Academic Learning - Pakūranga College

Curriculum

Pakūranga College offers over 40 different subject options, making it easy for students to find courses that fit their strengths, passions, and career aspirations.

Our Year 12 and 13 courses give students the opportunity to gain NCEA qualifications at Level 2 and 3, with most Level 3 courses also providing a pathway to tertiary education. Students at the college consistently outperform the national average for NCEA, with the majority of students continuing on to university study.

Year 11 students study a curriculum tailored to provide a strong foundation for the rigours of NCEA in Year 12. Rather than sitting exams in November, students spend extra weeks in the classroom, extending and deepening their learning. All subjects offer at least one Level 1 Achievement Standard, alongside other NCEA-style evaluations, to ensure students are ready for external assessments in Year 12.

We appreciate that not every student wishes to continue to university. Whatever your child’s career plans, we have plenty of hands-on courses offering NCEA qualifications in Year 12 and 13, which can lead directly to employment or trades training.

All students are supported by our experienced Careers Department, to ensure they know the options available to them and the level of achievement required.

Pakūranga College student cooking in class

EOTC

Outdoor education students rafting down a waterfall

EOTC, or education outside the classroom, is an experience that all our students have access to. Whether it’s Physics students experiencing the laws of motion in action at Rainbow’s End, Geography students gathering data at the Tongariro Volcanic Field, Visual Arts students taking a trip to a gallery, or Outdoor Education students tramping and camping in native bush; all students during their time at Pakūranga College will get a chance to apply classroom learning to real-world contexts.

In addition to class trips, all Year 9 students kick-start their time at the college with a Peer Support Camp where they get to know their Whānau Leaders and peers. The camps are a fun but vital start to college life, with plenty of team-building activities and mental and physical challenges such as rock climbing, high ropes courses, rafting, mountain biking, and more.

E-Learning

Student and teacher learning on a laptop at Pakūranga College

All students are required to bring a laptop or Chromebook to support their learning at the college. This opens a multitude of possibilities where learning can take place beyond a physical classroom, with resources, instructions, and tasks available through Google Classroom 24/7.

Our students are taught how to use their device effectively and appropriately, choosing the best tool for each task. They are also taught how to use the internet and social media safely and responsibly.

The college provides wireless access to all students, on a network that is extremely fast, stable, and secure. Students authenticate their device at the start of each day to access their learning.

Discover more about our BYOD programme.

Timetables

High school student and teacher in class

In Year 9 and 10 the curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation in core subject areas such as Maths, English, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education; while also allowing students to explore Languages, The Arts, and Technology. Students have plenty of opportunity to sample areas of the curriculum that interest them, with a broader timetable allowing seven to eight subjects.

In Year 11 – 13 students’ timetables narrow as they begin to select specialist areas of study. Year 11 and 12 students take six subjects, while Year 13 students have five subjects and a study period.

Diverse Learners

High school curriculum - student in class

Learning is unique to everyone and we embrace this diversity with a range of programmes to support students at the level that best fits them, in partnership with parents.

Find out more about our diverse learners’ programmes.

Student Testimonials

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JosephYear 13
“Being able to multi-level subjects at school is great. Completing some of my Maths and Science subjects a year early has definitely kept me challenged and motivated in class, which makes it more enjoyable. I get to work at a pace that fits my brain and I’m surrounded by classmates who are just as curious and driven with their schooling. I’ve even started taking Scholarship classes for my Year 13 subjects, which really tests me.

I also like that I’m able to share my knowledge with other students. I’m in a leadership role that gives me the opportunity to support Year 9 students in their learning, plus I also tutor other students sitting NCEA. It’s pretty rewarding.”

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HildaYear 12
“Pakūranga College has definitely nurtured me academically, giving me more choices and more opportunities to explore what I want to do in the future. Taking extension classes in Maths, Chemistry, and Biology has allowed me to learn at a quicker pace and will give me more study options in Year 13. Being able to gain university entrance early has also given me a greater sense of security for life after school.”

