The years of Ideals and Passion
We are the experts on well being with its consequent identity strengthening and learning focus.
Well being is the key to a student's inner transformation from child to adult. It’s the springboard to becoming a confident, innovative, and focused learner and adult.
We achieve well being by a balance of learning and doing, of intellectual and practical investigation enhanced by aesthetics.
Our students attain high levels of academic outcome within this whole person approach.
Adolescence is a period of immense emotional and intellectual challenge i.e. passion vs. intellect, idealism vs. egotism, sexual identity, peer pressure, anxiety and identity fulfilment.
Within this challenging mix, our students experience the warmth of community and what meaningful relationships require, the satisfaction of intellectual rigour, a transitioning towards an inner certainty and the internal mobility to create new solutions to new problems.
We believe that Creativity and Imagination combined with skill based rigour is the pathway for 21st century solution finders.
All students admire the expert teacher who is deeply passionate about their subject. This relationship enables a delicacy and guidance in the questions of moral integrity within the 21st century cyber and sexual worlds. Doubt, darkness and intensity require teachers who are loving, consequential, worthy of imitation and can inspire our tamariki towards worthy ideals.
Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e whai !
Be a leader not a follower
Our strong teaching team has a well-developed culture of high-quality Steiner teaching and academic aspiration. This has grown from NCEA passes to the additional attainment of merit and excellence in level 2 and 3 subjects.
- Above average results in all levels of NCEA.
- Student leaving data from the Ministry shows our students consistently have higher NCEA leaving qualifications at all levels (level 1, 2, 3 and UE) than the national average
- International PISA results – year 10 performance in maths, science and reading indicates a higher degree of attitude and aspiration in maths and science than the international average results
- Ministry of Education moderation of teachers assessment processes demonstrates that our teachers moderate extremely accurately in assessing student work against national norms.
- Remarkable teacher-pupil ratio of 1: 7 on average in senior school enabling intense learning
Whatever your teenager wishes to attain academically, we are confident that we can deliver this for any student.
They will have subject experts in every learning area, a lower pupil/teacher ratio than any school, Main Lessons which cover the wide range of subjects (see below).
The high school programme is very full as we, unlike most schools, expect our students to be involved with a wide range of subjects and begin to specialize only in years 12 & 13 (NCEA level 2 & 3). We are strong believers in maintaining a wide learning experience while our students mature so they can make more informed choices about their future. Please read our latest 'Managing National Assessment Report' here for more information.
Gateway and STAR courses towards post-school tertiary courses and apprenticeships are an increasing option in years 12 & 13. Please have a look here for a selection of this year's courses. STAR and Gateway Guide 2020
The Tertiary Education Commission data demonstrates that graduates from Steiner schools in New Zealand had a 75% completion rate for tertiary qualifications compared to the national average of 57%.
Qualification Pathway
NCEA and Steiner Certificate
The school offers literacy and numeracy standards at Level 1 NCEA and a full NCEA programme at Levels 2 and 3.
Where there is a specific request for a subject outside the range offered, we assist with Correspondence school.
Senior classes are offered the Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School Certificate in Year 12 and 13.
NCEA processes are moderated and reviewed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) national monitoring systems.
For further information please download these information sheets:
March-Candidate-Information-Sheet-final
NCEA Policy and Procedures
Upper School Assessment Procedures
Parent & Student Handbook 2022
Pre-approval Application for a Derived Grade 2022
Application for a Derived Grade 2022
Ages and Stages
Main lessons are an intense learning block of 1.5 hrs per day for 3 weeks creating a deep unique learning experience.
Subject lessons: Range between 3 x 1hr lessons to 1 lesson per week
CLASS 8 (Year 9): Meeting the Modern World
Main Lessons: Social Geography, Industrial Revolution, Chemistry, ICT, Media, Meteorology, Mechanics and Hydrodynamics, Human Anatomy, Geometry in Nature, 20 and 21st Century History, Drama, Individual Project
Subject Lessons: English, Maths, Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), Art, PE, Health, Cooking, Woodwork and Technologies, ICT, Sport, Music, Drama, Peer support.
CLASS 9 (Year 10): Polarity
Main Lessons: World Revolutions, Heat and Energy, Humour, Iconography, Probability, Historical Images of the Human Being, Photosynthesis, Geometry to Algebra, Geology, The 12 Senses, Work Experience, Drama, Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Subject lessons: as above. Most classes run as half classes – ratio 1:15
CLASS 10 (Year 11): Growing Balance
Main Lessons: Human Physiology, Trigonometry, the Gaia Theory, Shakespearean drama, Electromagnetism, Surveying, Chemistry of Metals, Work Experience, Sustainability, Cultural Encounters, History of Language, the Odyssey
Subject lessons: as above.
CLASS 11 (Year 12): Analysis and Reflection
Main Lessons: Atomic and Particle Physics, New Zealand History, Cell Biology, Urbanisation, Music, Modern Art, Projective Geometry, Chemistry, Parsival, Civics, Biographical Encounters
NCEA Subject Choices: English, Science, Maths, Spanish, Drama, Physical Education, Te Reo, Music, Sport, Art, Technology, Health, Social Studies, ICT, Textiles, Photography, History, Physics, Classics.
CLASS 12 (Year 13): Synthesis and the Future
Main Lessons: Issues of Our Time, World Architecture, New Zealand Writers, Chemistry, World Philosophers , Projective Geometry, Shakespeare, Astronomy, Light and Waves, Human Evolution, Biographies, Year long Project Research.
NCEA Subject Choices: English, Science, Maths, Spanish, Drama, Physical Education, Te Reo, Music, Sport, Art, Technology, Health, Social Studies, ICT, Textiles, Photography, History, Physics, Classics. Correspondence available for any other subject
