The following courses are available for study in 2024

Geography:   11Geo   Full Year

Course Description: If you enjoyed Social Studies, then 11 Geography would be a good subject for you to take. If you enjoy news events and learning about different places around the world, then Geography is definitely for you.

Geography helps us understand the world and many of the issues and events that are currently happening, both in New Zealand and globally.

Geography students will develop skills to help understand our world more; using inquiry, mapping (online and traditional), resource interpretation, surveying, research and fieldwork skills.

Topics taught include: Natural Disasters, Natural Features, Making Maps, Spatial Analysis, Different Countries and Traditional Geography Skills. However, as Geography is a contemporary subject, we do add to and alter the course when current events occur.

Recommended Entry Criteria: Open Entry

Field Trips: Two formal field trips; (Quake City & to the beach), but we take any small opportunity to get out and about our local area when appropriate.

Qualifications to be gained: 15-20 Level 1 NCEA credits

Level 1 Literacy credits: 10 plus 5 optional 

Level 1 Numeracy credits: 5 

Next step: 12Geo

Contact Person: Mr Skinner mjs@shirley.school.nz

Geography:   12Geo   Full Year

Course Description: If you want to find out more about the world we live in, then Geography is for you. We live in a world that faces climate change, pandemics, drought, war, energy shortages, mass migrations, terrorism and fake news! Geography is extremely relevant to life today and helps young people understand the world they are growing up in.

Topics taught include: Global Issues, Christchurch Developments, Making Maps, Spatial Analysis, Mega Cities, Natural Environment & Geographic Skills.

Field Trips: Two days in Hanmer Springs and a one-day CBD mapping trip.

Recommended Entry Criteria: 10 credits from 11Geo, but anyone with NCEA Level One can take 12Geo.

Qualifications to be gained: 20 Level 2 NCEA credits

UE Literacy: Yes - 4 credits Reading or Writing

Next step: 13Geo

Contact Person: Mr Skinner mjs@shirley.school.nz

Geography:   13Geo   Full Year

Course Description: This course takes a deeper look at the world around us. We look at real world uses of geography to develop our Geographic understanding of the world. We focus on natural and cultural processes that operate around us. Natural processes involve a study of the Canterbury coastline, with a focus on the Port of Lyttelton. Cultural processes involve a study of tourism development in Queenstown, focusing on impacts and effects from tourism.

Topics taught include: Coastal Issues, Own Choice of Research Topic, Event Geography in Queenstown, and Advanced Geography Skills. However, as Geography is a contemporary subject, we do add to and alter the course when current events occur.

Field Trips: A four day field trip to Queenstown.

Recommended Entry Criteria: 12 credits from 12Geo, but anyone with NCEA Level Two can take 13Geo.

Qualifications to be gained: 19 Level 3 Achievement Standards credits

UE Literacy: Yes – 14 credits Reading and 6 credits Reading or Writing.

UE Approved: Yes

Contact Person: Mr Skinner mjs@shirley.school.nz