Through the social sciences, students develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to: better understand, participate in, and contribute to the local, national, and global communities in which they live and work; engage critically with societal issues; and evaluate the sustainability of alternative social, economic, political, and environmental practices.

Courses in this Learning Area

Year 9 Social Studies

Year 10 Social Studies

Year 11 Geography

Year 11 History

Year 11 Social and Psychology Studies

Level 2 Classical Studies

Level 2 Geography

Level 2 History

Level 2 Social Studies

Level 3 Classical Studies

Level 3 Geography

Level 3 History

Level 3 Social Studies

Level 3 Tourism

Commerce subjects provide an opportunity for creativity, curiosity and entrepreneurship, while developing an understanding of financial literacy. Students are often interacting with the wider business community, and using real life contexts and case study, give meaning to the topics that are studied.  There are three subject areas in Commerce.

Accounting

Accounting enables students to develop the knowledge and skills to manage the financial affairs of individuals, communities, and businesses. Students will develop the skills required to prepare and maintain financial records, manage financial affairs, act with integrity, contribute to the wider community. 

Business

The study of business is about how individuals and groups of people organise, plan, and act to create and develop goods and services to satisfy customers.

In business studies, students develop their understanding of business theory and practices in a range of relevant contexts, through experiential as well as theoretical approaches to learning.

The knowledge and skills gained in business studies, and exposure to enterprise culture, can help shape “creative, energetic, and enterprising” young people (the curriculum vision statement) who will contribute to New Zealand’s economic future. Trade Fairs provide an opportunity for students to develop, market and sell a product of their choice. Working in groups and team work is often a requirement of this subject.

Economics

Economics helps to explain and predict how goods and services will be produced and consumed. It will tell you who gets what, how, and why.

Economics explores issues of:

• sustainability (efficient use of scarce resources)

• enterprise (identifying profit-maximising levels of output)

• citizenship (economic decisions affecting New Zealand society)

• globalisation (the benefits of international trade).

Economists are interested in the factors that influence the wellbeing of people and aim to find solutions to improve people’s standard of living.

Courses in this Learning Area

Year 9 Commerce

Year 10 Commerce

Year 11 Commerce

Level 2 Accounting

Level 2 Business

Level 2 Economics

Level 3 Accounting

Level 3 Business

Level 3 Economics