Middle School

Curriculum

Our holistic curriculum includes core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, taught by the Middle School Homeroom Teachers. Christian Education, Te Reo Māori, French, Music, Visual Art, Physical Education, and TACT (The Arts and Creative Technologies) are taught by specialist teachers. 

Learning and teaching build on the foundations established in the Junior School and become more complex as students access new and different parts of the curriculum. In the Middle School, boys are able to take advantage of the purpose-built facilities in the Macky Specialist Building, including science labs, art studios, and hard technology workshops. 

Time spent in the homeroom and regular character education lessons provides opportunities for students to explore our school values and develop their own identities. Service programmes, The Service Warrant of Fitness (Years 3-4) and the Ready to Serve Passport (Years 5-6) encourage our boys to engage in acts of service and give them opportunities to reflect on the difference they can make in their community. 

Encouraging Creative Thinking

Our Middle School TACT (The Arts and Creative Technologies) programme provides exciting opportunities for boys to think outside the box and solve problems creatively in a high-interest, low-stakes model. Boys engage in a range of arts and technology subjects, taught over 8-week cycles, including Robotics, Workshop, Food Technology, Drama, Design and Digital Technologies. Music and Art are taught in semesterly programmes of work, allowing a more in-depth exploration of the creative process. 

Whether they are exploring aerodynamics by flying their gliders built in the workshop, enhancing their stop-motion graphics in the design lab, or perfecting the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe in the Food Technology room, TACT lessons are a highlight of the working week.   

Cultivating Performing Arts

Music, art, and drama are integral to school life.   

Developing skills and confidence is at the heart of our Performing Arts programme. Our approach balances foundational experience for all boys with opportunities for those eager to learn more.  

The Arts and Creative Technology rotations allow all students to find the drama in them and bring characters to life in a purpose-built theatre classroom. Private Speech and Drama stand alongside this, offering the chance to extend students' skills and equip them for productions and examinations.  

Music in Middle School sees the start of ‘Operation Test Drive’. Each year, all boys experience a semester of instrumental tuition, with the opportunity to try a different instrument in the classroom from the Recorder to Dood Clarinets, Violin, Ukulele, Keyboard, and Guitar. This enables them to connect their developing musical literacy skills and musical knowledge.  Using their instruments they can experiment and investigate a wide range of musical styles, reading and writing music from famous composers of different eras.  At any stage during the year, boys can pursue their passion for playing an instrument further through individual itinerant lessons, which will enable them to reach a certain level of proficiency to then join one of our school ensembles.  

Elevating Sporting Excellence

Our comprehensive sports facilities provide a platform for our dedicated teaching and coaching staff to help our boys achieve sporting excellence.  

Physical education develops essential skills and builds strength, stamina, agility, and balance. Most importantly, our programme fosters a love of physical activity, introducing boys to a range of different games and sporting opportunities, while promoting the benefits of regular exercise.  

Our Year 3-4 sport programme introduces boys to a range of different team-based games and sports. This develops their understanding of what it means to be part of a team, and encourages competitive spirit while developing positive sportsmanship. 

From Year 5, boys select both winter and summer sports and compete with local schools. Learning focuses on understanding competition, building character, teamwork, and sportsmanship through meaningful competitive games. Boys also compete in House sporting challenges such as swimming sports, athletics, and cross country. 

Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)

Our Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) programme allows boys to engage in meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom walls. Trips and excursions include class visits to museums and galleries, the Auckland Zoo, significant landforms, sports exchanges, outdoor education camps, and rocky shores. Through these curated experiences, students hone their social, physical, and emotional skills, facing challenges that nurture resilience, perseverance, and confidence. 

An important part of our EOTC programme is our school camps, where our boys create lasting memories collaborating with their peers to enjoy and overcome challenges. 

Our Year 3 overnight camp at Willow Park in Howick provides a great start to our boys' school camp experience, spending a night away from home and completing a range of team-building activities.  

In Year 4, boys experience four days at the Peter Snell Youth Village in Whangaparaoa, taking part in many challenges, including kayaking, climbing, archery, and team-building, all with a fun, pirate theme. 

Our Year 5's spend a week at the Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) Auckland participating in activities such as team building, kayaking, surfing, marine education, abseiling, and rock climbing. 

For our Year 6's, they spend a week at Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp. Among the activities they participate in include kayaking, archery, target shooting, BMX riding, go-karting, and an exhilarating overnight tramp. 

Enhanced Learning

We recognise our boys are diverse learners and customise our support in delivering a curriculum that enables them to reach their academic potential. 

Our vision is for our boys to thrive within an environment that acknowledges and respects individual differences and recognises their unique abilities. We encourage every student to achieve personal excellence in a supportive and caring learning environment. 

There is a well-established system of support for all learners, whether they require individual tutoring for specific learning needs or extension in particular learning areas. Boys are identified for these programmes through teacher and parent input and the cyclic nature of the programmes ensures that access is kept as broad as possible. 

Extension Programmes 

We address the needs of our talented students, aiming to challenge, enthuse, and extend highly intelligent students and develop their love of learning by allowing for independent differentiation within the curriculum. 

Both in and outside the classroom, we provide many opportunities for students to participate in programmes that promote academic rigour and creativity within a supportive and engaging learning environment. Gifted and talented students can experience enrichment to broaden their knowledge and acceleration in key areas.  

Boys with high ability in mathematics are catered for within the Extension Mathematics Programme, as well as a differentiated programme which provides extension and enrichment. 

In class, this is achieved through curriculum differentiation to enhance the learning experiences of gifted students. Critical thinking and creative abilities are extended through participating in these learning experiences. 

Many additional activities and programmmes are coordinated, in our endeavour to meet individual learning needs. This includes Mathex Teams, BOOST Extension Writing Programme in Years 5 and 6, Kids Lit Quiz in Years 6, Art and Drama exhibitions and assessments, Music groups and competitions, Chess competitions, ICAS assessments, and various other competitions, challenges and quests. 

Learning Support 

Our teachers and specialist educators work hard to give each boy the best opportunities to achieve his academic potential.  

Together with the help of supporting teachers, parents, relevant outside agencies, and our wider community, we provide a wrap-around service. This involves individual or small group tuition at a Tier 1 and 2 level and in-class support.  The Enhanced Learning Team also supports teachers and liaises closely with the pastoral care team to cater effectively to students with specific learning needs in their classrooms.

After careful assessment and identification of specific learning concerns, students may be tutored and monitored by our Enhanced Learning teachers, who work alongside the classroom teachers to deliver on the curriculum. Assistance will vary according to the student’s individual needs.