These webpages provide information that will enable our rangatahi to select a course that will be challenging and rewarding and will provide access to further education and training at higher levels of the National Qualifications Framework.

Spanning the entire year, the Rite Journey serves as a guide for our Year 10 students as they navigate the passage from adolescence to adulthood.

Decisions about which courses are best to take can be straightforward; but are often difficult.

At Villa Maria College, where appropriate and practicable, we work to develop learning programmes which are individualised.

University Entrance is based on performance in Level 3 subjects, with points awarded for the number of credits achieved with Excellence.

At Villa Maria College, three NCEA qualifications are offered over Year 12-13: Level 2 NCEA, Level 3 NCEA.

Scholarship will extend our best secondary students and enable top scholars to be identified and acknowledged.

In the Intermediate, ākonga are in one of two Year 7 or Year 8 classes.

All students in Year 9 are together in House groups for core classes in Religious Education, Social Studies, Physical Education and Science. Girls are placed randomly in Mathematics and English classes across three Houses.

All students in Year 10 are together in House groups for core classes in Religious Education, Mathematics, English Social Studies, Physical Education/Health and Science.

There are some compulsory subjects. Students also select three additional subject options.

There are some compulsory subjects. Students also select additional subject options.

There are some compulsory subjects. Students also select additional subject options.

The purpose of Learning Support is to identify, coordinate and monitor support services for learners within a classroom context.

Religious Education is compulsory. At Villa Maria College, Religious Education is teaching and learning what the Catholic Church believes and teaches – it aims to enable students to understand and appreciate how people live, pray and celebrate and how they can respond freely to God according to their gift of faith.

The Arts course runs for a semester and students will select two of the Arts subjects from Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. The courses focus on developing practical skills and thinking.

The Arts course runs for a semester and students will select two of the Arts subjects from Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. The courses focus on developing practical skills and thinking.

The Arts course runs for a semester and students will select two of the Arts subjects from Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. The courses focus on developing practical skills and thinking.

Explore diverse scientific realms through six engaging units, fostering critical thinking and communication skills for informed decision-making.

Year 9 Science offers diverse exploration in living world, chemistry, astronomy, digestion, and energy. Enhance skills and ignite your passion for science.

A dynamic journey through five units, integrating Māori culture, hands-on investigations, and real-world relevance, fostering scientific curiosity and essential skills.

Discover, Explore, and Thrive! Dive into hands-on exploration, nurture inquiry skills, and embrace the essence of science in this enriching course.

This course is inclusive and open to all ethnicities and will appeal to Year 12-13 students who identify with or who are interested in Māori performing arts. Intrinsic to Te Ao Haka are culture, language and identity. Te Ao Haka is a vehicle used to wānanga and communicate culture, tikanga, knowledge systems, and iwi traditions. Te Ao Haka is enabling and centres around the importance of family, marae, iwi, hapū, and waka through connection with the past, present and future.

The aim of Dance is to develop students’ ability to express experiences, ideas, beliefs, feelings, informed through dance.

The aim of Dance is to develop students’ ability to express experiences, ideas, beliefs, feelings, informed through dance.

This course will have a focus on building confidence, leadership, and group development skills.

This course will be offered for Y11 students, and full year for Y12 and Y13 students.

The aim of Dance is to develop students’ ability to express experiences, ideas, beliefs, feelings, informed through dance.

Gateway broadens students’ options by offering structured workplace learning.

The course is designed to meet the needs of students who would like to know more about statistics and prefer to complete assignments over a period of time.

The course is suitable for those students who intend to go onto further study in areas that may require a good understanding of Mathematics, but not necessarily as a specialised area.

This course suits those students with a particular interest in algebra and algebraic concepts.

This course covers a variety of internal standards with the option of one external at the end of the year for those aiming for endorsement.

This course is designed for those who feel they understand Mathematics and like the time to consolidate the skills they are learning.

Students will experience all the Arts as part of their Arts rotation in Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts.

