Whangaparāoa College

PPTA Industrial Action Term 2

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NCEA at Whangaparāoa College


Kaupapa

Our learners are not aiming to gain NCEA Level 1.  Instead, they are aiming to gain the best NCEA Level 2 results over two years – Year 11 and Year 12.  (Note that tertiary institutions will look at Level 2 results for preliminary acceptance into courses).

  • Less assessment, resulting in less anxiety/stress for learners at Year 11.

  • More focus on teaching and learning, not teaching to the assessment, focussing on a deep/foundation learning experience setting learners up for better success at Level 2.

Learners in Year 12 will not be fed up with being over-assessed.

Level 1

NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) is the assessment programme run at Years 11-13. Learners are expected to gain at least 20 credits at NCEA L1 including Numeracy and Literacy.  Y11 learners will only gain numeracy and literacy credits.  Opportunities for exam experience will be provided.  Most learners will sit two school practice examinations at end of Term 3, and one NCEA external exam in Nov/Dec.  In special circumstances, Y11 learners may do L2 or 3 assessments where positive outcomes are assured – ie they are highly likely to achieve Excellence and/or the standard would be very good for their intended pathway – eg an apprenticeship in a trade. 

Levels 2 and 3

Learners must gain 80 credits to attain the NCEA certificate at Levels 2 and 3, including 20 credits in Literacy and Numeracy from Level 1.  Credits may be gained through a combination of internal assessments and external examinations.  Each course offers approximately 18 credits.

University Entrance Qualification

University Entrance, learners must gain their NCEA Level 3, including 14 credits in each of three university approved subjects, as well as U.E. Literacy (5 reading; 5 writing at Level 2 or above) and Level 1 Numeracy (10 credits).

Resubmissions

Note that resubmissions can only occur to take a learner from Not Achieved to Achieved, not to gain Merit or Excellence.   The teacher makes a judgement as to whether a resubmission may occur, and only if there is minor change/amendment/addition needed.

More Information

A slideshow with more detail that was presented on a Facebook Live session by Mr Steve McCracken, Principal, and Mr Richard Gempton, Principal’s Nominee is here.  More detail on NCEA can be found at www.nzqa.govt.nz.  Queries regarding assessment at Whangaparāoa College should be directed to Lisa White, Deputy Principal - [email protected].