Kaikorai Valley College, Dunedin

Key facts

About Kaikorai Valley College

Kaikorai Valley College (KVC) is a state secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand, catering to students in Years 7 through 13. The school describes itself as medium-sized.

The school's stated values are grouped under the acronym PRIDE: Participation, Respect, Inquiry, Diversity, and Environment.

Years 7 and 8 students are assigned a Homeroom teacher as their primary point of contact but also attend classes with specialist teachers in Art, Technology, Physical Education, Music, Science, Mathematics, and Languages.

The campus includes two playing fields, a stream, and an urban farm with an orchard, chicken coop, and farm animals, which the school uses as a learning environment.

The school holds partnerships with organisations including the University of Otago (Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtago), Otago Polytechnic (Te Kura Matainik Ki Otago), BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation), Te Kura, and local businesses.

Curriculum

Kaikorai Valley College offers a continuous curriculum from Year 7 through to Year 13. The school works towards NCEA from Year 11 onward.

Years 7 and 8

Students in Years 7 and 8 are based in homerooms for core subjects and attend specialist teachers for a range of additional subjects. Core learning covers reading, writing, mathematics, languages, social studies, and health. Specialist subjects include:

• Science
• Physical education
• Art
• Drama
• Music
• Languages
• Digital technology
• Food technology
• Design
• Textiles
• Hard materials technology
• Robotics
• Urban farm

Years 9 and 10

All subjects are taught by specialist teachers. Compulsory subjects are:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social studies
• Aotearoa New Zealand histories
• Health and financial literacy
• Te reo Māori
• Physical education
• Careers

Students also select six optional subjects per year from across the arts, technology, languages, physical education, sciences, social sciences, and farm.

Years 11–13 (NCEA)

At Year 11, compulsory subjects are English, mathematics, and science; students choose three further subjects. At Year 12, English is compulsory and students choose five other subjects, three of which are their own selection. At Year 13, students choose all six subjects themselves.

Students in Years 12 and 13 may combine academic, vocational, or work-based options. Available pathways include one day per week at Otago Secondary Tertiary College (OSTC), the Gateway work experience programme, distance learning including university papers, outdoor education, first aid, community service, and projects on the school's urban farm.

Sports and Activities

Kaikorai Valley College offers the following named sports and activities across year groups:

• Athletics
• Badminton — separate boys' and girls' competitions for Years 9–13, played at KVC Gym on Wednesdays and Tuesdays respectively
• Basketball — Years 9–13 play on Fridays at the Edgar Centre or various school gyms; practices on Thursdays at KVC Gym
• Cricket — Years 9–13
• Cross country
• Curling — Years 9–13, held at the Ice Stadium on Wednesdays
• Football (boys) — Years 9–13, Wednesdays at various venues, fee $40
• Football (girls) — Years 9–13, Thursdays at various venues, fee $40
• Futsal — Years 7–8 on Wednesdays and Years 9–13 on Thursdays, played at the Edgar Centre during Terms 1 and 4
• Golf — Years 7–13, Friday lunchtimes on KVC Lower Field, no cost
• Handball — Years 9–13, Wednesdays at KVC Gym, fee $35
• Hockey — Years 7–8 on Fridays; Years 9–13 mixed 6-a-side social team playing at the Macmillan Turf or Kings High School on Mondays
• Ice hockey — Years 9–13, Wednesdays at the Ice Stadium, fee $200 (TBC)
• Judo — Years 7–13, Wednesdays at KVC Gym
• Laser tag — Years 7–13, Mondays at Megazone, fee $135
• Miniball (Basketball) — Years 7–8, Mondays at the Edgar Centre; practices on Fridays at KVC Gym, fee $80
• Minivolley — Years 7–8, Fridays at the Edgar Centre; practices on Mondays at KVC Gym
• Netball — Years 7–8 on Thursdays at the Edgar Centre; Years 9–13 on Saturdays at the Edgar Centre, fee $80
• Pétanque — Years 7–13, Tuesdays from 3.30–5.30pm at Dunedin City Petanque Club, 81 Eglinton Road Mornington, Terms 1 and 2 only
• Pool (8 ball) — Years 9–13, Tuesdays at Boweys Lounge, fee $50 per term
• Rugby (boys) — Years 9–13, Saturdays at various venues
• Rugby (girls) — Years 9–13, Wednesdays at various venues
• Smallbore rifle shooting — Years 9–13, Wednesdays at Scout Hall Victoria Rd, fee $15 per night
• Softball
• Table tennis — Years 7–13, Thursdays at KVC Gym, fee $30 per term
• Tennis — Years 9–13, Thursdays at Logan Park, fee $30 (or $75 with coaching)
• Touch rugby — Years 7–8 on Thursdays at Kensington Oval; Years 9–13 on Tuesdays at Kensington Oval, fee $35
• Volleyball — Years 9–10 on Mondays and Years 11–13 on Thursdays at the Edgar Centre; practices at KVC Gym
• Water polo — Years 7–8 and Years 9–13, held at Moana Pool