Students will experience all the Arts as part of their Arts rotation of a 14-week module in Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. The Arts develop the artistic and aesthetic dimensions of human experience. They contribute to our intellectual ability and to our social, cultural, and spiritual understandings. They are an essential element of daily living and of lifelong learning.

Students will experience all the Arts as part of their Arts rotation, with 14-week modules in Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts.

The Arts course runs for a semester and students will select two of the Arts subjects from Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. The courses focus on developing practical skills and thinking.

Students will make a study of a contemporary painter and will explore the artmaking traditions that may have influenced their work.

All you need is a love of music, a willingness to apply yourself and to work independently towards agreed goals.

The course is based around real public performance opportunities.

Students in Year 12 choose one of the four offered Visual Art domains.

It is possible to specialise according to your interests.

They will extend their practical skills and work with more complicated texts and ideas to extend their knowledge about drama and explore new skills.

The aim is to build upon previous experience and extend the understanding that good design comes from a deeper understanding of cultural conventions.

This is a language and culture semester for senior students where students can gain skills and knowledge for future pathways to enable them to meet the prerequisites of tertiary entry requirements.

The aim of Te Ao Māori is to establish the importance of a sense of belonging and connections to Aotearoa for all ākonga through self-identity whilst learning through mātauranga Māori.

An introduction to the concept of learning a language by using songs, games, chants, cards, and online sites, in order to understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

An introduction to the concept of learning a language by using songs, games, chants, cards, and online sites, in order to understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

The courses cover the six strands of the New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum.

Assist students who need to improve academic English language skills

This course builds on language skills developed during Years 9 and 10 and assumes students are familiar with reading and writing hiragana and katakana script.

The course follows the New Zealand Curriculum and includes a range of topics such as: relationships, family and friends, education and future plan, holidays and travel, leisure - food and drink, celebrations.

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, presenting and performing within every day and familiar situations.

Experience language learning by immersion.

This course invites students to speak in Japanese using language they become comfortable using in a class immersion setting.

The focus is on students building confidence in the language skills

Students with a non-English speaking background will be exposed to a range of topics to support them with an understanding of the biculturalism of Aotearoa and the culture of an English speaking world.

Students will develop their English language skills of listening, viewing, reading, speaking, presenting or performing so students can understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

Students will develop their English language skills of listening, viewing, reading, speaking, presenting or performing so students can understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

The focus in French is for students to be introduced to the concept of learning a language with cultural aspects interwoven.

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and presenting or performing so students can understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

Students will develop the language skills of listening, viewing, speaking, presenting and performing so students can understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary at a beginner level.

The focus in Japanese is for students to be introduced to the concept of learning a language with cultural aspects interwoven.

The focus in French is for students to be introduced to the concept of learning a language with cultural aspects interwoven

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and presenting or performing so students can understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

Through learning te reo Māori and becoming increasingly familiar with tikanga, our students strengthen their identities and develop shared cultural understandings.

Students learn to read and write katakana script and build on the repertoire of kanji they are familiar with.

Students with a non-English speaking background will be exposed to a range of topics to support them with an understanding of the biculturalism of Aotearoa and the culture of an English-speaking world.

Students will work from a textbook series called Studio 1 designed by a French team. Topics covered are: personal details, school life, leisure time, my town and my holidays.

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and presenting or performing within everyday and familiar situations.

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, presenting and performing with students working towards developing communicative independence.

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, presenting and performing.

This is topic-based learning to best meet the needs of individual students.

The courses cover the six strands of the New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum; Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability, at Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The courses cover the six strands of the New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum; Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability, at Levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The courses cover the six strands of the New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum; Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability, at Levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Students will develop skills and knowledge that will enable them to be successful in future Commerce courses and as a member of society.

This module is designed to develop students’ financial literacy skills as well as give them a broad understanding of economic issues.

The Level 3 History course examines events from the past and how they have influenced New Zealand and the wider world in the present day.

Classical Studies is the study of ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

The Level 3 Business Studies course is in conjunction with the Young Enterprise Scheme.

Accounting gives students the tools to make real life financial decisions.

