Aucklandcore Foundation Certificate
A formal certificate recognised by our tertiary pathway partners, documenting completion of all four modules and the oral presentation.
Level 1 · Year 11
Level 1 Foundation: where analytical thinking begins
A two-term programme for Year 11 students learning to write with precision, structure arguments, and handle evidence — the skills every academic path depends on.
What the Level 1 Foundation programme covers
The Level 1 Foundation programme is structured around four competency areas: sentence-level precision, paragraph architecture, evidence selection and citation, and close reading of non-fiction texts. Each competency is taught in a dedicated module over four weeks, with a formal written assessment at the close of each module. Students who complete all four modules and the final oral presentation receive an Aucklandcore Foundation Certificate, which is recognised by our tertiary pathway partners. The programme runs over two standard school terms, meeting twice weekly at the Wellington campus.
How the programme works in practice
Classes are kept to a maximum of 18 students to ensure each learner receives written feedback on every submitted task. Feedback is not a grade with a comment — it is a structured critique that identifies specific sentence constructions to revise, evidence choices to reconsider, and argument moves to develop further. Students are expected to revise and resubmit at least two of their four module tasks. This revision cycle is not optional: the ability to receive and act on critical feedback is one of the explicit competencies of the Foundation programme. The programme is not remedial — it is for students who are already performing adequately and want to perform with distinction.
What students receive on completion
Personal written assessment portfolio
All assessed tasks, including the faculty critique and the student's revisions, compiled into a portfolio that can be submitted as supporting evidence for tertiary applications.
Progress narrative report
A two-page written narrative from the assigned faculty member, describing the student's development across the programme and recommending the next academic step.
Apply for the Level 1 Foundation programme
Applications open four weeks before each term. Contact our admissions team to confirm current availability and intake dates.
Contact admissions