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The wide range of subjects offered at NCS

In today’s article, I would like to affirm the very broad range of subjects that students can choose for Year 11 and 12 at Nowra Christian School. Sometimes, people mistakenly believe that we do not offer a great range of subjects. This could not be further from the truth.

There are some subjects that will always run, even if we have few students choosing it. The reason is that these can be a prerequisite for study at university in courses such as Science or Mathematics. Additionally, this gives some level of certainty for our students as they plot a pathway for themselves for their Senior Years. So as of 2023, we are committed to always running the following, either focussed, in our two-year cycle or yearly, in the traditional format:

• English Standard
• English Advanced
• English Extension 1
• English Extension 2
• Mathematics Standard 2
• Mathematics Advanced
• Mathematics Extension 1
• Mathematics Extension 2
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Modern History

We also offer many other subjects over a two-year cycle. Because of our focussed approach to Years 11 and 12, this means that the student cohort as a group can choose from the following subjects:

• Ancient History
• Business Studies
• Community and Family Studies
• Design & Technology
• Drama
• Earth & Environmental Science
• Engineering Studies
• English Studies
• Food Technology
• French Beginners
• Industrial Technology – Timber
• Mathematics Standard 1
• Music 1
• Music 2
• PDHPE
• Society and Culture
• Textiles and Design
• Visual Art
• Visual Design

By referring to the NESA 2022 HSC enrolments by course, you can see that the top 16 subjects in popularity are the following: 

Of these sixteen most popular subjects, nine are guaranteed to run each cycle at Nowra Christian School. Of the remaining seven subjects, five have run / will run over the 2023 / 2024 cycle and I envisage them as being mainstays of the Nowra Christian School Stage program for the years to come. The only two remaining subjects which we do not offer are Legal Studies and Studies of Religion 1. Interestingly, from the Report on the Scaling of the 2022 NSW Higher School Certificate, Table 4.6 shows that these subjects do not contribute significantly to most students’ ATARs. I recognise that it is ironic that Nowra Christian School does not offer Studies of Religion 1. The reason this is so popular is that at many religious schools, students are not given a choice but are mandated to study the subject. Some of my own children studied the course at my previous school through distance education and I believe it is a great course and hope that one day soon we will be able to offer it at NCS. 

It is also worthwhile stating that students can choose from 4 subjects on the non-English and Maths subject lines. In a number of years, I expect this number to grow to five subjects as larger groups of students come through.

What is the conclusion to these facts and figures? 

I would like to confirm that NCS is providing well for students who are studying for their HSC, and I want to draw your attention to our commitment to providing those key subjects every HSC cycle. This gives students certainty about their study and access to subjects which will enable them to achieve well in their HSC. I also want to thank our teachers and staff for their dedication and devotion to their students and their subjects and pray for this year’s cohort that they will study diligently, remember, and communicate that which they have learnt, and in all that they do, bring glory to God.