Students are given an understanding of what motivates people and gain experience in market research which will be valuable in L3 Business Studies

Classical Studies is the study of ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

Social Studies is about how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

Social Studies is about how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

Social Studies is about how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

Social Studies is about how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

This course is designed to improve students’ skills and knowledge so they are financially capable for life after school.

Psychology is the study of human mind and behaviour.

Students will discuss legal issues and gain an informed respect for the laws that will enable them to operate as confident and responsible citizens.

Psychology is the study of human mind and behaviour. The aim of psychology is to understand how we think, feel, and act the way we do.

Legal Studies explores the role of law in society and New Zealand’s laws and legal system.

The course is designed to meet the needs of students who enjoy a challenge and are keen to extend their understanding of the deeper concepts of pure mathematics.

These programmes enable students to develop the skills needed to understand, use and create oral, visual and written texts.

These programmes enable students to develop the skills needed to understand, use and create oral, visual and written texts.

The course is designed to meet the needs of students who would like to know more about statistics and prefer to complete assignments over a period of time.

Geography is the study of the environment as the home of people. It seeks to interpret the world and how it changes over time – past, present and future.

Media Studies challenges and empowers students to analyse and interpret media content and to become more informed and think critically about the media and its role in everyday life.

Learning English encompasses learning the language, learning through the language, and learning about the language.

This is a combination course of Economics and Accounting, giving students the benefit of studying two subjects in one course.

The focus is for students to be introduced to the concept of learning a language by using songs, games, chants, cards and online sites, in order to understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary.

This course examines geographic skills, the issue of plastic in our oceans, investigation of global diseases and research within the environment of Hanmer Springs.

Media Studies challenges and empowers students to analyse and interpret media content and to become more informed and think critically about the media and its role in everyday life.

The students selecting this course will enjoy rigorous debate about important issues that affect Catholics worldwide.

Physical Education and Health in Year 8 involves a basic introduction to movement and Physical Education and Health concepts.

This course covers one internal standard It is designed to meet the needs of students who will benefit from taking more time to cover NCEA whilst still allowing students to continue to any Level 2 Mathematics but in some cases an individual learning program may be required

The focus in this course will be on students achieving literacy.

A genuine interest and enthusiasm for this area of study is essential for the enjoyment and successful completion of this course.

The Level 2 History course examines events from the recent past and how they have influenced New Zealand and the wider world in the present day.

The course includes a range of topics such as: Youth, the Environment, History & Memory, Immigration in France, Life in the Future.

Physical Education and Health in Year 7 involves a basic introduction to movement and Physical Education and Health concepts.

This course allows students to design and develop Digital Outcomes to solve problems.

Topics covered include: Ethics and Ethical Issues, Religious expression in New Zealand and moral responses to a chosen issue.

Developing motor skills while also developing constructive positive values and attitudes towards themselves and others.

Exploring Māori activism in the twentieth century, the causes of World War II and New Zealand’s role in it, Black Civil Rights in the USA and the role of heroes and heroines in History.

This course covers the strands Making Meaning and Creating Meaning. Within these we cover: Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening, Viewing and Presenting.

The curriculum coverage for the year explicitly relates to each of the College’s values.

Students will use computational thinking while designing and developing a range of digital outcomes.

The focus is on developing the language skills of listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and presenting or performing within everyday and familiar situations.

This engaging course combines the essential subjects of Accounting, Economics, and Business Studies.

The focus is on the well-being of the students themselves, of other people and of society through learning in movement contexts.

This course examines Ōtautahi and te taiao of Waitaha, climate change and its implications, extreme natural events around the world and in Ōtautahi and global populations and fertility rates.

These programmes enable students to develop the skills needed to understand, use and create oral, visual and written texts.

The course provides students with the opportunity to extend their understanding of the Japanese way of life and value systems and to consider the cultural meaning intrinsically linked to Japanese expressions and gestures.

The focus is on the well-being of the students themselves, of other people and of society through learning in movement contexts.

Gateway broadens students’ options by offering structured workplace learning.

