Academic

ACADEMIC

Academics requires a future-focused, evolving curriculum that emphasises global competencies, digital literacy, critical thinking, rigour and a solutions focus.

At Whanganui Collegiate School, we deliver a world-class education through developing a transformative curriculum. We do this through quality teaching, focused on positive learning outcomes. We use data and evidence-based research to develop a mapped curriculum that is accessible and focuses on personalised student-centred learning.

We use both the Cambridge IGCSE and NCEA curriculums to create pathways, empowering students to make the best choices for their future.

Cambridge IGCSE

(International General Certificate of Secondary Education)

All Year 11 students are taught Cambridge IGCSE, the world’s most popular and prestigious international qualification for 14-to-16 –year olds. Students are offered a selection of courses from over 70 subjects.

The Cambridge IGCSE curriculum offers a variety of routes for learners with a wide range of abilities, including those whose first language is not English. The syllabuses are global in outlook but retain local relevance.

For schools, Cambridge IGCSE offers flexible and stimulating curriculum, supported with excellent resources and training. For learners, Cambridge IGCSE helps improve performance by developing skills in creative thinking, enquiry and problem solving. It is the perfect springboard to further study.

NCEA

NCEA at Whanganui Collegiate School is taught at Years 12 and 13 where we offer a full complement of subjects. There is a very limited number of subjects being offered at Level 1 – such as Te Reo Māori.

From Year 10, students sit the Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite Standards which provides them with up to 20 credits towards NCEA. This is the only way that students can gain these co-requisites for Literacy and Numeracy.

Junior Programme

Our Junior programme for Years 9 and 10 is focused on exposure and breadth, keeping as many subject doors of learning open to them for as long as possible, giving students a plethora of options as they progress through to our senior school.  

These junior years are underpinned by the themes of Identity in Year 9 and Building Resilience in Year 10 — in themselves and their approach to academics.  

The junior programme provides the foundation and rigour required for students to move successfully into both the Cambridge and NCEA curriculums.

Schoolbox

Whanganui Collegiate School uses Schoolbox as our learning management system to connect students, teachers, parents and caregivers. Students can track due classwork, schedules, and activity updates, while parents and caregivers can access their child’s progress, events, and House news.

Academic Pathways

Whether exploring the broad foundation provided in our Junior Academic Pathways or diving into the depth and specialisation of our Senior Academic Pathways, students and parents can find comprehensive information about the subjects, qualifications, and opportunities available.

To learn more about our offerings and the pathways available at each year level, please access the full booklet here: 

Centre for Learning

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Results

Our results exemplify our student's success.

At Whanganui Collegiate School we know our students. The learning experience becomes personalised to not only their learning style, but to the student’s personal passions. Staff work closely with all students to develop each student as an individual, recognising their strengths while developing weaknesses, inspiring independence of thought to create an unshakeable foundation for their futures.

Academic Year

Academic
Year

WCS* 2023 Results

WCS*
2023
Results

Equity Index Group

Equity
Index
Group

All Schools Nationally

All
Schools
Nationally

99.3%

66.8%

59.7%

97.5%

82.5%

69.9%

95.3%

79.2%

65.3%

University Entrance

83.5%

68.1%

47.2%

*Percentage of domestic and international students who completed the whole year at Whanganui Collegiate School and achieved qualification as calculated by the School’s management system – KAMAR.

Vocational Pathways

In addition to the school-based subjects offered at Whanganui Collegiate School, students have the opportunity to consider courses run through external providers and to gain work experience in their chosen career path. This option is available for Year 12 and 13 students.

All courses are offered with additional funding made available as we are an integrated school. There are no additional course costs except personal gear and take-home materials.

Selection for these courses will be at the discretion of the Deputy Headmaster.

Level 2 AG Challenge

A practical agriculture course with unit standards aligned to the agriculture vocational pathway. Students are picked up from the school gates (normally Tuesdays) at 8:40am to go to their course at the AgChallenge agriculture campus and arrive back at 3pm. The course is aimed at students looking to pursue an agricultural pathway covering.

Topics covered are fencing, farm vehicles, handling livestock and safe work practices. As students are offsite for a day, it counts for one of their subjects and they are expected to catch up with missed work from their other subjects in a study period timetabled at school.

Level 3 Primary ITO Agriculture

A practical agriculture course run by Primary ITO leading to a farming vocation with unit standards aligned to the agriculture vocational pathway where students work on farm for a full day per week (8:40am to 3pm) usually on a Tuesday.

Topics covered are fencing, handling livestock, wellbeing and supplying water. Students graduating from this course normally go to work on a farm or continue studying at a farm school or Agriculture at University.

Level 2-3 Gateway

Gateway requires students to work in industry whilst at school, normally one day per week. This is unpaid, as the workplace will assist in training practical skills whilst on site. Students are expected to gain 20 credits through GATEWAY/STAR courses aligned to their workplace during the year.

Students completing GATEWAY are often accepted into an apprenticeship/job through their employer or employer contacts at the end of the course. Students are required to organise transport to their workplace.

Level 2-3 UCOL (Te Pukenga) — USkills

USkills offers the ability to study a tertiary course while still at school. Students are offsite for one day per week studying through UCOL (Te Pukenga) in an area of interest. Effectively they are UCOL students for that day of the week.

There is a range of courses offered at UCOL both in Whanganui and Palmerston North. Students are picked up from school and dropped off if they take a course in Palmerston North.

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