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BlakeYear 13
“My teachers at Pakūranga College are supportive of all students, working with different academic abilities to make sure that every student does the best they can, whether they need extra support or extension.

I have been given extended learning opportunities, extra help, and additional resources, through multi-levelling, which has been extremely beneficial. I especially like being in a class with other students who have a passion for learning, like myself. Multi-levelling has also allowed me to broaden my subject choices and take more subjects than the average student, which has kept me challenged and engaged in my studies.”

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LuciaYear 12
“At Pakūranga College I have been part of the Pūhoro programme, where I received astounding academic and cultural support. The learning environment has strengthened my confidence in my academic ability and helped me better understand my learning style, reducing the anxiety I once felt around performance in school. Through opportunities to multi-level and prepare for Scholarship examinations, I have been able to broaden my subject choices and explore more challenging and exciting areas of study.”

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RaymondYear 11
“Pakūranga College has extended my learning by allowing me to take Year 12 Maths while I’m still in Year 11. This has challenged me academically and helped me move ahead at a faster pace in a subject I’m strong in.

This support has helped me grow in confidence and resilience across all my subjects, allowing me to take on more learning challenges. It has reinforced the mindset that academic success and future opportunities come from consistent effort and active engagement. Showing up each day is what allows real growth to happen.”

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HildaYear 12
“My teachers at Pakūranga College have created many resources detailing how to achieve well in specific subjects, which I find very helpful. They have also given their time after school for revision classes, and they encourage collaborative student learning. Supporting me to share my knowledge with other students in my class, has enhanced my understanding of topics as well as theirs. I believe that it is a great idea to extend a student learning through activities like this.”

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JosephYear 13
“My teachers at Pakūranga College are very encouraging. They make a point of giving additional work, beyond the set curriculum, to students who are excelling. It means I always have learning to get on with in class and it deepens my knowledge of subjects that I’m passionate about.

Being extended with extra work in class has given me confidence in my tertiary study and career plans after school. I feel like I’m more prepared for the workload and expectations of university.”

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VanshYear 12
“Pakūranga College has extended my learning through multi-levelling, which has allowed me to advance academically based on my ability rather than just my year level. I was given the opportunity to study NCEA Level 2 Physics, Chemistry, and Algebra while in Year 11, which advanced my learning in these subjects by a full year. This also allowed me to make friends with people who were also learning at a similar level, which I enjoyed.

By multi-levelling, I will be able to achieve seven subjects at NCEA Level 3, which is more than the usual five. This allows me to select my five subjects with the best grades when applying for university. I'll also have more academic achievements to show when I apply for scholarships, which is helpful.”

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AylaYear 11
“I have grown into a brighter, more knowledgeable student at Pakūranga College, where extending my learning has been well-supported. I didn't find Year 10 Maths challenging enough, so the school supported me to progress to Year 12 Maths, which has been great for me.

My teachers regularly assign extension work beyond the standard curriculum to help me build my knowledge and keep me engaged with my learning.”

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LuciaYear 12
“My Pakūranga College teachers provide extension work and additional resources whenever I am progressing ahead of the class, ensuring that I remain challenged and continue to grow. At the same time, they offer academic support whenever I need clarification or assistance—this balance allows me to feel both consistently extended in my learning and well supported in achieving my goals.

I have multi-levelled in Drama and have been given the opportunity to study for the Scholarship examination in that subject both last year and this year. The skills learnt here have helped me to consistently take part in and win the Eastern Zones Speech Competition, presenting each year with guidance from my teachers in both writing and performance.”

Weekly Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm

Phone: (09) 5347159
Fax: (09) 5342365
Email: [email protected]

Physical Address
Pigeon Mountain Road
Half Moon Bay
Auckland 2012

Postal Address
PO Box 82090
Highland Park
Auckland 2143