • Year 10 Dean – Ms Gartside
    • Pasifika Academic Advisor – Ms Aupa’au
    • Māori Academic Advisor – Ms Henjyoji
  • Teachers
    • Wānanga teachers
    • Subject teachers
    • Teachers in charge of subjects (Listed at the bottom of course details)
  • Careers staff
    • Ms Johnson
    • Ms McGuiness
    • Ms Caseley
  • International staff
    • Ms Smith
    • Ms Walker
  • Senior management team
    • Mrs Davidson, Principal
    • Mrs Calder – Deputy Principal
    • Ms Greenwood – Deputy Principal
    • Ms King – Deputy Principal
    • Ms Simonsen – Deputy Principal
    • Ms Craig – Assistant Principal
    • Ms Eade – Assistant Principal
    • Ms Moran – Assistant Principal

Key Competencies

Key Competencies – capabilities for living and lifelong learning
The New Zealand Curriculum (pp. 12-13) identifies five key competencies:

  • thinking
  • using language, symbols, and texts
  • managing self
  • relating to others
  • participating and contributing

People use these competencies to live, learn, work, and contribute as active members of their communities. These competencies link directly to the school vision, mission and values. At Wellington Girls’ College you will experience multiple opportunities to develop these competencies regardless of the subjects you choose and the extra-curricular activities you are involved in.

Curriculum Design

Learning Areas – important for a broad, general education
The New Zealand Curriculum specifies eight learning areas: English, the Arts, Health and Physical Education, Learning Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Science,
Social Sciences, and Technology.
In Years 9 – 11 all students experience learning in each of these eight learning areas.

The learning associated with each area is part of a broad, general education and lays the foundation for specialisation in later years.

YEAR 9
As a Year 9 student you will experience each of the eight learning areas as follows:

You will follow a core programme in five learning areas: English, Physical Education/Health, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

In addition to this,

You can take TWO full year subjects and THREE half year  subjects.
or
You can take ONE full year subject and FIVE half year subjects.
or
You can take SEVEN half year subjects and NO additional full year subjects.

You will make choices within the other three learning areas: the Arts, Languages, and Technology.

You must take:

  • at least one additional Arts subject, either a half year or full year;
  • at least one additional Languages subject, either a half year or full year;
  • at least one additional Technology subject, either a half year or full year.

Aotearoa Histories is a new compulsory, half year subject for all Year 9 students.

Te Reo is compulsory for all Year 9 students, either Half Year or Full Year. If you choose the Half Year option, you still need to choose another language. If you choose Full Year Te Reo you do NOT have to choose a second language.

NOTE: All non-compulsory subjects are dependent on numbers and staffing.

You will make your subject choices online. These must be completed by Wednesday 30 August, 2023

YEAR 10

  • You will follow a core programme in five learning areas: English, Physical Education/Health, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
  • You will choose a total of THREE other full year subjects to complement the core programme. The focus in Year 10 is on depth of learning in all subjects studied.
  • You are free to choose the three subjects that interest you most. These may come from any learning area offering additional subjects; however, a balanced programme is recommended. Please ask for help if you are not sure what you should take now to make sure certain subjects are available to you in the senior school.
  • NOTE: All non-compulsory subjects are dependent on numbers and staffing.

Understanding levels: curriculum & NCEA

Years and curriculum levels
The diagram below shows how curriculum levels typically relate to years at school. Note that many students do not necessarily fit this pattern, for example, those with special learning needs, those who are gifted, and those who come from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Broadly speaking, our Year 9 subjects target Level 4 of the curriculum and our Year 10 subjects target Level 5, laying the groundwork for transition to Level 6 in Year 11. Knowledge and skills from earlier curriculum levels are reinforced within a differentiated programme, taking account of individual learning needs in each class. Challenge and extension at higher curriculum levels is also provided depending on individual learning needs.
Note: Level 1 is the entry level if you are learning a language you have not learned before, regardless of which year you are in at school.

