Hornby High School

Our Curriculum

We are proud to be a school where all students can make their mark and set their direction for life after secondary school.

Hornby High School is also proud to be one of seven fantastic schools (the Uru Mānuka Cluster) which have been part of Manaiakalani Outreach Programme since 2015. We work collaboratively to accelerate student achievement through the Learn, Create, Share, pedagogy. Our aim is for students to be empowered, visible, and connected, and whose learning can occur anywhere, any time.

Since 2018, the kura has been trialling and tweaking various curriculum innovations, and evolving our timetable structures. In 2021 and 2022, the Timetable 2023 Taskforce focussed on four broad priorities for timetable change. 2023 is the year in which the biggest structural changes to our timetable took place. 

  • Renewed commitment to Wānanga (extended learning advisory), extending Wānanga provision to the full school (Year 7 – 13) 
  • Greater consistency and predictability in how the timetable caters to Year 7 & 8 learners and teachers. 
  • Longer periods of learning, or a mix of short and long periods 
  • Structures to provide more choice and agency for learners in Years 7 – 10. 
Course Information

Information for Junior through to Senior

Wānanga

At Hornby High School / Te Huruhuru Ao o Horomaka we consider quality learning-focussed relationships to be at the heart of a thriving and successful kura. Wānanga is time and space in our school timetable that is dedicated to nurturing and sustaining relationships between learners and teachers, kura and whānau, and amongst the learners themselves. All learners in Years 7 – 13 are part of a Wānanga grouping in which they have regular contact with a Wānanga learning advisor (teacher / kaiako) whose job it is to know the learner well and walk alongside them throughout their school journey. Wānanga is part of a teacher’s contact hours (ie. part of their teaching load).

Guidance for the pastoral care responsibilities of Wānanga come from kāhui deans and SLT

  • Mohua: Darren Smalley (Year 7 &8 Dean) Terry Mitchell SLT
  • Riroriro: Katie Phelan (Tozer) (Year 7&8 Dean) Terry Mitchell SLT
  • Tieke: Tracy Allan-Fletcher (Year 7&8 Dean) Terry Mitchell SLT
  • Nicole Bennett & Sam Tisch (Year 9 Deans) Matt Vannoort SLT
  • Rowena Clemence (Year 10 Dean) Laurie Tafau SLT
  • Anna Taylor (Year 11 Dean) Ruth Robertson SLT
  • Phil Daines (Year 12 Dean) Ruth Robertson SLT
  • Aaron Heath (Year 13 Dean) Iain Murray SLT

We also have three Wānanga leads who guide and advise on the teaching and learning aspects of Wānanga:

  • Raewyn Davis (Year 7 & 8)
  • Anna Taylor (Year 9 & 10)
  • Rowena Clemence (Year 11 – 13)

Year 7 & 8

All Year 7 & 8 students are in a Wānanga grouping (combined Year 7 & 8). There are 10 Year 7&8 Wānanga groupings in total. Four in Mōhua, 3 in Riroriro and 3 in Tēike.

For the majority of time Year 7 & 8 students will be taught by their Wānanga teacher

  • 180 minutes (three periods) of Wānanga/form class
  • 300 minutes(five periods) of Literacy
  • 300 minutes (five periods) of Numeracy
  • 120 minutes (two periods) of Science
  • 360 minutes (Six periods) of Integrated curriculum (Social studies, The Arts etc)
  • 120 minutes (two periods) of Option / Technology classes
  • 120 minutes (two periods) of Sport

The design of this curriculum is to ensure Year 7 & 8 students are with 1 teacher who will develop a strong working relationship, that students get a broad taste of the entire curriculum, and begin to introduce choice through passion projects and sport.

Year 9 & 10

All Year 9 & 10 students are in a Wānanga grouping (combined Year 9 & 10). There are 12 Year 9 & 10 Wānanga groupings in total, four per kāhui.

For the rest of their timetable, Year 9 & 10 are taught in separate Year 9 & 10 classes.

  • 120 minutes (two periods) of Wānanga
  • 240 minutes (four periods) of each of English, Maths, Science
  • 180 minutes (three periods) Social Science
  • 120 minutes (two periods) of Physical Education
  • 120 minutes (two periods) of Health
  • 240 minutes (four periods) Options / Technology classes / The Arts

The original vision for the Year 9 & 10 timetable in 2023 was for learners to have plenty of choice over their courses and learning contexts for the whole junior curriculum.

Year 11, 12 & 13

All senior students (Year 11, 12 & 13) are in Year group Wānanga classes. Senior Wānanga is 60 minutes (one period) per week. Additionally, all senior students do a full course of study towards an NCEA qualification.

Year 11

  • 60 minutes (two periods) of Wānanga
  • Five full courses (four 1 hour periods per subject)
  • Most study towards NCEA Level 1
  • English (or Te Reo Māori), Mathematics and Science are compulsory.
  • Wednesday afternoon sports competition (Optional)

Year 12

  • 60 minutes (two periods) of Wānanga
  • Five full courses (four 1 hour periods per subject)
  • Most study towards NCEA Level 2, or the level appropriate for them
  • English (or Te Reo Māori) is compulsory.
  • One period per week pathways and careers or Trade Academy
  • Wednesday afternoon sports competition (Optional)

Year 13

  • 60 minutes (two periods) of Wānanga
  • Five full courses (four 1 hour periods per subject)
  • Most study towards NCEA Level 3, or a mixture of Level 2 and 3.
  • One period per week pathways and careers or Trade Academy
  • Wednesday afternoon sports competition (Optional)

Client Schools

Hornby High School hosts client schools ( Primary School with Year 7&8 students) for technology provision.

Russley School, Weedons School, Templeton School, St Bernadettes, and some home school students, are bussed to Hornby High School on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, and hosted for a technology programme run by Hornby High School staff.

Specialist Subject Learning & Options

Learners also have the opportunity to engage in languages and specialist subjects, benefitting from the expertise of the range of talented teachers we have across our kura.

In Year 7 & 8, students get a taste of language learning in Te Reo Māori and Japanese, and exposure to a range of other specialist areas like Visual Art, Drama, Digital Technology, Materials Technology, Textiles and Foods, on rotation throughout the year.

In Years 9 & 10, students have the choice of which specialist subjects they focus on, via our junior Option lines.

Course Selection Options

Course selection is completed using SchoolPoint. Navigate through departments to view courses.

Courses are live for selection during our course selection time in Term 3 each year. NB: Current courses are view-only on SchoolPoint.

Our Current Courses can be found on the link below: