You are here › Home › Curriculum › The School Certificate

School Certificate

What Is The Curriculum Structure?

The curriculum at St Paul's Catholic College is based on the New South Wales Board of Studies syllabuses as written for each Key Learning Area (KLA). The nine KLA's are:
1 Religious Education
2 English
3 Mathematics
4 Science
5 Human Society & Its Environment (HSIE)
6 Technology & Applied Studies (TAS)
7 Creative Arts
8 Personal Development, Health & Physical Education (PDHPE)
9 Languages
Throughout years 7 – 10 students at St Paul's will gain experience in all of these curriculum areas, be given the opportunity to satisfy the Board of Studies curriculum requirements for the award of a School Certificate and extend their studies to suit their individual needs.

What Are The School Certificate Requirements?

Who is Eligible to receive the School Certificate award?

To be eligible for the award of the School Certificate, a student must:

(a) Satisfactorily complete the mandatory curriculum requirements of the Board of Studies; and

(b) Have satisfactorily completed courses that comprise the pattern of study required by the Board for the award of the School Certificate; and

(c) Sit for and make a serious attempt in the School Certificate Tests in English-literacy, Mathematics, Science, Australian History, Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship and the Computer Skills Test.

What Are The Mandated Number of Hours of Study?

Students must study a core curriculum for a mandated number of hours.
During 4 and 5 (years 7-10) students at St Paul's Catholic College will have completed a pattern of studies that satisfies these mandated number of hours. In many cases, students will study these courses for more than the minimum hour requirement.

The requirements for each KLA are listed below:

KLA	Total Minimum Number of Hours That Must Be Studied Throughout Years 7-10
English	400
Mathematics	400
Science	400
HSIE	400 including: 100 Australian History 100 Australian Geography
TAS	200 including 50 Computing Studies
Creative Arts	100 Music 100 Visual Arts
PDHPE	300 studied throughout 7-10
Languages	100 in a continuous 12 month period

What Are The Mandatory and Elective Subjects Studied During Years 9 & 10?

Mandatory Subjects
In order to finishing meeting these mandated hour requirements in some KLA's, students during stage 5 (years 9 & 10) will study the following mandatory subjects:
1. Religious Education
2. English
3. Mathematics
4. Science
5. Human Society & Its Environment
· Australian History and
· Australian Geography
6. PDHPE

N.B From 2005 onwards, Mathematics can be accessed by one of 3 pathways (5.1, 5.2 & 5.3). Students will work through a pathway as determined by their abilities and understanding in each mathematics strand. The teaching staff will be responsible for determining the appropriate pathway for each student in each strand of mathematics encountered.

What Are The Elective Subjects?

The rest of the student's timetable will be made up of elective subjects. Students will select two of these elective subjects.

The elective subjects that will be offered to Year 9 2008 are:

· Commerce
· Design & Technology
· Food Technology
· Industrial Technology (Multi Media)
· Industrial Technology (Timber)
· Information & Software Technology
· Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS)
· Music
· Visual Arts
· Japanese