All schools including Sydney Catholic Schools follow the same Kindergarten to Year 12 curriculum, with our Catholic values underpinning everything that we do.
With a focus on the development of the whole person, courses offered at the school cover the NESA syllabus requirements – developing the core skills of literacy and numeracy – and our Archdiocesan Religious Education curriculum.
Our teachers extend and challenge students to be the best they can be, while recognising that every student is unique and learns differently.
Religious Education is at the heart of Catholic education. It informs all aspects of school life and supports the evangelising and catechising mission of the Catholic Church. Through Religious Education, young people come to know and love the person of Jesus Christ.
All students are expected to participate in the religious life of the school. This includes their participation in Religious Education classes, their study of the Archdiocesan curriculum and their use of the To Know, Worship and Love textbooks and resources.
Students in Years 7-12 are invited into a deeper and more intimate relationship with God through their exploration of the Scriptures, their participation in personal and communal prayer and their living out of Catholic social and moral teaching.
The secondary Religious Education curriculum provides opportunities for young people to ‘see, judge and act’ in response to Jesus’ great commandment to love God and love others and thus, ‘live life to the full’.
Literacy is the effective use of knowledge and skills to interpret and use language confidently for learning, communicating and engaging in society. It involves the integration of listening, speaking, reading, viewing, creating, writing and critical thinking. These skills are applied in different curriculum areas for a variety of purposes.
The Sydney Catholic Schools Statement on Literacy provides further elaboration on the principles of literacy and various roles within and across our schools.
Years 7-10
The study of English in Years 7–10 aims to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the English language and to develop their skills as effective communicators, critical and imaginative thinkers.
Students develop their control of language by reading and viewing a range of texts and by writing imaginative, interpretive and critical texts with clarity and accuracy for a range of purposes and audiences. Students engage with and explore the literature of past and contemporary societies, as well as a range of spoken, visual, media and multimedia texts.
The NESA developed syllabus is to be studied substantially throughout each of Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.
Years 11-12
The college offers three 2 Unit English courses for the HSC:
- English Advanced
- English Standard
- English Studies
The college also offers two Extension English courses for the HSC:
- English Extension 1
- English Extension 2
Numeracy is the effective use of Mathematics to meet the demands of daily learning and life. Numeracy takes place across the curriculum and throughout the school day in a variety of contexts.
The Sydney Catholic Schools Statement on Numeracy provides further elaboration on the principles of numeracy and various roles within and across our schools.
Years 7–10
The Mathematics K–10 Syllabus provides students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in mathematics and working mathematically. Students have the opportunity to develop increasingly sophisticated and refined mathematical understanding, fluency, communication, reasoning, analytical thought and problem-solving skills. These capabilities enable students to respond to familiar and unfamiliar situations by employing strategies to make informed decisions and solve problems relevant to their present and future needs.
The college offers three pathways in Mathematics in Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10):
- 5.3
- 5.2
- 5.1
The NESA developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. Four hundred (400) hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.
Years 11–12
The college offers two 2 Unit courses for the HSC:
- Mathematics Standard
- Mathematics Advanced
The college also offers two Extension courses for the HSC:
- Mathematics Extension 1
- Mathematics Extension 2
Years 7–10
Through the study of Science students learn about our biological, chemical, geological, physical and technological world. They actively develop skills in planning and conducting investigations, recording and analysing data and problem solving. Students explore real world phenomena and develop solutions to authentic problems.
Years 11–12
The college offers six Science courses for the HSC:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Investigating Science
- Science Extension
The Board Developed syllabuses are to be studied substantially throughout each of Years 7–10. Four hundred hours to be completed by the end of Year 10, including 100 hours each of History and Geography in each Stage.
Years 7–10
Human Society and its Environment is the study of how humans interact with the world, how society operates and how it is changing. Through the study of HSIE, students develop the skills to prepare them to actively and responsibly participate as informed citizens in the contemporary world.
Students study mandatory History and Geography from Years 7–10.
The college also offers five elective HSIE courses in Years 9–10:
- Philosophy
- Big History
- Commerce
- Geography Elective
- History Elective
Years 11–12
The college offers nine HSIE courses for the HSC:
- Ancient History
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- History Extension
- Legal Studies
- Modern History
- Work Studies
- Society and Culture
The college also offers six elective courses in Years 9–10:
- Dance
- Drama
- Music
- Musical Theatre
- Photographic and Digital Media
- Visual Arts
The college offers six courses for Years 11-12:
- Ceramics (1 Unit)
- Dance
- Drama
- Music 1 & 2
- Photography, Video and Digital Media (1 Unit)
- Visual Arts
Years 7-10
200 hours to be completed consisting of the Board Developed 100-hour mandatory courses in each of Visual Arts and Music. It is an expectation that the 100-hour mandatory courses in these subjects will be taught as coherent units of study and not split over a number of years.
