SENIOR COURSES 2011

 PLANNING YOUR PROGRAMME
The New Zealand Curriculum Framework requires students to study a broad balanced curriculum based on the essential skills: communication, numeracy, information, problem solving, physical work and study, self-management and competitive skills, social and co-operative skills.
The Curriculum identifies seven learning areas:
• Language and languages
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technology
• Social science
• The arts
• Health and Physical Education
The Mahurangi College curriculum is delivered by eight faculties based on these learning areas. Each faculty offers year long courses. The College curriculum offers a broad education becoming gradually more specialised as they progress through to the senior school. It encourages students to accept increasing amounts of responsibility for their own learning as they progress. Mahurangi College will ensure that students endeavour to work to their potential and allows students to plan their educational programme in the senior school.

IN SELECTING A PROGRAMME STUDENTS NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES:
 • What qualifications do I want to gain while at school?
• What qualifications and courses do I need for tertiary study or for the work I hope to do when I leave school?
• Does my subject selection provide enough flexibility to change courses or direction in the future?
• Will I be appropriately challenged and have a good chance of success in this course?
• Do I have the prerequisites for the course?
• Have I discussed my preferences with my parents and teachers (whanau, subject, teacher, Head of Faculty, careers and guidance staff)?

DO NOT SELECT SUBJECTS FOR THE WRONG REASONS, SUCH AS:
You like or dislike a teacher!
You have a friend in the class!
You think it's a boys'/girls' subject!
You think it might be too difficult!
You don't have anything else to do!

KEY POINTS TO NOTE
• Changes are being made to the Level 1 Curriculum for 2011. Hence, some course information is a guide only.
• Courses will only be provided if there are sufficient student enrolments, if necessary related courses will be amalgamated to form a viable class size.
• Mahurangi College will endeavour to accommodate student subject choices. It will develop a timetable structure that best meets the requirements of the greatest possible number of students.
• Multi-level study is an essential component of the college curriculum. Students may study at any of the different levels, however, any student wishing to study at a higher level must have the approval of the appropriate Head of Faculty.
• Students must meet all course prerequisites or have written Head of Faculty approval. • Some subjects require students to pay material fees; these fees vary from subject to subject.
• Some subjects have field trips as part of their course and students must be prepared to participate and pay the appropriate trip costs.
• All subject material fees must be paid by 31 March of the year.


YEAR REQUIREMENTS

YEAR 11 STUDENTS
2002 saw the introduction of the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA). The level 1 Certificate is aimed at Year 11 students. This new qualification replaces School Certificate.
To gain a level 1 NCEA certificate students must obtain 80 credits. These credits are gained by obtaining Achievement Standards in each subject. An Achievement Standard is a statement that defines what a student is expected to know and be able to do. Most Year 11 subjects that Mahurangi College will offer next year have a potential of 24 credits.
Students will be required to choose five subjects to study next year in order to maximise their opportunities to gain 80 credits . Of these five subjects English and mathematics are compulsory and it is strongly recommended that students study a course in science. There are minimum literacy and numeracy credit requirements in order to gain a NCEA Level 1 Certificate.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (N.C.E.A.) LEVEL ONE.
The N.C.E.A. is awarded through the accumulation of National Qualifications Framework credits that will be granted when students demonstrate they have met pre-defined Achievement Standards. Each standard achieved is worth a certain number of qualification credits – typically 3 or 4, although there are some worth 2 and 5. The conventional school subjects are worth a total of 24 credits.
A student needs 80 credits in total to be awarded the N.C.E.A. at Level One.
Achievement Standards will be either internally and/or externally assessed.
Unit Standards will also contribute credits towards the N.C.E.A.
The N.C.E.A. Level 1 Certificate need not be obtained over just one year.
An Achievement Standard is designed so that four levels of student performance can be identified – not achieved, achieved, achieved with merit, achieved with excellence.
At the end of the year students will get an Interim Results Notice for that year. In addition they will receive the first issue of a life-long cumulative Record of Learning. This will be updated as they gain credits.
Students must gain 8 credits in literacy and 8 credits in numeracy in order to be awarded NCEA Level 1.

YEAR 12 STUDENTS
Most Year 12 students will take courses that lead to the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 2. Some will take courses at other levels depending on their previous success and choices.
Next year all students will choose five subjects . An English course is compulsory.
If students intend doing Level 3 next year, they should complete the NCEA courses that lead to appropriate Level 3 courses.

YEAR 13 STUDENTS
All Year 13 must be enrolled and study five subjects all year.

Costs for NCEA
All students that enter NCEA subjects at any level will have to pay the NZQA administration fee of $75 for regular students. This amount is the total payable for 5 subjects (and 3 scholarship exams) and is collected by the school on behalf of NZQA. This is a separate fee and must not be confused with the subject fees as indicated in the booklet. The Fee for international students is $375. Those families with community services cards or on benefits are elegible for financial assistance and the the cost is $20 (or $30 per family).

COMMON ENTRANCE STANDARD for University - Level 3 NCEA
A minimum of 42 credits at Level 3 or higher, including a minimum of 14 credits at Level 3 or higher in each of 3 subjects. Two of these must be subjects from an approved list.
Plus a minimum of 8 credits at Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Maori, 4 in reading and 4 in writing.
Plus a minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics.
Many courses at different universities have limited entry. Limited entry is common entrance plus students to have sat in 5 subjects from an approved list at Level 3 or higher.
Applicants will be assigned a rank order based on best 80 credits, over a maximum of 5 subjects.
Students need to refer to individual Tertiary Institutes for specific subject requirements.