Assistant Principal - Curriculum 

Early Career Teachers

Teaching is a vocation; it requires dedication, service and hard work. The capacity to provide experiences for students requires a foundation of knowledge, skills and capacities built in the early years of teaching. Accreditation is the structure through which teachers are recognised as meeting these Standards. It ensures the integrity and accountability of the profession. At McCarthy we are fortunate to have the support of staff who act as mentors and daily support, as well as additional support from Millie Woolaston (CSO) who meets regularly with the teachers to assist their development. 

Minimum Standards

Students need reading, writing and numeracy for everyday life after school. From 2020, students in NSW will need to demonstrate a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive their HSC, ensuring students have a functional level of literacy and numeracy.

To achieve an HSC in 2020 and beyond, students must sit the HSC minimum standards online tests in reading, writing and numeracy. Each of the three tests are of 45 minutes duration. Students must achieve a level 3 in each test in order to meet the HSC minimum standard. This aligns with level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) which is considered the level required to function in everyday life, for work and further study beyond school.

Once the HSC minimum standard is achieved in all three areas, a student is eligible to receive the HSC.

Students can sit the online tests twice a year, in Year 10, 11 and 12 and up to five years after they start the HSC. 

Please see Mrs Maxworthy’s report elsewhere for further details RE Minimum Standard testing at McCarthy Catholic College.

Year 10 Subject Selection

Year 10 students will shortly receive a course selection guide for Stage 6. Additionally, Mrs Maxworthy and Mrs Barrett will share a presentation with Year 10 about the process for selecting a pattern of study for 2021. Mrs Maxworthy covers this in greater detail in her article.

HSC Major Works

The submission dates for HSC Major works are approaching. We wish English Extension 2 (21 Aug), Drama (24 Aug), Industrial Technology (27 Aug), Textiles (31 Aug), Music (7 Sept) and Visual Arts (14 September) all the best as they complete these projects that  have been a significant aspect of their work this year.

Mrs Sally Sparke - Assistant Principal - Curriculum