Stage 4 Curriculum
Overview
Students throughout stages 4 and 5 complete a pattern of studies which enables them to be eligible for the award of the School Certificate.
In stage 4 our students study:
· Religious Education, 
· English,
· Mathematics,
· Science,
· Geography
· History,
· Technology,
· Visual Arts,
· Music and
· PDHPE.
It is during year 8 that our students study the mandatory language component of the School Certificate requirements. Our expertise is in the Japanese language.
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment of student achievement is done both diagnostically and summatively. That is, we assess students to find out what they already know and can do (and what they cannot do) – this information greatly assists teachers in designing teaching and learning activities that cater for our students’ needs. Assessing at the end of topics or courses helps to provide feedback to students about what they have been able to learn and also provides suggested ways for future development and improvement.
Assessing is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. We have designed an assessment program that limits the numbers of formal assessment tasks to the required minimum and publish the program in a very informative Assessment Handbook document. The students and parents find this document particularly helpful in such things as developing time management skills and breaking tasks down in smaller achievable portions.
Reporting student achievement
Reporting student achievement is an essential part of effectively communicating with our parents and students and provides a solid base for future growth and improvement. St Paul's offers a very comprehensive "package" of reporting achievement.
Each year following the Half Yearly and Yearly formal assessment periods, the College provides parents with two formal written reports. Each of these reports includes a Pastoral Care report as well as individual subject reports. The subject reports contain a course overview, marks attained by the student in each formal assessment task, the group average mark for each task, the student’s semester or final mark, the student’s overall ranking, the group average mark, the student’s level of achievement for specific syllabus outcomes, a teacher comment and in Years 7-10 an overall course grade, A-E, which is in line with Commonwealth government requirements. Following each reporting period, parents have the opportunity to contact the College to discuss issues relating to their son’s report and progress.
