Advice for Students Entering Year 9

 Select Subjects

Year 9 Course Requirements

The aim of the Year 9 programme is to provide on-going teaching in the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science Enterprise Studies (financial literacy) and Physical Education while exposing students to a broad range of other subjects/fields which they will be able to continue in subsequent years if they so wish. 

Core subjects

• English
• Science
• Social Studies
• Mathematics
• Enterprise Studies
• Physical Education

These compulsory subjects are delivered through either the Integrated Subjects Programme, the Sport in Education Programme or Single Subjects Programme.  All of these subjects extend into Year 10 and then pathway into senior school subjects.

Integrated Subjects Programme: 

This programme aims to engage and develop learners, leaders and change-makers who use knowledge meaningfully across the core subjects of English, Science, Mathematics, and Social Science. The four integrated subjects include the same curriculum content, but it is delivered across Community Action, Creative Design, Problem Solving, and Future Studies.  Alongside learning the core subjects, students in the integrated programme will also develop the following six capabilities of deep learning:  

• Self management - Build resilience, empathy, confidence and initiative
• Global Leadership - Be a global citizen, demonstrating understanding of diverse viewpoints  and ways of thinking
• Communication - Apply speaking, listening, writing and reading skills in a variety of contexts
• Collaboration - Work in teams to learn with and from others
• Creativity - Develop abilities to create, design and innovate
• Critical Thinking - Develop abilities to seek and solve problems, and model situations that require critical and analytical thinking

Sport in Education Programme:

This programme is designed to offer a sports focused pathway through the junior school.  Areas covered will include sports diet and nutrition, sports psychology, anatomy and physiology and use of technology to enhance performance, as well as the subject content described under the Sport in Education subjects on the Howick College Pathway Map:  View Courses

Single Subjects Programme:

This Year 9 programme provides traditional single subject teaching and learning in the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Physical Education.  Year 9 subjects are described in each Learning Area on the Howick College Pathway Map:  https://howick.schoolpoint.co.nz/site/howick-college-pathway-map

Option Modules

Complimenting their core subjects, Year 9 students will also study a number of option subjects, each lasting for approximately one term. Modules are set out in the chart below and are also described briefly in the Howick College Pathway Map, linked here:

Howick College Pathway Map  Select Subjects

Note:    The study of another language may not be appropriate for some students.   These students may, after entry testing and consultation with contributing schools is complete, be offered literacy or numeracy support in place of another language.