Stage 5 Subject Selections

Introduction

As students’ progress from Year 8 to Year 9 they move from Stage 4 of the National Education Standards Authority (NESA) curriculum outline to Stage 5. They move from a curriculum which has been designed to provide broad educational experiences, to one which allows students to specialise in areas of their choice. In addition, within the mandatory subjects, there is a subtle change of focus from acquiring skills to analysis in greater depth.

At the end of Year 10 a student must have successfully met the requirements of the following subjects:

  • 400 hours of English over the Years 7 – 10
  • 400 hours of Mathematics over the Years 7 - 10
  • 400 hours of Science over the Years 7 - 10
  • 300 hours of PDHPE over the Years of 7 – 10
  •  200 hours of Design & Technology
  • 100 hours of Music and Visual Arts
  • 100 hours of a Language other than English.
  • 100 hours of History and Geography in each Stage 4 (Year 7–8) and Stage 5 (Year 9–10).

In addition, students can complete 200-hour courses in a variety of different elective subjects.

 

Elective Choices

College students will study three (3) electives in Stage 5. The College recommends that when students nominate their subject selections, they nominate their top three (3) choices as well as two (2) secondary selections. It is important that the entire form be 

completed with courses chosen in order of preference.

 

Advice about selecting courses

1. Students should select subjects that they have a personal interest in and enjoy.

2. Some subjects do have greater relevance to long-term goals or careers.

3. It is not a good idea to choose subjects on the basis of what your friends are doing or on who you think the teacher might be.

 

Will I get my elective choices?

While every effort will be made to accommodate the choices made by students, the types and numbers of courses that will be offered will be determined by the pattern of preferences expressed by students.

There can be no guarantee that all courses initially offered will be available based on College reasoning.

 

Changing courses

The elective courses you choose will be studied in both Years 9 and 10 and require 200 hours of study. Subject to class sizes and other considerations, course changes must be made by end of Week 4 Term 1, Year 9. Changes to courses beyond this time will only be considered if there are extenuating circumstances.