A child reading a Bible beside a small prayer table with a wooden cross and candle, while classmates look on

Faith & Religious Education

Catholic faith sits at the heart of life and learning at St Patrick’s. Religious Education helps students grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, while learning how Gospel values can shape how they treat others and participate in the world around them.

Prayer, liturgy, Scripture, service and participation in the life of the parish and school community complement classroom Religious Education. Students aren’t meant to simply learn about faith, but to experience what it means to live with compassion, justice, kindness and hope.

Children reading together from their School Journals

Literacy

Every child is supported to become a confident reader, writer, speaker and listener. Structured literacy is taught through BSLA, with explicit and systematic teaching of phonological awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Writing is strengthened through the Helen Walls approach, covering handwriting fluency, sentence construction, modelling, purposeful composition and timely feedback.

Alongside this explicit teaching, students engage with rich literature, School Journals and a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts, with oral language, discussion, vocabulary and opportunities to communicate ideas developed deliberately across the curriculum.

Classmates working together at their desk with a tablet and workbook

Mathematics

Mathematics is taught explicitly and progressively, with a focus on strong number knowledge, mathematical understanding, fluency and problem-solving. PRIME, a key Ministry-funded resource, supports coherent teaching and progression, while teachers use assessment information to identify what students understand and what they need to learn next.

Students are encouraged not only to find answers, but to explain their thinking, make connections and apply mathematics in meaningful situations.

A child planting in a pot in front of a colourful garden mural

Science & Social Sciences

Science and Social Sciences programmes are deliberately mapped from year to year, so students build knowledge rather than moving through a collection of unrelated topics.

In Science, students develop curiosity about the natural, physical and material world, learning important scientific knowledge alongside how to observe, investigate, gather evidence and explain what they discover.

In Social Sciences, students learn about people, places, events, societies and systems, building knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider world while learning to think critically about evidence, perspectives, change and connections.

Our local curriculum connects learning to Masterton and the Wairarapa, including the knowledge, histories and perspectives of Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.

St Patrick’s students in animal costumes performing on stage in the school show

The Arts, Culture & Performance

The Arts give students the chance to create, perform, communicate and discover new strengths, with visual art, music, drama and dance complemented by experiences like school shows and performances.

Kapa haka and Polygroup are important parts of school life, giving students the chance to celebrate language, culture, identity and belonging while building confidence, teamwork and performance skills.

Students playing netball on an outdoor court

Sport, Health & Physical Education

Students experience the enjoyment, challenge and connection that come through physical activity, taking part in Health and Physical Education learning alongside a range of school sports, teams, competitions and sporting opportunities.

Sport offers more than physical development. Students learn perseverance, teamwork, leadership, fairness and how to respond positively to both success and challenge.

Tamariki in helmets and life jackets paddling a homemade barrel raft on school camp

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Some of the most powerful learning happens beyond the classroom. Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) lets students apply their learning in authentic settings, experience new environments, develop independence and learn alongside others.

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Local trips, outdoor experiences and school camps are part of this, alongside wider opportunities such as a Rarotonga trip run jointly with Chanel College, giving students the chance to broaden their horizons, grow in confidence and strengthen relationships.

Our Curriculum