Our Learning

Curriculum

Throughout this description, we use the word “curriculum” to mean the national curriculum as in the “New Zealand Curriculum” but also to describe the learning that is the St Mark's Church School Curriculum additional to the NZC and specific to our School.

The place of The New Zealand Curriculum at St Mark's

St Mark's Church School teaches to the New Zealand Curriculum Framework. In choosing to adopt this framework, the School acknowledges the need for our students to be as well prepared, if not better prepared, for their chosen secondary schools than students entering from other primary schools.

The New Zealand Curriculum comprises a set of national curriculum statements that define the learning principles and achievement objectives that all New Zealand state schools are required to follow. It is designed to ensure that there is consistency in classroom programmes throughout the country and to link learning experience within the total school curriculum in a coherent and balanced way. The principles of the New Zealand Curriculum Framework give direction to teaching and learning. They are based on the premises that the individual student is the centre of all teaching and learning and that the curriculum for all students will be of the highest quality. The principles affirm and reflect New Zealand's identity. They provide national direction while allowing for local discretion.

The New Zealand Curriculum Framework specifies seven “essential learning areas” which describe in broad terms the knowledge and understanding that all students need to acquire. These areas are English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Social Sciences, The Arts and Health & Physical Education. In addition, the framework sets out eight “essential skills” to be developed by students – communication, numeracy, information, problem-solving, self-management & competitive, social & cooperative, physical, and work & study skills. It indicates the place of attitudes and values in the School curriculum.

St Mark's Church School Curriculum

In addition to the New Zealand Curriculum Framework, and because we are an Anglican Church School, Religious Education is taught in accordance with the beliefs and teachings of the Christian faith, as expressed in the Anglican Church.

Further, the St Mark's Church School Curriculum, as set out in our School Scheme, formalises the ways in which our School puts into practice the policy set out in the national curriculum statements, In addition, and most importantly, the School's own curriculum takes into account our local needs, priorities and resources as well as the particular aims, objectives and curriculum needs of our School. For example, the additional subject specialist teaching in Music, Speech and Drama, Physical Education, Outdoor Education, Religious Education, Library and, at Senior Department Level, exposure to languages and to philosophy, ensures that the School is able not only to complement but also extend the New Zealand Curriculum.

“Coverage and balance” are key words in the development of St Mark's Church School Curriculum. The seven essential learning areas are interrelated and should not be viewed in isolation from each other. For example, Drama is a key element in English and Social Studies as well as The Arts but from time to time might also have purpose in any of the seven essential learning areas.