Stage 6 Curriculum
Overview
Students throughout stage 6 complete a pattern of studies which enables them to be eligible for the award of the Higher School Certificate.
In Stage 6, our senior students have choices of:
· Catholic Studies 1U
· Studies of Religion I and II
· English Extension 1 & 2
· English Advanced
· English Standard
· Mathematics Extension 1
· Mathematics
· General Mathematics
· Physics
· Chemistry
· Biology
· Senior Science
· Marine Studies
· Modern History
· Ancient History
· Extension History
· Economics
· Legal Studies
· Geography
· Business Studies
· Design & Technology,
· FoodTechnology
· Industrial Technology
· Information Processes and Technology
· Japanese Continuers
· Visual Arts
· Music 1
· Music 2
· Drama
· PDHPE
· Sport Lifestyle and Recreation.
Vocation Education and Training (VET) courses in
· Construction
· Hospitality
· Information Technology
· Retail
as well as Life Skills courses in English, Maths and Science.
Additional language study can be completed through the Open High School (Students have studied Latin, German, Italian, Spanish and French in the past).
Our boys have the opportunity of studying TVET and other TAFE courses such as Automotive, Property Services, Sport and Fitness and Tourism. Multimedia studies and Drama are available to study through Stella Maris as well as languages through Open High.
Offering a mix of traditional academic and VET courses allow us to not only satisfy our clientele but also to compete with our much larger neighbouring schools and achieve some very pleasing academic results.
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 cannot) – this information greatly assists teachers in designing teaching and learning activities that cater for our students. 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 ways for future 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 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 and the student’s level of achievement for specific syllabus outcomes. Following each reporting period, parents have the opportunity to contact the College to discuss issues relating to their son’s report and progress.
St. Paul's hold specialised information evenings for our senior students and parents. In these evenings we discuss the unique aspects of studying a Preliminary and HSC course – requirements and expectations are explained, the assessment handbooks are given out and the role of the Year Coordinator is discussed. These evenings are quite separate from the Information Evenings set aside for subject choice for years 9 & 11. In conclusion, communicating student achievement is certainly one of St Paul’s strengths.
