Introduction

This booklet provides a wide range of information for Year Ten students who are preparing for Year Eleven in 2026. The information in this booklet is up to date at the time of publishing and should be read with care by students and parents or guardians.

Any general enquiries should be directed to your Head of House; Deputy Principal, Head of Secondary School, Mr Jordan Owenell; Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning, Emma Franklin or VET & Careers Coordinator: Mrs Renae O'Donnell (renae.odonnell@gsg.wa.edu.au).

Some things to think about

You will soon be making some very important decisions about your pathway in Years Eleven and Twelve. Remember that your interests and ambitions may well change during the next few years and some decisions allow for more flexibility in future choices than others do.

There are many things you can be thinking about and many things you can be doing right now to prepare for your future. Some of these are listed below. Even if you have already thought about or done many of them, now is the time to develop a really good understanding of yourself, school-life, courses of study or training, possible occupations and possible lifestyles.

You should have good reasons for the choices you make:

Your interests: think about things you like to do, to practise, to learn. Think particularly about the study commitment required for senior Secondary School. Students usually achieve better results when pursuing areas that match their interest and abilities.
Your abilities: think about what you are good at and how you learn best. Where are your strengths, talents and opportunities? Think about how determined and persistent you are in pursuing a goal. Consider which school courses you generally succeed in and which you find difficult. Be realistic.
Your occupational goals: think about what kinds of jobs you would like to do. Find out about the requirements in terms of education, age, qualifications and personal attributes. Consider employment areas and the current and future prospects in that kind of work.
Your parents’ thoughts: these may play an important part in the decisions you make. Parents have been known to offer good advice and usually want to see their children succeed and be happy – so talk about it!
Talk to people working in or training for many different occupations, especially those in which you are most interested.
Find out about entry requirements for jobs, training or courses of study in terms of courses, marks and grades and the number of places available.
Talk to your Careers Coordinator and your Head of House about yourself and your plans, and your subject teachers about your strengths and weaknesses. Pay attention to the advice they give you; they have your best interests at heart.

Being a Year Eleven Student

A major requirement of Year Eleven and Twelve is a renewed commitment to the School ethos, policies and practices. Each student entering Year Eleven needs to be aware of this commitment, which is reflected in study habits, co-curricular obligations, and standards of grooming and dress. As a Year Eleven student you are considered a leader in the school and a role model to others.

Study in Year Eleven and Twelve is demanding, regardless of the pathway the student chooses; it is meant to be. Students need to be prepared for the demands involved; they need to be resilient and prepared to take on the challenges of these final two years of school. This pressure gives the student the opportunity to succeed and shine. It should be seen as an opportunity, not as a problem.

What careers/course could I pursue?

Future trends in employment are difficult to predict and school graduates need to be flexible and able to adapt to changes in the workplace.

Some students will be certain of a career path. These students should consult with a school Careers Coordinator to determine the institution they may be attending, and the academic background needed to access that institution. Do research by contacting the institution and visiting, if possible.

It is possible to select a course of study in Year Eleven and Twelve that keeps many options open. Students should be aware that for some of the university courses that specify preferred Year Eleven and Twelve subjects and for those training courses that are highly competitive, certain courses would advantage those students. Pre-requisites for university courses are outlined in the TISC booklet, which can be found at the link below