Diagnostic testing
All of our students complete baseline assessments in literacy and numeracy at the beginning of Year 9. Your results help us to understand what you can do already, what gaps you may have in your learning, and what you need to learn next. They help your teachers design programmes suited to your learning needs, and to provide the support and/or extension you may require. They also show how well you are learning in comparison with other students nationwide. Literacy and numeracy testing is done again at the end of Year 9 and the end of Year 10 so that we can see the progress you have made and set new goals as a result.

NCEA Levels 2 & 3
Standards available are organised into levels of increasing difficulty. Standards assessed at school are usually at Levels 2 and 3.
From 2024, WGC will no longer be offering NCEA Level 1. In Year 12, students will progress to Level 2, and Level 3 in Year 13. NCEA Level 2 aligns with curriculum level 7; and NCEA Level 3 with curriculum level 8.

Subject Costs & Specialist Equipment

Charges in addition to standard stationery costs are noted where relevant with each subject’s information, as well as any specialist equipment you may need access to for particular subjects.

In cases of hardship, please make contact with the school either via the Guidance Counsellor, the Dean, or the Finance Office.

Note: Stationery lists for each year level can be accessed in the Start and end of year folder under both the 4students and 4parents tabs on our website. Stationery lists for 2024 will be available in this folder in early December.

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device

We strongly recommend that you bring your own internet-capable device to school for learning. This could be a Chromebook, Ultrabook, laptop, or other device. Note that a smartphone is not a suitable device as it does not have the functionality required for many of the BYOD uses outlined below.

Wellington Girls’ College is a Google Apps school. This means you can access email, calendar and documents for collaborative learning anytime and anywhere. Our website is the springboard to Google Apps and to all your courses as well as to a range of information and help topics under the 4students tab. Take time to explore our website regularly until you are familiar with it and can find what you need exactly when you need it.

You and your parents can find information on BYOD@WGC in the IT and BYOD folder under both the 4students and 4parents tabs.

Junior Subjects Available

Click any of the subjects below for more information

Compulsory Learning Areas – all students take these subjects in Years 9 & 10

Year 9Year 10
Aotearoa HistoriesEnglish
Te Reo Māori (Half Year) ORMathematics
Te Reo Māori (Full Year)Science
EnglishSocial Studies
MathematicsPhysical Education/Health
Science
Social Studies
Physical Education/Health

Additional Learning Areas – students choose according to interest and ability

SubjectYear 9Year 10
TWO Full Year + THREE Half Year
or ONE Full Year + FIVE Half Year
or NO full year & SEVEN half year
THREE - All Full Year
ArtsVisual Art: Mixed Media (Full Year)Visual Art: Digital Storytelling
Visual Art: Digital Storytelling (Half Year)Visual Art – Mixed Media Art
Visual Art: Art Bites (Half Year)
Dance (Half Year)Dance
Performing Arts (Full Year)Curtains Up!
Drama (Half Year)Drama
Music (Full Year)Music
Music & Sound Technology (Half Year)
Music (Half Year)
Music for Beginners (Full Year)
Music for Beginners (Half Year)
LanguagesTe Reo Māori (Half Year)Te Reo Māori
Te Reo Māori (Full Year)
English Language (Full Year),English Language
Chinese / Mandarin (Full Year)Chinese / Mandarin
Chinese / Mandarin (Half Year)
French (Full Year)French
French (Half Year)
German (Full Year)German
German (Half Year)
New Zealand Sign Language (Half Year)
TechnologyCompSci. & Programming (Half Year)Computer Science & Programming
Fashion & Textiles Technology (Full Year)Fashion and Textiles Technology
Fashion & Textiles Technology (Half Year)
Textiles Design Technology (Half Year)
Product and Spatial Design Technology (Half Year)Product and Spatial Design Technology
Design Digital Technology (Half Year)
OtherAncient Worlds (Full Year)Ancient Worlds
Ancient Worlds (Half Year)
Managing Money (Half Year)Economics and Enterprise
Media Studies (Half Year)Media Studies
Learning Studies (Full Year)Learning Studies
Mathematical language (Half Year)Mathematical language
Criminal minds literacy (Half Year)Criminal minds literacy

Year 9 Option Choice Planning Form

Click on form below for a printable version

Curriculum Overview

Click on form below for a printable version