Waitaki Girls' High School, Oamaru

Key facts

About Waitaki Girls' High School

Waitaki Girls' High School is a girls' secondary school. Its stated motto is Dulcius ex Arduis, a Latin phrase translated by the school as "Satisfaction from hard work," with the Māori equivalent Mā mahi ka ora.

The school's values framework, known as the Waitaki Way, centres on three principles:

• Respectful — valuing oneself, others, and the environment
• Responsible — taking ownership of actions and learning
• Resilient — showing courage, determination, and willingness to grow

Curriculum & Subjects

Waitaki Girls' High School offers curriculum across Years 9 to 13, organised into junior (Years 9–10) and senior (Years 11–13) programmes. Senior students work towards NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3, assessed through internal assessments completed during the year and external examinations at the end of the year. Students may also sit Scholarship examinations in selected subjects.

Subjects are drawn from eight learning areas, which the school labels as follows:

• English — Te Reo Pākehā
• Languages — Ngā Reo (including Te Reo Māori, Japanese, and Pacific Languages)
• Mathematics — Pāngarau
• Health & Physical Education — Hauora
• Science — Pūtaiao
• Social Sciences — Tikanga-ā-Iwi
• Technology — Hangarau (including Digital, Food and Nutrition, and Textiles)
• The Arts — Ngā Toi (including Art, Music, Drama, and Dance)

In Year 9, all students study across all eight areas. In Year 10, students continue with core subjects — English, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Physical Education and Health — and select two option subjects from areas including The Arts, Agriculture, Languages, and Technology. In the senior years, students personalise their programme and can pursue academic pathways toward university, vocational pathways, or a combination of school-based learning and polytechnic courses. Some subjects require continuous study to progress to higher levels.

Student Support Services

Waitaki Girls' High School provides the following named student support services:

• Learning Support — provides in-class assistance from teachers and teacher aides, individual learning programmes where appropriate, and advocacy to support student progress. Targeted literacy support is also available through small group or specialised classes focused on reading and writing skills. Students with identified learning needs may be eligible for Special Assessment Conditions (SAC), which can include reader or writer assistance, use of a computer, extra time or rest breaks, and separate accommodation for assessments.
• Guidance Network — assists students with subject selection and learning pathways, provides academic and personal guidance, and supports positive relationships and wellbeing.
• Counselling Support — offers guidance and counselling for personal wellbeing, relationship and social challenges, and managing stress or anxiety.
• Health Centre — provides on-site health support during the school day for general health concerns, minor injuries or illness, and wellbeing advice. Families are contacted where further support is needed.