Independent schools are inherently flexible. We can choose our own curriculum and tailor this to better meet the needs of our students.

The benefits of choosing an independent education for your daughter were reinforced in recent media reports. NZ primary and intermediate principals are incredibly frustrated with the Government for falling standards in maths and science but their hands are tied. The mandated national curriculum and crowded ‘modern learning’ environments make it very difficult for them to address the obvious challenges of their students in realising their potential.

On the flip side, as an independent school, we are able to tailor our curriculum to meet the needs of our girls, and our small class sizes and additional teacher resources allow us to offer an appropriate and challenging programme for each girl, stretching them to achieve their potential. Two current examples speak to our success in this curriculum refinement.

Two years ago SMC recognised the limitations of the national maths curriculum and developed a programme that better prepares our girls for success. The success of our programmes in the Junior and Middle Schools is demonstrated this year by our ‘homegrown’ Year 9s making up the majority of the top math classes and, on average, our Junior girls working at a higher maths curriculum level to their national peers.

Our science faculty works closely with the Junior School teachers to provide a developmental programme across the school, including units that introduce the girls to science labs and, unlike many state intermediate schools, our Middle School boasts specialist maths and science teachers, and facilities.

The SMC programme means our girls enter their senior years with a strong platform of skills and knowledge in these important subject areas. That confidence continues, as demonstrated by the high numbers of girls choosing to study maths and more than one science in their Senior years. Today also happens to be the United Nations’ International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day designed to achieve full access to science for girls and so further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of girls. This year, we are proud to have 16 maths classes and 26 science classes running across Years 12 and 13. For 250 girls, that is pretty impressive!

Further in the newsletter is the exciting announcement of the SMC Senior School Foundation Diploma that will replace Level 1 NCEA for girls in Year 11 from 2022. This is another example of how flexible teaching and learning at St Margaret’s College provides an advantage for our students. Maintaining specialist course offerings, strengthening academic rigour and developing the skills and attributes that will better prepare the girls for success in their choice of Senior pathway, NCEA or International Baccalaureate, are key positive outcomes from this undertaking.

As an independent school, all of us here at St Margaret’s College are proud of our exemplary record in providing the tailored education services and innovative curriculum that encourage our girls to achieve academic success and allow them to pursue their post-school aspirations with confidence.