At Papanui High School our junior curriculum (Years 9 & 10) is arranged into a two-year programme that we refer to as the 'Foundation Years'. During the foundation years, students will experience a combination of courses that are compulsory and those that are student selected. The foundation years model has been designed to ensure students gain the foundation knowledge and skills needed to ensure success as they progress through their secondary education. This is balanced with student selected courses where students choose a course that reflects their interests and aspirations.
The school year has been arranged into two semesters, each of two terms in duration. During Year 9 students will have 10 compulsory semester courses. The Year 10 compulsory courses differ from Year 9 to ensure equity across curriculum areas.