Years 7–10
Through the study of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) courses, students develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes needed to take action to protect and enhance their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing in varied and changing contexts. Physical education is fundamental to the acquisition of movement skills and concepts to enable students to participate in a range of physical activities – confidently, competently and creatively. Students study mandatory PDHPE from Years 7–10. The college offers Physical Activity and Sports Studies as an Elective in Years 9–10.
The Board Developed mandatory 300-hour integrated syllabus in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education to be studied in each of Years 7–10.
Years 11–12
The college offers four PDHPE courses for the HSC:
- Community and Family Studies
- Exploring Early Childhood (1 unit and 2 unit)
- PDHPE
- Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies (1 unit and 2 unit)
Stage 4
Students study their mandatory hours in Language in Year 8. Learning languages opens minds to difference, where diversity is seen as a regular part of society. Through learning languages, students reflect on their own heritage, culture and identity. They also reflect on the culture, beliefs and values of others.
The rich linguistic and cultural diversity of New South Wales provides an educational environment where the study of languages and cultures is valued as a unique and integral part of the curriculum.
Stages 5 and 6
Our students have access to study languages through external providers: NSW School of Languages and Saturday School of Community Languages.
The role vocational education and training (VET) courses play in helping students prepare for further education, training, employment and lifelong learning is widely recognised by key stakeholders in education.
Students in NSW have the option of studying VET courses at school, through TAFE NSW or other training providers. VET courses provide students with practical learning that gives them a head start with their career, and many may be counted towards the ATAR and are suitable for students on both academic and vocational pathways. All courses have dual accreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
The college offers four VET courses that enable students to achieve nationally-recognised VET qualifications at certificate levels I and II:
- Business Services
- Hospitality
- Entertainment
The college also offers VET students access to School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs).
For students who are committed to a vocational pathway, they can also access other VET Frameworks through Southern Cross Catholic College, Burwood and other Catholic Schools’ industry-standard trade training/skills centres where they have the opportunity to gain their HSC with a focus on vocational programs and School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs).
The Board Developed Technology Mandatory syllabus to be studied for 200 hours in Years 7–8.
Through the study of technology courses, students engage in a diverse range of practical experiences and develop knowledge and understanding of contemporary and advancing technologies. They develop solutions to problems and situations and explore the impact of technology on the individual, society and the environment.
Years 11 and 12
The College offers five technologies courses for the HSC:
- Engineering Studies
- Food Technology
- Design and Technology
- Textiles
- Software Design & Development
STEM Learning – IDEAS in Years 7 & 8
IDEAS (Innovate Design Explore Achievement Student-centered) is a school-based program with an explicit focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) for students in Years 7 & 8. Students gain and apply knowledge, deepen their understanding and develop creative and critical thinking skills within an authentic problem solving context.
Integrated – Interdisciplinary Learning
Through the IDEAS program, students are provided with opportunities to engage and build on prior STEM understandings. It also allows students to make connections between interdisciplinary areas of knowledge. Goal-directed practice combined with effective feedback enhances the quality of learning by providing students with specific design challenges and ongoing feedback from peers, teachers and self-evaluations of their solutions.
Engaged Learning
Motivation plays a critical role in guiding the quality of learning that will take place. Students’ motivation determines, directs and sustains what they learn – students gain greater autonomy over what, when and how they learn. IDEAS generates a high level of interest and motivation.
Goal Oriented Learning
This program engages students in collaborative design activity that encourages them to take responsibility for their planning, self-assessing, monitoring and reflection. To become self-directed learners, students must learn to monitor and adjust their approaches to learning.
Collaborative Learning
This program also provides an opportunity for students to learn, problem-solve and demonstrate their skills and talents in creative and challenging ways, whilst developing scientific, technological and mathematical capabilities. This is done in conjunction with literacy and numeracy to create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in a diverse learning environment.
Students will be involved in:
- coding
- robotics
- 3D printing
- model making
- scientific research and
- mathematical application through projects.