Getting Started with Course Selection

The aim of this website is to provide a guide to students in planning their pathways towards further education, training and employment.

It contains a detailed list of courses to be offered at Ashburton College, along with a listing of teachers/personnel who can give you guidance with your course selections.

If you do not know what you want to do in your future, do not worry, that is extremely common. Keep your options broad.

YEAR 9

At Ashburton College, we want our students and graduates to be engaged in learning for life – collaborative, creative and connected.

Our vision is that students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to succeed in their chosen pathway and life beyond school.

Our Junior School curriculum in 2025 will see teams of teachers from a range of learning areas collaborate in designing conceptually framed, cross-curricular, project based, inquiry focused learning alongside subject specific learning.   This will occur for all Year 9 and 10 core classes.

• The teams will be made up of the subject teachers from English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Physical Education/Health.

• It will include a combination of subject specific skills and knowledge as well as some cross curricular project-based learning (PBL).  There is flexibility in what this collaboration across learning areas looks like for each class.

• Authentic learning opportunities are used to provide meaningful learning experiences for ākonga.

• Collaboration is at the heart of this approach and all learning areas are expected to engage.  However, collaboration could occur between any number of the subject teachers at any time (i.e. not all learning areas will collaborate all the time and they may not collaborate with every other learning area).

YEAR 10

In addition to a full year programme of collaborative learning,  all Year 10 students will study three other subjects which they will select.  These three choice subjects run for the full year.  

Students are asked to choose four different subjects as it may not be possible for all students to have their first three choices due to restrictions on class numbers, staff availability and classroom space.

YEAR 11

Year 11 students will study six courses.  Three must be English, Mathematics and Science (unless enrolled in Foundation Studies).  In addition to these three subjects, you must choose three other courses.  You will also need to choose a backup course.  

To receive NCEA Level 1 students must achieve 60 credits from Level 1 or higher plus the 10 Literacy and 10 Numeracy co-requisites.

YEAR 12

Year 12 students study six courses.  This must include a course in English.  If you have not gained the numeracy and co-requisites please include Mathematics.  You must also indicate a seventh backup course if your first options are not available.  

To receive NCEA Level 2 students must achieve 60 credits from Level 2 or higher.

If you intend to go to University or Polytechnic you should check their entry requirements.

University Entrance requires you to achieve 14 credits in three University Entrance approved subjects at Level 3, to have University Entrance Literacy (5 reading and 5 writing credits from specified Standards) and Numeracy at Level 1. 

YEAR 13

Year 13 students must select five courses.  You must also indicate a backup course if your first options are not available.  

To receive NCEA Level 3 students must achieve 60 credits from Level 3 or higher.

University Entrance requires you to achieve 14 credits in the three University Entrance approved subjects at Level 3, to have University Entrance Literacy (5 reading and 5 writing credits from specified Standards) and Numeracy at Level 1.   It is recommended that students take at least 4 University Entrance approved subjects for this pathway.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Some courses have entry recommendations.  Please check with your Teacher.  
• Courses will only run if staff and resources are available.
• Changes will only be made to course changes under exceptional circumstances.
• In some cases entry may be granted to a course where the entry recommendation has not been met.  Only a Head of School or Dean can make this decision after consultation with the Teacher in Charge of the course.
• While we will endeavour to meet all course choices, there may be combinations of courses that simply cannot be timetabled and these students may be asked to choose an alternative course or to look at enrolling in a course through Online Learning.While we will endeavour to meet all course choices, there may be combinations of courses that simply cannot be timetabled and these students may be asked to choose an alternative course or to look at enrolling in a course through Online Learning.