Learning & Curriculum
Embracing Resilience & Determination
At St Thomas of Canterbury College, we strive to provide a learning environment that engages the hearts and minds of all our students. Each student is offered a wide range of subjects across all levels at the college which provides many opportunities for them to engage, thrive and develop as the greatest version of themselves.
Close relationships and partnerships are formed within our wider school community to ensure our young men are connected and prepared for further learning beyond their time at the college. Our staff are strongly committed to unlocking the potential of your son(s) and challenging them through their journey at St Thomas so they can make a positive contribution to society in the future.
The Rite Journey
For over 20 years The Rite Journey has been providing unique educational programs in schools and organisations designed to support the development of self-aware, responsible, respectful, resilient, resourceful and reflective adults.
Our suite of programs aim to deepen student experience, through connection, collaboration, consciousness and conversation. We aim to support the growth of thriving citizens, equipped for their own unique journey, armed with the skills and dispositions needed to not just flourish in school, but in life.
Learning Process
All students can build a learning pathway to suit their own passions, direction and needs. Individualised mentoring and guidance are provided to every student, including a selection of their subjects, monitoring of academic progress, and assistance with learning options beyond the school environment.
Above all, our school is about engaging the hearts and minds of all students in meaningful and real world learning experiences. We are a professional learning staff ready to adapt to your son’s needs and create the best possible learning environment that will inspire, challenge, and motivate.
We base our learning around our 3-step approach to knowledge.
We believe that education is more than just committing information to memory in preparation for a summative assessment/exam.
We are passionate about our young men taking action with their knowledge and applying it to the real world to create a deep and powerful understanding of knowledge and where it fits in our world.
Junior Curriculum
Years 9 & 10
Our Junior curriculum is based on our core values of the school. Each class will focus on underlying questions that look to explore, advocate, and demonstrate these key values.
We base our learning on our 3-step approach to knowledge. It’s not ok for our boys just to understand information for the purpose of remembering it for a specific test or exam.
We are passionate about our young men taking action with their knowledge and applying it to the real world to create a deep and powerful understanding of knowledge and where it fits in our world.
Junior Compulsory Classes
CONNECTED 1 – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
Science, Technology (Tech, Graphics), Maths
CONNECTED 2 – HUMANITIES (Learning concerned with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music, and philosophy)
English, Social Sciences, Religious Education
CONNECTED 3 – KINESIOLOGY (Physiological, biomechanical, and psychological mechanisms of movement using digital science)
Physical Education, Health, Digital Technology, Te Reo
Senior Curriculum
Year 11 to 13
Our college aims to provide opportunities for all students to thrive and engage in learning experiences that will prepare them for life beyond our school gates.
Students excel in our small classes where teachers provide support and differentiated delivery of curriculum. Students of all abilities and levels are challenged in a supportive and collaborative learning environment.
An emphasis on flexible timetabling and a variety of courses allow students to choose the subjects which suit them best. All career and employment pathways are considered as we look to cater our learning programmes to suit the various needs of our young men at the college.