Special Learning Programmes

The College offers a variety of special learing programmes to further the development of student's learning, these include:

Academies

The Academies have been set up to provide individualised learning programmes for students who may not be going onto to Tertiary study at this stage of their life, and who are career-orientated. Candidates for the academies would have a career path or direction established, they would have good work ethic, drive and enthusiasm -in other words, a "can do" attitude.

Once selected, students opt to be involved in one of three academies - the Food and Hospitality Academy, the Engineering Academy and the Sports and Leisure Academy. Students are then matched up with a local business that is looking to take on an apprentice or full-time employee sometime during the year. The student then works at that business for several days per week, and spends the remaining time at College. At College, they study career skills, computer studies, and other option classes, aiming to collect credits towards the NCEA. They must also complete several hours per week working for a non-profit organisation.

A large number of local businesses have become fully involved with the Academies programme, and it has been hugely successful. All of the 2003 intake of students were offered apprenticeships, fulltime employment or went onto Polytechnic courses.

Questions related to the Academies Programme should be addressed to Mr R. Sperling (Academy Director).

Accelerated Learning Programme

Tauranga Boys' College aims to extend students according to the level of their ability. For able students in the Third and Fourth Form this involves being streamed into two classes. In the Third Form these classes are involved in an enriched programme.

In Year 10, the top 30 students are invited to study in the Accelerate class. In this class they study NCEA Level 1 Mathematics, NCEA Level 1 Science, NCEA Level 1 English and NCEA Level 1 History. This acceleration continues, with the students studying at NCEA Level 2 in Year 11 and NCEA Level 3 in Year 12. In Year 13, students can choose a combination of NCEA Level 3 and 4 subjects and from a range of Stage 1 University Papers from Waikato and Auckland Universities that are taught in the school.

In Year 10, the next 30 students study NCEA Level 1 Mathematics, Science and Geography. The enrichment of these students continues in Year 11, where they study NCEA Level 2 Mathematics and a further five or six NCEA Level 1 subjects (although they can chose to do NCEA Level 2 Geography or History if they wish). This will give them a much broader base to choose their Senior school subjects from.

The progress of students in the accelerate classes is monitored carefully. Where students are clearly not coping with the level of work they could be moved to a mainstream class, and students who have performed exceptionally well in the mainstream classes could be moved into the accelerate programme.
Questions related to Accelerated Learning Programme should be addressed to Ms A. Reynolds (Tutor - Accelerated Learners)

Te Whanau-A-Aronui

Aronui offers students and alternative b-lingual learning environment. This environment assists students to appreciate learning from a Maori perspective. The aims of the Aronui unit are:

1. To make the students fluent in maori. For many people working in occupations dealing with the public, the ability to speak Maori is an advantage.
2. To ensure successful outcomes in other subjects e.g. English, Maths, Science, Physical Education.
3. To retain students at school to acquire the necessary qualifications for employment.
4. To raise the students' self esteem and mana.

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nana te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te matauranga nona te ao

b.e.s.T

biz-enterprise school Tauranga (b.e.s.T) is Tauranga Boys' College's development to provide our students with a structured practical entrepreneurial business programme in a "school within a school". Established in 2004, the school offers students the choice of Biz-Enterprise Studies (BESt) at each of the year levels, and currently has 400 students enrolled in optional courses in Junior and Senior b.e.s.T. The school has developed branded programmes that encourage the personal development of communication, technology, numeracy and literacy skills that will help students contribute positively to their communities in the future.

Learning Support

Learning Support classes were established to cater for students with a range of learning difficulties in Form 3 and 4. These classes are normally limited to about 15 students. This helps to ensure that the students receive any extra assistance that may be required to help them further achieve to their potential. Core subject content is similar to that of other 3rd form classes but is at a more appropriate curriculum level. It also allows for in-class Teacher-aid support to be available where appropriate.

Like the other junior classes, students in "Learning Support" classes are taught as a group for their core subjects. All option classes are composed of students from all the 3rd and 4th form classes. It is recommended that members of "Learning Support" classes enrol for the Reading options also. These courses provide a further boost to basic literacy skills.
Questions related to Learning Support should be addressed to Mrs R. Stratton (HOD - Learning Center)

Titans' Elite Performers Programme

The Titans' Elite Performers Programme has been developed to provide a course for elite performers in their chosen sport. The course involves both academic and practical components. In the practical sessions, at least two hours per week being devoted to specialist skills-based coaching, while time is also devoted to generic and sport-specific fitness training. At Year 11-13 level, Achievement Standards from the Health and Physical Education syllabus will be assessed.

Entry to the Titans programme is by application, and numbers are restricted to a maximum of 30 per year group.

Questions related to the Titans' Elite Performers Programme should be addressed to Mr D. Boyd (HOD - Health and Physical Education).

Multimedia Programme

-Laptop programme

Inquiry Learning Programme

-Inquiry based learning

University Study

Tauranga Boys' College has strong relationships with University of Waikato and the University of Auckland, and offers a range of Level 100 (Stage 1) papers, from their universities as part of its accelerated learning programme.

Students in Year 13 who have already achieved excellent grades at NCEA Level 3 can study Chemistry (Waikato), Physics (Waikato) and Statistics (Auckland) in the Sciences and Philosophy (Waikato) in the Humanities. These subjects are either taught by staff from the college under license from Waikato, or are delivered online with staff acting as tutors. It is hoped to increase the range of subjects offered in the future.