Science (including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
The following courses are available for study in 2026
Biological and Chemical Sciences: 11Scb Full Year
Course Description: This course is designed for students who have a real interest in the Sciences. Topics covered are Biology and Chemistry. Students who study this course are strongly advised to study 11Sca (individual dispensations ought to be sought from RNR). This course does not prepare a student for 12Phy. Students who study this course ought not study 11Sci.
Recommended Entry Criteria: Students need to be achieving at Level 5 across all topics in the Year 10 Science exam. This course has limited numbers.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 1 Achievement Standards credits
Level 1 Literacy credits: 5
Next step: 12Che, or 12Bio
Contact Person: Mr Richards, Mr Patrick, Ms Readman.
Physics, Earth and Space Science: 11Sca Full Year
Course Description: This course is designed for students who have a real interest in the Sciences. Topics covered are Physics, Earth and Space Science. Students who study this course are strongly advised to study 11Scb (individual dispensations ought to be sought from RNR). This course does not prepare a student for 12Bio or 12Che. This course should not be taken with 11Sci.
Recommended Entry Criteria: Students need to be achieving at Level 5 across all topics in the Year 10 Science exam. This course has limited numbers.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 1 Achievement Standards credits
Level 1 Numeracy credits: 5
Next step: 12Phy
Contact Person: Mr Richards, Ms Readman.
Science: 11Sci Full Year
Course Description: This course is designed for students who may wish to pursue a career in Science while still keeping other options open. The course covers Biology, Physics and Chemistry and is the pathway to studying those subjects at Year 12 level. Standards in this course are also taught in 11Sca and 11Scb so it would be unwise to study 11Sci and either 11Sca or 11Scb.
Recommended Entry Criteria: Operating at Level 4 and 5 in the Year 10 Science exam.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 1 Achievement Standards
Next step: 12Bio, 12Che, 12Phy, or 12Scg
Contact Person: Mr Richards
Science General: 11Scg Full Year
Course Description: This course will be offered to students for whom a full Achievement Standards course with external examinations is not appropriate. The course covers various topics from all areas of Science. This course is not appropriate for students who aspire to a career in Science such as Health, Aircraft Pilot, Engineering, Nursing, or any other career that requires tertiary Science qualifications.
Recommended Entry Criteria: Mostly operating at Level 3 and some Level 4 in the Year 10 Science exam.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 1 Achievement Standards with a practical bias.
Level 1 Literacy credits: 6
Next step: 12Scg
Contact Person: Mr Richards
Science General: 12Scg Full Year
Course Description: This course is designed for students who do not qualify for 12Bio, 12Phy or 12Che but wish to continue in Science. It is a continuation of 11Scg. This course is not appropriate for a student who wishes to pursue a tertiary career in Science.
Recommended Entry Criteria: previous study of 11Sci, or 11Scg
Qualifications to be gained: Level 1 and/or Level 2 Achievement Standards
UE Literacy: No
Next Step: Work force or other Year 12 or 13 subjects, (but not 13Bio, 13Phy, or 13Che unless by arrangement with the Head of Science).
Contact Person: Mr Richards or Ms Readman
Biology: 12Bio Full Year
Course Description: This course introduces students to the following areas of Biology: Animal adaptations, Cell processes, Gene expression.
It also involves investigating Patterns in Ecological Communities using a field trip and an extended practical investigation.
Recommended Entry Criteria: minimum of 12 credits from 11Sci or 11Scb including M or E pass in one of the following units in either the school or NCEA examinations: Bio 92020, 92022. Also a minimum of 8 credits from 11Enb/11Ena is recommended.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 2 Achievement Standards credits
UE Literacy: Yes (4 Writing credits)
Next step: 13Bio
Contact Person: Mr Patrick, Mr Bell
Chemistry: 12Che Full Year
Course Description: This course teaches students the knowledge and skills to make effective use of the materials we use. The syllabus offers an understanding of the many processes encountered in everyday life and the composition of the world around us. Year 12Che needs to be studied before Year 13Che can be considered.
Recommended Entry Criteria: Minimum of 13 credits from 11Sci, 11Sca/Scb (including an M or E pass in Achievement Standard 92021, and 10 credits from 11Mat. Students will need to have studied 12Che before 13Che can be considered.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 2 Achievement Standards credits
UE Literacy: No
Next step: 13Che
Contact Person: Ms Readman
Physics: 12Phy Full Year
Course Description: This course is an important foundation for a significant number of future study options. Physics aims to model the world at a fundamental level and so provides a platform supporting Engineering, Medicine, and a host of other disciplines. Physics ideas will be explored with Motion, Electricity and Wave contexts using practical examples. Algebraic and trigonometric ability is critical to support the best chances of success in this subject.
Recommended Entry Criteria: Achievement in the Mathematics AS91947 (1.4) external.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 2 Achievement Standards credits
UE Literacy: No
Next step: 13Phy
Contact Person: Mr Davie
Biology: 13Bio Full Year
Course Description: This course is a more advanced course in Biology for those who have enjoyed 12Bio. It covers; Animal behaviour and Plant responses, Applications of Biotechnological Techniques, Homeostasis, and also trends in Human evolution.
The course also involves an investigation on an aspect of the ecological niche of an organism.
Recommended Entry Criteria: minimum of 12 credits from 12Bio if studied. Students must have gained a pass mark in at least one of Achievement Standards 91156 and 91159 in the school or NCEA examinations. If Biology was not studied at Y12 a minimum of 10 credits from 12Ena/12Enb is required.
Qualifications to be gained: Level 3 Achievement Standards.
UE Literacy: Yes - 6 credits Reading and 9 credits Reading or Writing.
UE Approved: Yes
Contact Person: Mr Patrick
Chemistry: 13Che Full Year
Course Description: This course is an extension of 12Che and introduces some aspects of Biochemistry. Students who have enjoyed practical work in Year 12 will look forward to the experiments done in Year 13.
Recommended Entry Criteria: minimum of 13 credits from 12Che
Qualifications to be gained: Level 3 Achievement Standards credits
UE Literacy: No
UE Approved: Yes
Contact Person: Ms Readman
Physics: 13Phy Full Year
Course Description: This course is an important foundation for a significant number of future study options. This course continues to develop the ideas and skills from year 12 Physics, with the introduction of rotational motion in mechanics, AC with capacitors and inductors in electricity, and a significant advance in the ideas of modern Physics including the wonderful world of quantum.
Recommended Entry Criteria:
Students will have passed both AS91171 (Mechanics) and AS91173 (Electricity) from year 12 Physics last year.
Good algebra and trigonometry skills
It is highly recommended that Calculus is studied
Qualifications to be gained: Level 3 Achievement Standards credits
UE Literacy: No
UE Approved: Yes
Contact Person: Mr Davie