The Catlins Area School provides a broad education with a strong focus on essential learning areas and skills such as literacy, numeracy, health and well-being. The students participate in high quality learning experiences, and work in modern well-maintained classrooms.

Recent statistics show that The Catlins Area School is the highest performing school for Academic results in both Otago and Southland, and the equal highest performing school in New Zealand. You can read about that in the article, Academic Excellence, which appeared in The Clutha Leader.

In addition to the range of specialist learning opportunities that students can access through TCAS teachers, they are also able to access a wide range of learning opportunities through eLearning.

Students are able to participate in international competitions to gain awards – such as the Australian Science Competition and the Australian Maths Competition.

Under some circumstances Year 13-14 students can also complete first year university papers whilst enrolled at The Catlins Area School.

Specialist Subjects
In addition to the regular subjects that all Secondary Schools are allowed to teach The Catlins Area School has been awarded permission to deliver a number of additional subjects. In order to gain that permission The Catlins Area School had to meet industry standards and provide evidence of high quality, relevant, and up to date teaching and learning opportunities and systems for those areas. Our areas of additional accreditation are:

• Aviation: Core - all standards to NCEA Level 2.
• Aeronautical Engineering - Core: Unit Standard 3894, Use aeronautical industry publications and documentation (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Aeronautical Engineering - Core: Unit Standard 5428, Demonstrate knowledge of aircraft construction and maintenance practices (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Aircraft Mechanical Maintenance: Unit Standard 7243, Demonstrate knowledge of aircraft mechanical system maintenance practices (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Aircraft Mechanical Maintenance: Unit Standard 7244, Demonstrate knowledge of electrical and electronic applications to aircraft mechanical systems (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

• Agriculture: Cattle Farming - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Dairy Farming - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Deer Farming - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Farming Skills - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Fencing - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: General Agriculture - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Pest Control - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Sheep Farming - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Agricultural Resource Management - all standards to NCEA Level 3.
• Agriculture: Agricultural Vehicles and Machinery - all standards to NCEA Level 3.

• Electronics Technology: all standards to NCEA Level 3.

• Forestry / Forest Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 17769, Demonstrate knowledge of general health, safety and environmental requirements in forestry. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Forestry / Forest Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22994, Demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect the performance of forestry workers. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Forestry / Forest Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22997, Demonstrate knowledge of principles of commercial forestry. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Forestry / Forest Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22998, Demonstrate forestry foundation skills under supervision for pruning plantation trees. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Forestry / Forest Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 23000, Demonstrate forestry foundation skills under supervision for plantation forest establishment. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

• Forestry / Forest Operations: Unit Standard 6916, Demonstrate knowledge of the Approved Code of Practice relating to chainsaw use. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 2216, Recognise and confirm job specifications.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 2217, Select and use safety equipment for furniture work.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 2218, Compare furniture article with job specifications.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 2198, Assemble non-show wood furniture frames.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 2199, Use hand tools in furniture making.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 14995, Construct freehand drawings for use in furniture making.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 14996, Construct working drawings for use in furniture making.
• Furniture Making: Unit Standard 14998, Construct isometric and oblique drawings for use in furniture making.

• Pulp and Paper Technology: Unit Standard 17858, Demonstrate knowledge of pulp and paper products. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Pulp and Paper Technology: Unit Standard 17856, Demonstrate knowledge of manufacturing processes involved in wood pulping and paper making. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

• Service Sector Skills: Core - all standards to NCEA Level 3. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

• Tourism - Travel: Unit Standard 18211, Demonstrate knowledge of Australia as a tourist destination.
• Tourism - Travel: Unit Standard 18212, Demonstrate knowledge of New Zealand as a tourist destination.
• Tourism - Travel: Unit Standard 3727, Demonstrate knowledge of the Pacific Islands as a tourist destination.
• Tourism - Visitor Services: all standards to NCEA Level 2.
• Tourism - Visitor Services:: Unit Standard 18228, Provide information about specified regions in New Zealand as tourist destinations.
• Tourism - Visitor Services:: Unit Standard 18238, Demonstrate knowledge of the tourism industry in New Zealand.

• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 160, Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of sawmilling. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 162, Describe the principles of wood drying. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 736, Demonstrate knowledge of tree growth and physical characteristics of wood. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 15774, Demonstrate knowledge of timber machining. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 16244, Demonstrate knowledge of wood preservation. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 17971, Demonstrate knowledge of the solid wood manufacturing industry. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 20766, Describe forest management and log use in solid wood manufacturing. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22970, Demonstrate employment and interrelationship foundation skills in wood manufacturing operations. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22973, Demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect the performance of wood manufacturing workers. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22976, Describe wood fibre raw material resources and their use in wood fibre manufacturing. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)
• Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills: Unit Standard 22977, Identify and describe workplace risks in a wood manufacturing operation. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

• Wood Panel Manufacturing Skills: Unit Standard 21482, Demonstrate knowledge of the wood panels industry and its products. (Pending NZQA Final Stage Approval)

The Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee monitors the development of teaching programmes at The Catlins Area School, and provides guidance in matters involving the curriculum and assessment. The Curriculum Committee conducts a regular evaluation of teaching programmes across the curriculum on a review cycle. Current and proposed programmes are appraised in terms of an analysis of student needs and the school’s goals, structures and philosophy and subsequent recommendations are made to the Principal and Board of Trustees.