Along with our core subjects (Literacy, Numeracy, and Inquiry), we aim to present our tamariki with authentic learning opportunities and chances for our children to put their learning into practice, make connections across curriculum areas, and take action as a result of their learning.

We want future-focused students who are able to think critically, solve problems, and work collaboratively. We want all our learners to be FIRST learners. This will mean they are well-equipped to work through challenges and sustain a positive mindset towards being lifelong learners.

We believe it is important our students receive explicit instruction as well as opportunities to apply their learning to real life problems. Structured literacy forms a part of our literacy curriculum, as do chances to read and write for specific purposes and audiences. We teach targeted mathematics workshops, and also allow students to use this learning to solving challenging problems.

We have both single cell and collaborative spaces, and work to place students in the best learning space for them. Our students stay with their home class/team for most of the week, with one block being their Specialist Technology class.

Alongside our classroom programmes, we have a range of curriculum opportunities available to our students. Opportunities include EPro8, maths extension, Otago Maths Problem Challenge, Mathex, writing extension, Auckland Writers’ Festival, NIS News ICAS Academic Competition, digi-tech extension, Minecraft Education, eSports, and Rehu Tai Festival of Oral Languge. We also curate learning that is connected to our local area, such as eDNA testing of Te Ara Awataha stream, environmental work with external organisations, and contributions to the design of local community areas and playgrounds.

An important area of focus for us is health and wellbeing. Feeling cared for, safe and secure at school is essential not only to the wellbeing of our students, but also to their academic achievement. We know that students with high levels of wellbeing make better learners, find it easier to focus in the classroom, and are able to build stronger and more meaningful relationships.

At NIS, we know the importance of our students being able to understand and regulate their emotions, build a growth mindset, take risks, develop empathy and resilience, and have strategies to manage relationships and deal with setbacks and challenges. Our mental health education is both explicitly taught and interwoven across curriculum areas.

Intermediate is a fantastic time for our children to try new things, and really sink their teeth into the depth and breadth of our curriculum. We work to provide an holistic school experience that is supportive of the growth and development of our young people.

We want our students to feel they can make a difference in the world around them, to be able to explore and follow their passions, to find learning authentic and meaningful… and to be able to have some fun along the way!