Curriculum

At Ellerslie School, we are committed to nurturing confident, connected, and actively engaged lifelong learners. Our students will be skilled in literacy, numeracy, and possess the ability to think critically and creatively. We encourage our students to develop a strong sense of self, build positive relationships, and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of New Zealand. Through their learning experiences, they will cultivate their own values while respecting the values of others.

We are fortunate to have a team of specialist subject teachers in Music, Science, and STEAM, offering a rich and diverse learning experience for our students.

The New Zealand Curriculum serves as the foundation for all teaching and learning programs at New Zealand schools. Within each class, we ensure that students are supported to work at their individual levels—whether above or below their age group or curriculum level. This flexible approach allows for diverse groupings and tailored learning experiences to meet the varied needs of our students. The New Zealand Curriculum encompasses eight key learning areas, which guide our educational framework:

English

In English, through a structured literacy approach, there is systematic, explicit instruction in phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension to support all learners in becoming proficient readers and writers.

The Arts

In the arts, students explore, refine, and communicate ideas as they connect thinking, imagination, senses, and feelings to create works and respond to the works of others.

Health & Physical Education

Physical education and sports taught at school promote physical fitness, teamwork, and the development of lifelong healthy habits. Health teaching, including the use of the Mitey and Bounceback wellbeing programmes, empower individuals to develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and positive mental health strategies for long-term wellbeing.

Languages

In learning languages, students learn to communicate in an additional language, develop their capacity to learn further languages, and explore different world views in relation to their own.

Mathematics & Statistics

In mathematics and statistics, students explore relationships in quantities, space, and data and learn to express these relationships in ways that help them to make sense of the world around them.

Science

The science programme aims to engage pupils’ interest and enjoyment in science, highlight connections between scientific areas, evaluate and communicate scientific evidence, and foster an understanding of science as a social and cultural activity, while providing opportunities for safe experimentation, observation, and exploration.

Social Sciences

In the Social Sciences, which incorporates New Zealand histories and diverse worldviews, students foster a deeper understanding of societal dynamics, cultural perspectives, and global interconnectedness.

STEAM

In STEAM, students learn to be innovative developers of products and systems and discerning consumers who will make a difference in the world.

Out of Zone Enrolments 2027