Curriculum Overview

Inspiring a love of learning

Educating students for success in the 21st Century is a responsibility Marsden takes seriously. 

Our vision is to develop confident, independent learners who think creatively and who are challenged to reach their academic and personal potential in a warm, caring Christian environment. 

The culture of the school is one where students, supported by their teachers, are open about their desire for academic and personal achievement and work positively to reach their goals.  Students are proud of their own successes and the success of others. 

Academic programmes at Marsden have been developed in line with the New Zealand Curriculum and cover the Arts, English, Health and Physical Education, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences and Technology. 

Religious Education, Values and Ethics and Leadership are also part of learning at Marsden.  We provide every girl with a broad, and well-balanced education according to her ability. A programme in Positive Psychology is taught to senior students to promote strong mental health and emotional resilience.

Marsden is a leader in the field of using Technology as a tool for learning across the curriculum.  Students have individual log-ins and are able to access the Marsden virtual campus, and their own files, from home or other remote locations. It is also taught as an academic subject.

There are plenty of computers for student use, both during and outside class hours.  The latest mininotes or small netbook laptops are available for classes to borrow.

Teachers use Scholaris, our Marsden intranet, which provides interactive and collaborative learning and stores a wide range of resources. 

Academic Excellence

Marsden has a fine tradition of academic excellence, despite having no selection criteria for entry.  This can be attributed to the high expectations shared by staff and students, the strong system of pastoral care, the challenges offered by the range of co-curricular activities and the opportunities to participate in and contribute to local, national and international forums.

Academic and pastoral staff work together to ensure that the progress of individual students is carefully monitored and that their particular needs are met.  Provision is made for gifted and talented students both within the classroom and through additional activities.  Learning support is also available for students with special learning needs.

Qualifications:

NCEA

All Marsden students work towards achievement in the national qualification, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA): Level 1 at Year 11, Level 2 at Year 12 and Level 3 at Year 13. We have some of the top results in the country.

NCEA is a standards-based qualification, assessed internally through coursework and also by external examinations in November.  Students usually take six subjects at Years 11 and 12 and five subjects in Year 13.  Students can achieve NCEA with a merit or excellence endorsement. 

Students may also enter the New Zealand Scholarship examinations designed to challenge top academic students in Year 13.  Scholarship is aimed at the highly motivated, independent learner and is supported by small group tutorials, online learning or additional work done out of regular class time.

Cambridge International Examinations

The University of Cambridge International Exam courses (CIE) are offered in several subjects in addition to NCEA at Years 12 and 13.  Students may take up to three CIE subjects, and, in consultation with the Academic Director, may opt for fewer NCEA subjects. 

Additional information can be obtained about these qualifications on the following websites:

NCEA: www.nzqa.govt.nz/publications/docs/secsc-qual-guide.pdf
New Zealand Scholarship:  http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/scholarship/
Cambridge examinations: www.cie.org.uk/aboutcie

Choosing subjects:

During Term 3 of each year, we ask students to indicate subject choices for the following year.  Our timetable is developed around these options.  We endeavour to accommodate all students’ preferences but this is not always possible.  Students are advised to choose carefully as once the option lines are set and classes established, changes may not easily be accommodated.  Subject teachers, Heads of Department, the Careers Adviser and the Academic Director are all available to help advise on subject choices.
 

Course Structure

Years 7 and 8:
All girls study English, Mathematics, Science, Global and Local Perspectives, Art, Technology (Design – soft materials, Food and Information), Religious Education, Physical Education and Health, the Arts (Music and, in Year 8, Drama) and Introduction to Languages.  Chinese, French, German and Spanish are introduced in rotation block courses.  In Year 8 a course in basic Te Reo (Maori language) is also taught.

Year 9:
All girls study English, Mathematics, Science and Global and Local Perspectives, Religious Education and Physical Education.  Health, Art, Music and Technology (Information Technology and Graphics) are taught for a term at a time.  Three option subjects are chosen from French, German, Chinese, Spanish, Design Technology and Food Technology.

Year 10:
All girls study English, Mathematics, Science, Global and Local Perspectives, (which is split into History, Geography, and Business Studies), Physical Education, Health and Religious Education.  Three option subjects are chosen from Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Art, Design Technology (soft materials), Food Technology, Information Technology and Music. 

Year 11:
All girls study English, Mathematics, Science, Health, Physical Education and Religious Education.  Three option subjects are chosen from French, German, Chinese, Spanish, Design Technology (soft materials), Food and Nutrition, Art, Music, History and Geography.  Girls are grouped according to their ability in Mathematics and there is a top extension class in English and Science.

Year 12:
All girls study English and choose five additional subjects from the options offered, or four subjects in addition to English if they take two or more Cambridge AS level subjects.  Students also study Religious Education and participate in Life Skills and recreational Physical Education programmes.  Option subjects are: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, History, Classical Studies, Economics, Accounting, Art History, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Photography, Painting and Design, Music, Media Studies, Physical Education (NCEA), Food Technology, Design Technology (soft materials)and Information Technology,

Year 13:
Girls choose five subjects.  In addition, all students participate in Life Skills, Religious Education and recreational Physical Education.  Option subjects offered are: English, Calculus, Statistics and Modelling, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, History, Classical Studies, Economics, Accounting, Art History, Photography, Painting, Design, French, German, Spanish, Music, Food Technology, Design Technology (soft materials) and Information Technology.

Students from all year levels participate in the school-wide Leadership programme.

Note:

Year 12 and 13 students may choose a multi-level course if the timetable permits.
Small classes may combine year levels in order to be viable.
Insufficient demand for a subject may mean that it is not able to be timetabled. 

Tertiary study and beyond:

The Marsden Careers Centre is well resourced.  Students will find information about further study in New Zealand and overseas tertiary institutions.  There is also a wealth of information available about career options.  Students are welcome to make an appointment with the Careers’ Advisor, or browse through the resource material. 

University representatives visit the school on a regular basis to meet with senior students and a Careers Evening is held annually in August for students from Years 10 – 13. 

While some specialisation may be necessary in the Senior School, it is wise to keep options open.  Students should recognise their strengths and challenges.  Marsden aims to teach them a life-long love of learning, an important tool in a world where young people face many more changes in careers than the generations before them.  Education must prepare them to be adaptable.

The following websites provide useful information about work and study:

Careers: www.kiwicareers.co.nz

New Zealand universities: