Quality Learning

St Thomas's School aims to provide an optimum educational environment for promoting excellence in each child's learning, achievement and personal development.

The New Zealand Curriculum  identifies eight  learning areas, key competencies and values. The learning areas are: Mathematics and Statistics, English, Social Sciences, Science, Technology, Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Learning Languages.

Within these learning areas teachers plan: 

  • Integrated learning programmes that are child centered and based on individual needs.
     
  • Relevant learning experiences.
     
  • Ongoing assessment to inform programme planning.

    Alongside classroom programmes, we offer support to students in a number of different ways:

    • ESOL programme - an ESOL teacher and teacher aides working with students learning English
    • Teacher Aides - working in classrooms to support students' learning, mainly in literacy and numeracy
    • Small group teaching across the school taken by Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal and Student Support teacher.
    • Talented and Gifted (TAG) programme - for students identified as having special abilities and talents
    • Parent Tutor Reading Programme (PTRP)

    • In Years 7 and 8 students learn German, Dancesport and go to Selwyn College for Technology.
    Year 7 students participate in the Waterwise programme in terms 1 and 4.

    We offer extra-currucular activities: chess, choir, orchestra, art, music lessons, technology.

    Students also participate in zone sports competitions across a wide range of codes:netball,
    soccer, rugby, gymnastics, cross country,athletics, cricket, swimming,basketball, softball.