Curriculum 

We believe boys learn best by doing. At the Rural Campus, students take part in an extensive curriculum built around three equally important strands of learning: academic, outdoor as well as personal and social growth.

Academic Curriculum

The academic curriculum provides students with educational experiences across a broad range of subjects. Specifically, we focus on the eight learning areas of the New Zealand curriculum: the Arts, English, Health and Physical Education, Learning Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Science, Social Sciences and Technology.

Subjects fall under each of these learning areas and are compulsory for all students. We also focus on teaching key competencies set out in the New Zealand Curriculum, including Thinking, Managing Self and Relating to Others.

Recognising the importance of Literacy and Numeracy, more time is devoted to English and Mathematics. Students take part in project-based learning and use information technology in all subject areas.

Outdoor Curriculum

The outdoor curriculum provides ways for boys to develop outdoor skills as well as learning about themselves and their relationships with others.

We offer a wide range of outdoor activities including sea kayaking, bushcraft, climbing and abseiling, tramping, trail mountain biking, caving and orienteering. These activities build physical skills as well as trust, confidence and teamwork.

Instructors use an apprenticeship-style of teaching, where they help each student to grow in their learning. As the boys develop more skills, they take on more of a leadership role in their outdoor experiences.

Personal and Social Growth Curriculum

The personal and social growth curriculum aims to develop knowledge, thinking and practice around wellbeing and character.

We focus on the following areas:

1. Cabin contribution - helping out in running their cabins including cooking and cleaning.
2. Volunteering - assisting the local community through activities including riverbank planting, track maintenance or helping out at local schools.
3. Social living – equipping students with skills and strategies to help them deal with issues that are important to them.
4. Coaching – helping boys develop and grow as individuals.