Year 9 Learning

Year 9 Integrated Studies

Students in Year 9 are able to learn in a modern environment, specifically designed for this age group. We have a mixture of adaptable spaces, break-out rooms and a theatre that allow groups of students to move around to suit a particular learning task or lesson. Technology is a focus and students have access to laptops, projectors and large screens as part of their daily routine. They also have the power to present their work in engaging and effective ways.

Year 9 is a time of transition from a homeroom class to secondary school. We have a focus on continuing to develop students’ awareness of how they learn and encourage them to develop independent work habits, communicate with their teachers and collaborate with their peers. It is a time of great change with most students developing a curiosity about the wider world.

To capitalise on this, core Year 9 topics are centred on real-world issues or ideas such as globalisation, environmental sustainability and political systems. Dialogue, discussion and debate are also part of class programmes and students are encouraged to share their learning at school and home. Most programmes also use an Interdisciplinary/cross-curricular approach where skills, strategies, knowledge and concepts are practised, then applied across subject areas rather than taught in isolation.

Teachers work as a partnership within each class and as a team across the year group to collaborate on programmes, mark units of work and set goals for the year group.

Typically, in Year 9 students will have one or two teachers for the core learning areas of English, Mathematics, Social Science and Science for a total of 15 periods. Physical Education is a further 3 periods per week.

In addition, Year 9 students have six option class modules.

Year 9 modules and options

There are six hours each week dedicated to Year 9 options. Students do two options each week of 3 hours for a term.

Students will select 7 options to study over the year, the eighth option will be Māori which is compulsory. Other options which they can choose from include: Electronics, Spatial Product Design, Financial Capability, Computing, Food and Nutrition, Materials Technology, Music, Drama, Spanish and Art. Once a term is finished, students move onto the next module.

Students must choose:

• • at least 1 option from the Arts learning area (Music, Drama, Art) 

  • at least 1 option from the Technology learning area (Materials Technology, Spatial & Product Design, Computing, Electronics)

For more information about these options please read the subject overviews.