The Curriculum

The school follows the National Curriculum objectives as set out by the Ministry of Education, which state the learning outcomes to be achieved by all students across the essential learning areas. The essential learning areas are English, Mathematics, Science and the Environment, Technology, Social Sciences, the Arts, Physical and Health, and Languages. In addition, extension and enrichment classes have been established to assist children who need further opportunities. We also have a strong focus around the Key Competencies of Thinking, Using language, symbols and text, Participating and contributing, Relating to others, and, Managing self. These are skills which we believe will be vital for our students to be successful in their future.

Curriculum Initiatives

Our curriculum contains programme initiatives developed by the school. It aims to promote further education opportunities for our pupils and is sustained through our own funding.

Information and Communication (ICT) is a feature of our school and we provide every Year 7 and 8 student with their own Apple MacBook Pro.
Year 4 to 8 pupils are encouraged to sit the annual International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). This is an international examination covering the subjects of; IT Skills, Science, Writing, Spelling, English and Mathematics.

Other opportunities for children include:

To be involved in the New Zealand Media And Digital Excellence Awards
Participation in Kaimai School choir at the annual Choral Festival
Singing, bass, guitar, drums or ukelele lessons
Life Education
Otago University Problem Solving Challenge
Tall Poppies programme for Years 7 and 8
Annual Speech Contests

Kapa Haka
Inter-school Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) programmes
Kiwi Can Values Programme
Inter-school sport through our KRSA programme
NZ AIMS Sporting Competition
BOP Science and Technology Fair
Bay Maths
Calf Club

Extra Curricular Programmes

All students participate in the Kiwi Can programme which is held at Kaimai School every Friday. This is a values-based education programme run by Foundation for Youth Development. Our students can choose to participate in Kapa Haka. This is held on a Friday and is led by kapa haka teacher Tash.

Every year we host the Life Education programme. This is a Health programme that focuses on healthy choices and helps reinforce what has been taught in the classroom.

Each year the New Zealand Police take programmes such as Keeping Ourselves Safe, Kia Kaha and Dare. All these programmes are partially or fully subsidised by the Board of Trustees.