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.
Students in Years 7 and 8 study Music and Visual Arts.
From 2022, through the Amadeus Music Education Program students in Years 7-8 will receive tuition in weekly small-group lessons on an orchestral instrument, as well as ensemble lessons. For more information, please visit the Amadeus Music Education Program page on the Sydney Catholic Schools website.Two hundred 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
Study in the Creative Arts provides students with strong discipline based knowledge and the fundamental skills, creative expertise, learning mindset and critical capabilities for the future world of work. Creative Arts students experience and develop the complex skills required to create and test ideas, generate creative works with confidence, shape inquiry and critically evaluate and reflect on what they do. Study in the Creative Arts prepares students to be significant producers and informed consumers of culture.
Students in Years 7 and 8 study Music and Visual Arts.
The college offers three Creative and Performing Arts elective courses in Years 9-10:
- Drama
- Music
- Visual Arts
Years 11–12
The college offers three 2-Unit Creative Arts courses for the HSC:
- Drama
- Music 1
- Visual Arts
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.
While recognising that parents are the first educators of their children in faith, the secondary Religious Education curriculum enables our students to see and respond to God in their lives.
Through a variety of experiences the Religious Education curriculum nurtures the natural capacity that young students have for curiosity, imagination and wonder. The students are invited to reflect on sacred Scripture, talk with God through prayer, discover the beauty of God’s creation and explore the meaning of symbols and rituals.
The college prides itself on a sincere commitment to Religious Education holding a distinctive place in our learning community. This ethos is evident in the presence of a uniquely specialised Religious Education faculty who lead religious instruction at the college with an understanding that their lifestyle and character are congruent with the content they teach. “By their witness and their behavior teachers are of the first importance to impart a distinctive character to Catholic schools.” (The Catholic School, 1977, #78)
The Board Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. Four hundred (400) hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.
Years 7–10
The Board Developed syllabus is to be studied substantially throughout each of Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 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.
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 literature of past and contemporary societies, as well as a range of spoken, visual, media and multimedia texts.
Years 11–12
Through the study of English in Stage 6 students continue to develop their capacity to understand and use the English language for a variety of purposes and in various textual forms. Students engage with and explore a variety of texts that include widely acknowledged quality literature of past and contemporary societies. Through their responding and composing of both critical and creative texts, students develop an understanding of themselves and of diverse human experiences and cultures. The study of English in Stage 6 provides students with opportunities to experiment with ideas and expression, to become innovative, active, independent learners, to collaborate and to reflect on their learning.
The Board Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. Four hundred (400) hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.
Years 7–10
The Board Developed syllabus is to be studied substantially throughout each of Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 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.
Years 11–12
The Mathematics Stage 6 syllabuses are designed to offer opportunities for students to think mathematically through questioning, communicating, reasoning and reflecting. They promote the development of 21st-century knowledge, skills, understanding, values and attitudes and provide challenge. Students generalise, find connections, think critically and creatively using appropriate technology to support mathematical activity.
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.
Students develop knowledge of scientific concepts and ideas about the living and non-living world. They gain increased understanding about the unique nature and development of scientific knowledge, the use of science and its influence on society, and the relationship between science and technology.
Students actively engage individually and in teams in scientific inquiry. They use the processes of Working Scientifically to plan and conduct investigations. By identifying questions and making predictions based on scientific knowledge and drawing evidence-based conclusions from their investigations, students develop their understanding of scientific ideas and concepts, and their skills in critical thinking and problem-solving. They gain experience in making evidence-based decisions and in communicating their understanding and viewpoints.
NSW Education Standards Authority
The Board Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. Four hundred (400) hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.
Years 7–10
The Board Developed syllabus is to be studied substantially throughout each of Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.
Science develops students’ skills, knowledge and understanding in explaining and making sense of the biological, physical and technological world. Through applying the processes of Working Scientifically students develop understanding of the importance of scientific evidence in enabling them as individuals and as part of the community to make informed, responsible decisions about the use and influence of science and technology on their lives.
Years 11–12
The suite of Science courses is designed to extend and provide authentic and relevant learning experiences for NSW students. The courses are rigorous and designed to prepare students for a future in STEM learning and enterprises. The depth studies within these exciting, revitalised courses provide opportunities for students to consolidate their learning, develop competence and express their creativity.
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 technologies on the individual, society and the environment.
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 (HSIE) 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 three elective HSIE courses in Years 9–10:
- Commerce
- Geography Elective
- History Elective
Years 11–12
The College offers eight HSIE courses for the HSC:
- Ancient History
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- History Extension
- Legal Studies
- Modern History
- Work Studies
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 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.
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)
One hundred (100) hours to be completed in one Board Developed syllabus or Board Endorsed language course over one continuous 12-month period between Years 7–10 but preferably in Years 7–8.
Years 7–10
Learning languages opens minds to difference, where diversity is seen as a regular part of society. Proficiency in languages provides a resource that encourages more effective engagement with the global community. The study of Languages strengthens essential foundational skills for literacy. It also fosters intellectual and emotional development, and cultural understanding.
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.
Students study their mandatory hours in Language in Year 8.
Students have the choice of three languages:
- French
- Italian
- Japanese
Years 11–12
The college offers 4 Language courses for the HSC:
- Italian Beginners
- Italian Continuers
- Japanese Beginners
- Japanese Continuers
NB: Our students also 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 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (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
- Information and Digital Technology
- Retail Services
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 Vocational 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).
To cater for the variety of interests and abilities of our students, we offer a range of VET courses that enable students to achieve nationally-recognised VET qualifications at certificate levels I, II and III.
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).
For students who are committed to a vocational pathway, they can access one of Sydney Catholic Schools’ four 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).
Year 11 and 12 students interested in workplace learning, trade skills and apprenticeships are able to take advantage of flexible timetabling to accommodate both their HSC studies and work-based learning in our trade centre.