SENIOR SCHOOL 

The Senior school encompasses students who are studying at Years 10, 11 and 12 and who are working to complete their SACE. Unlike the Middle School, students in the Senior School can expect to have a wide and varied range of teachers. 

Students study six subjects each Semester, with the number of compulsory subjects tailing off as students progress to Year 12. In Year 10 students study four compulsory subjects and choose two options from the broad range that are offered. Stage 1, Year11, enables students to broaden their choices, perhaps to specialise in particular areas and to begin the process of transition from school to their chosen pathway. Year 12 sees students studying five subjects, allowing them a study line. 

At the Senior years, students can choose to study a number of VET subjects which can be counted towards their SACE completion. At each year level, extensive counselling occurs to ensure that the subjects that students choose are ones at which they are likely to succeed, which match their ambitions and which will enable them to complete the pattern requirements of the SACE. If there are particular studies that a student wishes to pursue, which are not offered through the school, it is possible for students to enrol in Open Access and to study these subjects ‘on line’. 

At each year level in the Senior School, students are divided into Home Groups supported by, usually, a teacher who woks at that year level. Each morning and afternoon, the students meet as a group to cover a number of administrative matters as well as to undertake studies associated with their transition to the next phase of their studies. Each Monday, students are involved in more extensive meetings designed to explore a range of issues associated with their studies. At this time, there are also Year level and Senior School assemblies, guest speakers and the like organised over the year. Students at all levels of the Senior School are given the opportunity to participate in Driver Education programmes, Career Expos and other programmes to enhance their education. 

Early in the first term, there is an acquaintance night so that parents/guardians are able to meet teachers, find out about their son/daughter’s studies and to establish lines of communication. There are set assessment interview nights as well as the opportunity for parents/guardians to contact the school, via the Home Group teacher, at any stage throughout the year if there are concerns. 

A number of students are involved in student governance through the Senior School Board, by their involvement on school committees and through their support of their younger peers, through captaincy of sports teams and School Houses. 

Senior school employs an adult approach to the education of students: it is a cooperative venture and one that has at its central goal, the desire to optimise outcomes for every student. This partnership is one that is actively promoted by the staff and the invitation is open for all parents/guardians and their children to join with us. 

Bernard Hughes