Figure 1.--Accelerated programs vary from school to school. Students are often encouraged in addition to normal school work, to participate in the Australian Mathematics, English and Science competitions and in the Science Badge and Science Fair programmes. |
Several secondary schools offer accelerated programs for especially talented students. Many educators agree that there is no
doubt that the more able students often find themselves in a class where the progress is slow and they end up becoming bored.
This sometimes leads to poor work quality and output, lack of motivation and even behavioral problems. Being put into a
class of similar ability students prevents this from happening and also results in the class progressing at a faster rate.
There is no doubt that the more able students often find themselves in a class where the progress is slow and they end up becoming bored. This sometimes leads to poor work quality and output, lack of motivation and even behavioral problems.
Being put into a class of similar ability students prevents this from happening and also results in the class progressing
at a faster rate. Two types of acceleration then become possible - lateral extension or vertical extension. Schools may chose one of the two options or both for their accelerated programs. Lateral extension may occurs in Forms 3 and 7 while vertical extension often occurs in Forms 4, 5 and 6.
One traditinal boys' secondary school has implemented the following accelerated program.
Form 3 has two top streamed classes which progress through an enlarged Form 3 syllabus. All students are encouraged, in addition to normal school work, to participate in the Australian Mathematics, English and Science competitions and in
the Science Badge and Science Fair programmes. In English and Science, lateral extension activities, such as video
production, extend and interest the students. In Mathematics there is some vertical extension in that most of the Form
4 syllabus is covered by the end of the year.
In Form 4 there are usually two accelerate classes. They study for and sit School Certificate examinations in English,
Mathematics and Science.
In Form 5 those in the accelerate class complete the requirements for School Certificate (ie 4 more subjects) plus they
study English and Mathematics at Form 6 level and so gain Form Six Certificate and also sit the Sixth Form External
Examinations.
In Form 6 the students do a full University Bursary Course in the subjects of their choice.
In Form 7 students who were in the Form 6 Bursary class tend to find themselves in the Scholarship classes. These
classes work at an elevated level with their goal being to achieve scholarship passes in the NZQA University Bursary
examinations and also to sit the separate NZEST Scholarship examinations. Some also sit University papers. The
achievements of these students are impressive, showing the benefits of the year's preparation in Form 6 which gives
them the base for the scholarship programme.
