[Sam'n'Kelv]

We have a son in Year 9 who is about to take his subject options in school - i.e. decide which subjects he wants to study in the final two years of compulsory education.

We are just wondering whether NZ students are also given this choice.

Sam

[wiki]

Funnily enough I just got a Christmas card from my sister in Dunedin and she said my nephew is about to start year nine and is taking Japanese, Graphics and Economics as his options.

But, I do think the range of options depends on the size of the school.
When I was back in year 9 I was at a medium size Invercargill school and had six options to choose from (I could take two of those) but that was 17 years ago!
Towards the end of that year I moved to a tiny town (2,000 people) and I had to take one option out of three offered.

[Jenny & Mark]

Optional courses do depend on the school size, facilities, and staff. Jenny was studying horticulture in Wellington, but she couldn't continue that option when they moved to Whangarei. I would recommend checking out school websites. Basic information specific to each school can be found at http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/

Mark.

[Junnifer USA]

Hello,
I just saw your thread.
We have been living in NZ (Christchurch) for two years now. Next year my son enters year 9 at St. Andrew's College. He has signed up for his classes and had planety of choice...more than he could have ever expected in the US.
By the way, anyone out there send their kids to boarding school? Would love to hear about that experience.
Jennifer

[gil]

Hi Sam'n'Kelv,
Our 15 year old is starting Year 11 in February and chose her options at the end of November when we enrolled. English, Maths and Phys Ed are compulsory and she can select another 3 options. The number of subjects/options would be the same for NCEA and Cambridge International GCSEs.
Gil