Academic Subjects

The student's welfare and academic progress is our greatest concern, so we ensure our schools provide a positive learning experience. Classroom activities in junior and senior secondary classes focus on the continuing development of technology skills across all subjects. Teachers integrate computers, e-Iearning, broadband Internet access, and multimedia materials into interesting learning activities.

Years 7 to 10 (Junior Secondary)

In Years 7 to 10, English, mathematics, science, history, and geography are compulsory. Students take additional subjects such as:

· design and technology

· information technology

· visual arts

· music

· languages other than English

· sport and physical education.

Higher School Certificate (HSC)

The HSC is a two-year program in Years 11 and 12 (Senior Secondary). Most subjects are two units of study. Students must study a minimum of 12 units for the Year 11 preliminary course, and at least 10 units for the Year 12 HSC. Students must successfully complete the Year 11 preliminary course (terms 1, 2, and 3) in

the subjects they intend to study for the HSC.

The HSC mark is made up of a school­based assessment mark, and a state­wide examination mark. To enable school assessments from different schools to be compared, assessment marks submitted by schools are moderated using the raw examination marks. The correspondences are then used to align these moderated school assessments to the standards for different courses. These standards are described using a performance scale. For 2 unit courses there are six bands, with band six being the highest, and for extension courses there are four bands.

Admission to most tertiary courses is based on performance in the HSC with applicants ranked on the basis of their Universities Admission Index (UAI). The UAI is a rank between 0.00 and 100 which provides a measure of overall academic achievement in the NSW HSC and is calculated by tertiary institutions to assist them to rank applicants for tertiary courses.

Higher School Certificate (HSC) Subjects

English or English as a Second Language (ESL) is the only compulsory subject for the HSC.

Students may select from a variety of subjects including:

• mathematics with extension courses

· science - biology, chemistry, and physics

· information technology

· economics, geography, history, business studies, and legal studies

· 40 languages including French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese

· design and technology

· food technology

· creative arts - dance, drama, visual arts, and music

· personal development, health, and physical education (PDHPE).

NSW Government High Schools Offer

· small class sizes - maximum 25 students in senior classes

· international student coordinators to

assist with pastoral care

· careers advisors and counsellors

· English language support programs

· a well-designed curriculum catering for students with a wide range of abilities

· a variety of effective and proven teaching methods

· a safe, friendly, and multicultural environment.