Home Curriculum Primary Curriculum (Year 1-6)

Primary Curriculum (Year 1-6)

Our students don’t just sit in classrooms they explore, create, perform and lead

At Pinehurst, our Primary students follow the internationally recognised Cambridge curriculum from the day they start school.

Every student who graduates from Pinehurst will achieve a Cambridge qualification — we do not offer NCEA (the New Zealand Curriculum).

Our structured, well-paced approach ensures every child builds a strong academic foundation in a setting that values curiosity, confidence, and care.

Clear Structure Individual focus

The school day is divided into six structured periods, with students placed in single-year-level classes (we don’t combine year groups). This allows teachers to focus on age-appropriate learning goals while ensuring consistency across the year levels.

Strong Foundations in Literacy and Numeracy

Students begin reading through a trusted phonics-based approach, used at Pinehurst for over eight years. Writing is taught using the VCOP framework (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation), helping students build strong language and communication skills from the start. Numeracy is developed through the Cambridge Primary Mathematics programme, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving.

A Broad anD Balanced Curriculum

Our curriculum goes beyond core subjects to provide a rich and varied learning experience:

Specialist-taught Music, Art, Science and STEM classes
PE focuses on skill development and sport
Global Perspectives, encourages open-minded thinking
Language learning (Mandarin and Spanish) from Year 1
Tailored learning support and extension opportunities where needed

We offer small-group support for students who need it and provide targeted extension programmes to challenge and inspire learners ready to go further.

Learning that goes Beyond the classroom

At Pinehurst, learning is active, engaging, and connected to the real world. Alongside academic lessons, students take part in a variety of experiences that help them grow as people:

Year 3–6 Camps, with a focus on confidence, resilience and independence
Classroom visits and workshops from organisations covering topics like sustainability, financial literacy, and wellbeing
Programmes like Conscious Kids and Harold the Giraffe, which support emotional and social learning
Regular opportunities to perform, present, and take part in community events

All students take part in PREP (Primary Enterprise Programme), where they design, budget, and run their own mini-businesses — developing real-world skills in a fun, hands-on way.