The Gisborne Intermediate Curriculum is centred on the NZC learning areas. This encompasses the vision, principles and values of the New Zealand Curriculum. The Key Competencies are integral to all learning experiences. This provides the basis for teaching and learning within Gisborne Intermediate School.

Planned programmes are influenced by student learning needs and can be influenced by our local context e.g. Māori history, legends, language and environment. The expectations/aspirations from our whānau/ parents/community are recognised and considered. Programmes are geared by a middle school philosophy to cater for the Emerging Adolescent.

Our local curriculum centres on the Mission Statement which underpins all we do and our specific curriculum focus:

• A collaboratively developed integrated curriculum is implemented across the middle years.
• A cohesive continuum across Year 7-8 has a strong foundation in learning skills for knowledge acquisition and academic success.
• Learning is intellectually challenging and demands rigorous analysis and involves deep understanding of ideas.
• Learning and assessment tasks are open ended, providing student choice and decision making, and integrate knowledge and skills.
• High expectations for student learning and behaviour consistently underpin all school practices.
• Collaboratively planned units of work incorporating shared assessment strategies can be developed in syndicates.
• Middle years teachers share professional expertise across the learning community.
• All teachers use student assessment data to improve planning and programming. Teachers also reflect on their practice (teacher inquiry).

Format for each curriculum area includes:

• Planning – Action – Outcome
• Achievement Objectives for Curriculum Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5
• What this looks like at Gisborne Intermediate School
• Key Competencies – how these relate to each learning area in our local curriculum

Learning areas covered

• English – Listening, Reading, Viewing
• English – Speaking, Writing, Presenting
• Mathematics
• Social Sciences
• Science
• Health and Physical Education
• Te Reo Māori
• Languages
• Technology
• The Arts
• Careers Education