St Margaret’s College is set to launch four new courses for its Year 12 girls in 2024, all of which will be available as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and are being offered at the College for the first time.
The courses are as follows:
Language and Culture: This new course is being piloted by the IB, and SMC is among a handful of schools globally chosen to run it over the next two years. Drawing on linguistics and anthropology, the course places a strong emphasis on indigenous languages. Students will critically examine the complex relationship between language, culture, society and identity as they develop into global citizens.
Psychology: In this course, girls will gain an understanding of the biological, sociological, and cognitive factors that influence mental processes and behaviors. They will also become aware of how psychological research can address real-world problems and promote positive change.
Sports, Exercise, and Health Sciences: This course will introduce students to areas such as anatomy, exercise physiology, energy systems, and movement analysis, both in the laboratory and on the field. It will support the considerable number of SMC girls who proceed to study Health Sciences at university.
Film Studies: In this course, girls will explore various contexts of film and make connections between films, filmmakers, and filmmaking techniques. They will learn to interpret films thoughtfully and become adept creators of film.
Sian Evans, Head of Senior School, says:
“St Margaret’s continually strives to offer our girls the widest possible choice of subjects, ensuring that as many doors as possible remain open to them as they move into the next phase of their education. We are thrilled to have been selected by the IB as the only school in New Zealand to pilot the Language and Culture course, and to be able to offer four new subjects that are already sparking great enthusiasm amongst our girls and our teachers.”
Diana Patchett, Executive Principal, says:
“The IB’s mission to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world aligns beautifully with our own ambition to create empathetic, confident, and connected global citizens, who value personal excellence and strive to make a positive difference. As the only girls’ school on the South Island to offer the dual pathway of IB and NCEA, we are privileged to have professional teaching staff committed to developing a balanced curriculum that meets the specific needs of our girls at each stage of their education.”
Learn more about SMC’s Senior School curriculum here.