The topics covered include: Christology, Ethics and Ethical Issues, Religious Tradition in New Zealand and Finding Meaning.

This course is for students who would benefit from a supported study environment.

This course is for students interested in gaining exposure to possible future industries as well as preparing them better for the workplace environment.

This course introduces the students to the Textiles room.

This course builds on the skill and knowledge learnt in Year 7.

This course emphasises working together, being organised, and having fun in the kitchen.

This course introduces the students to working together in the school kitchen.

Uncover life's secrets in Bio-Chem! Merge biology and chemistry to decode DNA, explore Mātauranga Māori, and prepare for careers in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medicine, and beyond.

Embark on matter and motion exploration! This course merges physics and chemistry, from tiny particles to grand forces. Gain Mātauranga Māori insights, paving paths to diverse careers and advanced studies.

Dive into Level 2 NCEA Chemistry: Explore atomic structure, chemical reactions, and bonding. Build a foundation for understanding the world at the molecular level.

Hands-on ākonga journey in applied science: Chemistry, biology, and horticulture unite to nurture life and land sustainably. Practical skills for horticulture and land management careers.

Fuel your curiosity in Science Pathways. Explore diverse topics, nurture your interests, and lay a foundation for future pursuits.

Pathway Science: Gain diverse Science credits without specialization. Explore Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space. Practical skills, investigations, field trips. Broaden your scientific horizons.

Embark on Level 2 NCEA Biology, delving into organisms, genetics, and life processes. Develop skills for scientific exploration in this captivating course.

Embark on a multidisciplinary journey! Science Fusion merges physics, biology, and chemistry, exploring life's essence and Mātauranga Māori. Launch into versatile scientific careers or advanced studies.

Food Technology

For students wanting to move on to tertiary food related courses and employment.

Food preparation and presentation

Dive into Level 2 Physics: Unravel the mysteries of motion, energy, and waves. Explore the fundamental principles shaping our understanding of the physical world.

Explore the fundamental forces and laws that govern the universe in this Level 3 Physics course, applying advanced concepts to real-world phenomena.

Explore advanced chemical concepts, reactions, and real-world applications

Dive into Level 3 NCEA Biology: Uncover human physiology, study animal/plant behaviors, and trace Trends in Human Evolution, unraveling nature's wonders.

Ākonga can select the Technology contexts as part of their Year 10 learning.

This course aims to provide the students with a desire to keep physically active.

Ākonga can select the Technology contexts as part of their Year 10 learning.

Students will learn about design, file types, colour modes and what makes a good design.

These programmes enable students to develop the skills needed to understand, use and create oral, visual and written texts.

Ākonga can select the Technology contexts as part of their Year 10 learning.

The students complete an extended research and skills-based project before embarking on developing their own materials-based outcome.

Technology is a part of the learning of each ākonga in Year 9

This course introduces the students to design, what makes good design, and how to be a good digital citizen.

The students complete one major design project and have the option to do an external report.

This is a practical and theoretical course that will provide understanding and knowledge across the core Digital Technologies areas.

This course introduces students to computer science and basic programming in robotics by using both a virtual and physical world.

This course introduces the students to computational thinking.

By understanding how language works, ākonga are equipped to make appropriate language choices and apply them in a range of contexts.

A knowledge of Catholic teaching and practices, both historical and modern are covered. This enables students to discuss, discern and debate various opinions and viewpoints based on evidence.

By the end of the year students should be able to perform and create work independently, with the teacher in a guidance role.

The course follows the National Curriculum. It is possible to specialise according to your interests.

Religious Education is compulsory. At Villa Maria College, Religious Education is teaching and learning what the Catholic Church believes and teaches – it aims to enable students to understand and appreciate how people live, pray and celebrate and how they can respond freely to God according to their gift of faith.

Religious Education is compulsory. All students will do either Religious Education, Social Action or Theology.

Religious Education is compulsory. All students will do either Social Action or Religious Education.

Religious Education is compulsory. The course follows the curriculum set by the National Centre for Religious Studies. It looks at some major aspects of Catholicism.