Social, emotional and physical development is a significant aspect of children’s lives and needs to be explicitly taught so that children build a sense of wellbeing, resilience and positive mental health.
OAS has implemented Positive Education as a whole school initiative where it is explicitly taught to senior students during their Civics lessons, and to primary students throughout their weekly programs.
The format of these lessons is varied eg guest speakers, sporting challenges, personal reflections and assemblies but the message is the same!
Students at OAS deserve nothing but the best and positive education is a vital part of a child’s development, wellbeing and positive mental health
Educational research and data supports the theories that the wellbeing of students is fundamental to rising levels of student achievement and positive mental health, opening doors to an optimistic future.
Seamless Transition
Oakbank Area School is the only Reception to Year 12 state school in the Adelaide Hills region.
We are able to offer a seamless transition from the nearby Oakbank Kindergarten to Oakbank Area School and then onto Tertiary studies when our students graduate.
Our school provides a comprehensive and progressive curriculum that allows individuals to discover and develop new skills, new ideas and competencies for tertiary studies and employment.
We believe that students feel safer and develop a much stronger sense of belonging if they are familiar with the school, its students and staff before they arrive. As such, our extensive transition programs ensure students are given many opportunities to visit our school and participate in a range of activities prior to commencing.
Our Transition programs help students form a realistic expectation of what OAS will be like, provide a positive and successful first impression and ensure a successful introduction to the OAS experience.
Preschool to Reception:
In Term 4 each year, students intending to enrol in the subsequent year, will visit the school over several weeks, increasing the amount of time they spend with our youngest class.
Our teachers work closely with our local Kindergarten throughout the year to ensure we are aware of the specific needs of each individual child.
Primary to Middle School:
At the beginning of the year our Middle School leader visits our surrounding primary schools to share our story and attract students to enrol at OAS in the subsequent year.
For students who choose OAS, there are several days at the end of the year where new and current students meet, mingle and learn about Middle School at OAS together.
Year 8 Camp:
OAS has many students who start in Year 8 from surrounding primary schools. To ensure a seamless transition, our Year 8 students attend a camp early in the year to provide the opportunity for students to get to know each other by enjoying fun activities aimed at cooperative learning and team building in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
Middle to Senior School:
SACE Information nights and subject counselling occurs in Term 3 each year to provide families with important information regarding students' transition and starting senior school.
Often questions arise about the transition process. We would love to be able to answer your questions and put your mind at rest.
Students and their families are invited to visit Oakbank Area School to talk to our teachers and staff and take a tour of our facilities.
If you have any queries, or wish to make a booking for a Principal’s Tour, please telephone Oakbank Area School on 8398 7200.
Oakbank Area School
Oakbank Area School is the only Reception to Year 12 state school in the Adelaide Hills region.
Therefore, we are able to offer a seamless transition from the nearby Oakbank Kindergarten to Oakbank Area School and onto tertiary studies and employment when our students graduate.
Senior School Structure
Our school provides a comprehensive and progressive curriculum that allows individuals to discover and develop new skills, new ideas and competencies for tertiary studies and employment.
At Oakbank Area School, students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are members of the Senior School Sub Team.
The majority of Year 10 Subject curriculum is assessed under the Australian Curriculum and Year 11 and 12 subject curriculum is assessed under the SACE.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -The Australian Curriculum (AC)
The Australian Curriculum sets the expectations for what all young Australians should be taught, regardless of where they live in Australia or their background.
The Australian Curriculum is designed to develop successful learners who are confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens. It is presented as a progression of learning from Foundation through to Year 10 that makes clear to teachers, parents, students and others in the wider community, what is to be taught, and the quality of learning expected of young people as they progress through school.
Achievement standards for each learning area or subject describe the learning expected of students at each year level or band of years. The achievement standard also allows teachers to monitor student learning and to make judgments about student progress and achievement.
South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
There are two stages of the SACE:
- • Stage 1, which usually begins in Year 10 with the Personal Learning Plan, and continues through Year 11
- • Stage 2, which is usually undertaken in Year 12.
Year 10
Students at Oakbank Area School enrol in the SACE in Year 10 and begin by studying the Personal Learning Plan (PLP), which is a one semester subject. This is a compulsory subject within the SACE and must be completed by all students with a ‘C” grade or better.
Students who do not achieve ‘C’ grades or better are required to repeat the subject(s) the following year.
