Middle School

Curriculum

Our holistic curriculum includes core-curriculum 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 builds on the foundations established in the Junior School and becomes more sophisticated as students access new and different parts of the curriculum. In the Middle School, boys are able to take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities in the Macky Specialist Building, including science labs, art studios and hard technology workshop. 

Time spent in the homeroom and regular character education lessons provides opportunities for students to explore our school values and develop their own identity. Service programmes, The Service Warrant of Fitness (Years 3-4) and the Ready to Serve Passport (Years 5-6) encourage our boys to complete 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.   

Building student skills and confidence is at the heart of our Performing Arts programme. Music, art, and drama are integral to our school life. Our approach balances foundational experience for all students 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.  

In Music Middle School sees the start of ‘Operation test drive’. Each year, all boys experience a semester of instrumental tuition on 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 and different eras.  At any stage during the year boys can follow their passion to pursue an instrument further through individual itinerant lessons, helping them to 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 a 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 competitions 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, Auckland Zoo, significant landforms, sports exchanges, outdoor education camps, 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 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. 

Year 5s spend a week at the Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC), Auckland for team building, kayaking, surfing, marine education, abseiling, and rock climbing. 

Year 6s experience a week at Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp for kayaking, archery, target shooting, BMX riding, go-karting, and an exhilarating overnight tramp. 

Enhanced Learning

The Boys’ School recognises our diverse learners and provides support to access the curriculum so that they reach their academic potential. 

Our vision is for students 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, developing their love of learning by allowing for independent differentiation within the curriculum. 

Both in and outside of the classroom, we provide many opportunities for students to participate in programmes that promote academic rigor 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.  

High ability mathematics students 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 programs 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 

Saint Kentigern Boys’ School teachers and specialists aim to give each student the very best opportunity to achieve to his academic potential.  

We work closely with teachers, parents, outside agencies and our wider community. We provide a wrap-around service for our students that involves individual or small group tuition at a Tier 1 and 2 level, in-class support, mentoring, help with assistive technology, and special assessment conditions.  We also support teachers to cater effectively for students with Specific Learning Needs in their classrooms and liaise closely with the pastoral care team.  

After careful assessment and identification, students with specific learning difficulties may be tutored and monitored by our Learning Support teachers, who stay in close contact with the classroom teacher’s programmes. Assistance will vary according to the student’s individual needs.