Scots College – Learning. For Life.

We view the Curriculum holistically at Scots – it is more than simply academic study – and, as such, we expect and encourage all our boys to be involved in the wider life of the College through cultural, sporting and service commitments.

Senior

Years 11 – 13 at Scots should be viewed as a three-year course – it is the qualification from Year 13 which the young men should be, in general, striving towards. Although new options are available each year, most have prerequisites and build on prior knowledge. To ensure that Seniors have the advice and support they need to make good decisions, we provide course counselling along with regular review and advice in tutor groups. The key people are the House Deans, the IB Diploma Co-ordinator, the Deputy Headmaster/Director of Studies and the Careers advisor.

Advice and guidelines to assist families of Senior students with course selection for the following year is provided through our Curriculum Handbook which is published early in Term 2.  Additional information is offered at IB and NCEA information evenings in Term 2. Details of these appear on the term calendars and in our newsletters. Parent Teacher Interviews early in Term 3 also provide the opportunity to discuss the next year's courses, particularly with subject teachers.

Junior

Students in Years 9 and 10 follow the Middle Years’ Programme (MYP) which is an IB approved curriculum. All students take English (or Language A), Mathematics, Science, Humanities (Social Studies), a Language B (French, Spanish or Japanese), Physical Education and Health, Religious Education over the whole year. In addition they will choose two Arts options and two Technology options - these latter options are semester only courses. It is expected that the Language B choice will be taken for two years and the course is structured in this way.

We offer streaming: both Year 9 and Year 10 have one “A” class and several broad-banded “B” classes. Entry is based on Scots’ placement testing and data from the students’ previous schools. Places are reviewed at the end of the first semester in Year 9 and, again, at the end of Year 9.  All Year 10 boys take two NCEA Mathematics achievement standards (internally assessed).  Please note: Year 10 students will not receive official credit until Year 11.

We also provide Learning Development for those students with a diagnosed learning disorder and ESOL (English as a second language) for those who qualify. All students will have examinations or formal summative testing at mid-year and end-of-year in most subjects; reports will be issued five times a year – three progress reports (tick-box only) in March, May and September and two full reports with comments and marks at mid-year and end-of-year. There are several opportunities throughout the year for face-to-face parent-teacher meetings.