Stage 1 (Year 11)
Students must enrol in and study two semesters of English as a compulsory requirement within the SACE which must be completed to a ‘C’ grade or better for each semester.Students must also enrol in and study at least one semester of Mathematics as a compulsory requirement within the SACE which must be completed to a ‘C’ grade or better.
Students who do not achieve ‘C’ grades or better are required to repeat the subject(s) the following year.
Students then have a large range of Stage 1 subjects they can choose to enrol in and study towards completing their SACE.
Stage 2 (Year 12)
Students must enrol in and complete one semester of Research Project as a compulsory requirement of the SACE which must be completed to a ‘C-‘ grade or higher.
Students who do not achieve a ‘C-’ grade or better are required to repeat the subject.
Students then have a large range of Stage 2 subjects they can choose to enrol in and study towards completing their SACE.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Compulsory Subject in the SACE
Each subject that is successfully completed earns credits towards the SACE.
Students receive a final grade from A to E for Stage 1 subjects and A+ to E– for Stage 2 subjects.
To qualify for the SACE students must:
- • complete a minimum of 200 credits
- achieve a ‘C’ grade or better in the Stage 1 compulsory requirements
- achieve a ‘C–’ grade or better in the Stage 2 compulsory requirements
The compulsory requirements are:
- • Personal Learning Plan — 10 credits at Stage 1
- English — at least 20 credits from a range of English subjects (Stage 1 or Stage 2)
- Mathematics — at least 10 credits from a range of mathematics subjects (Stage 1 or Stage 2)
- Research Project — 10 credits at Stage 2
- Other Stage 2 subjects — at least 60 credits from a range of Stage 2 subjects
The remaining 90 credits can be gained through additional Stage 1 or Stage 2 subjects or SACE Board-recognised courses of a student’s choice (such as Vocational Education and Training VET or Community Learning).
ASSESSMENT
All Stage 1 subjects are 100% school assessed, but grades are subjected to moderation by the SACE Board.
All Stage 2 subjects have:
- 70% School Assessment
- 30% External Assessment
External Assessments can exist as Examinations, Evaluations, Investigations and Performances. The school assessed grades are also subjected to moderation by the SACE Board.
Successful SACE achievement is used by students to gain admission into university and TAFE courses. Students who successfully complete the SACE are eligible for university entry, provided they meet certain requirements to achieve an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)
Receiving an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is important if a student is planning to apply for university.
The ATAR provides a measure of a student’s overall performance and academic achievement relative to other secondary school students across Australia.
It is calculated based on the student’s university aggregate and then reported on their Tertiary Entrance Statement (provided they are eligible to receive one).
The ATAR is a rank, not a mark. It is used to help universities rank applicants for selection into their courses. The ATAR is a figure between 0 and 99.95; the average ATAR is usually around 70.00.
TAFE SA recognises successful completion of the SACE as meeting the Course Admission Requirements for most of its courses.
Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit the SATAC website at www.satac.edu.au for more information.
Pathways
Students have a range of future pathways to work towards at Oakbank Are School including further tertiary training and employment. All students are supported to succeed, achieve and transition successfully beyond school to further training at TAFE or University and or employment.
Oakbank Area School has strong connections with the state universities, TAFE, local industries, businesses and other secondary schools. Students are supported to participate in and attend open days and activities with the local Universities and TAFE.
Many students need to undertake structured Work Placement as a part of their VET or Work Experience with a SACE subject and access local industry and business for this opportunity.
Local industries and businesses also provide employment pathways for our students while studying through signing them up for Australian School Based Apprenticeships.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Vocation Education & Training (VET)
Oakbank Area School is a member of the Adelaide Hills Student Pathways Project working together with other Adelaide Hills schools to provide a diverse range of VET opportunities to encourage our students to work towards completing VET qualifications while undertaking the SACE. This incorporates the various Adelaide Hills Trade Training Centres.
Go to the AHSP website (www.ahsps.com.au)to download a copy of the local VET Courses for 2017.
VET pathways allow students to:
- Develop skills for the workforce
- Develop an understanding of the workplace
- Obtain training and industry specific skills
- Gain credit towards a nationally recognised qualification including a certificate I, II, III, IV, diploma or advance diploma while undertaking their SACE.
Doing VET in schools may also contribute to a student’s admission score to TAFE SA or University.
VET Qualifications & SACE Pathways Vocation & Education Training (VET)
For every 35 hours of successful VET completion 5 SACE credits are awarded. Up to 150 of the 200 credits required for SACE can be earned through VET.
Full completion of some Certificate III Programs can substitute for a whole 20 unit Stage 2 SACE subject and contribute to a students ATAR.