ENGLISH

Year 9 English is all about discovering the power of voice - both your own and the characters you encounter. In this course, you will dive into the eerie conventions of Gothic Literature, analyse how stories transform from page to screen and explore diverse perspectives in the Voices and Issues unit.

A central focus this year is cultivating your unique authorial voice; you will experiment with different creative styles to draft, refine and produce your own writing folio. Alongside this creative production, you will develop your analytical skills through the study of different text types, sharpen your reading comprehension and master advanced grammar. Finally, you will build the confidence to express your ideas dynamically through sharp written arguments and engaging oral presentations.

ACE ENGLISH & LITERATURE

Designed for passionate, high-achieving readers and thinkers, Year 9 ACE English fast-tracks your literary and analytical skills by introducing senior-level concepts early. This course splits its focus between core English mastery and foundational Literature skills.

You will dive deep into literary analysis, learning to read texts through diverse historical, cultural and critical lenses. A major focus of the year includes comparative text study, exploring how stories, themes, and ideas evolve across different eras contexts and styles. Alongside studying complex prose, drama, and poetry, you will intensely develop your sophisticated writing voice and advanced oral communication skills. Students who excel in this subject are ideally placed to continue developing their skills by selecting Year 10 ACE English & Literature as their next step.

MATHS

This Year 9 course covers a wide range of topics so that students can select the Year 10 Mathematics course that best suits their future needs. Students will undertake skill building, problem solving and investigations in the following strands:

• Number and algebra

• Exponentials and indices, linear equations, linear graphs and factorisation

• Measurement and geometry

• Pythagoras and trigonometry

• Statistics and probability

Students require a scientific calculator.

ACE MATHS

This Year 9 course covers the same content as Year 9 Mainstream Mathematics, emphasising sophisticated contexts and problems, and with a focus on problem solving, reasoning, modelling and connection making. Students will extend their studies to topics involving further algebra and spatial reasoning.

Students require a scientific calculator.

Prerequisites: Students selecting this subject will have

• either successfully completed Year 8 ACE Mathematics;

• or obtained a B+ average or higher in their Year 8 Mainstream Mathematics, and be recommended by their classroom teacher.

SCIENCE

The study aims to stimulate curiosity and improve skills in planning, observing, analysing and recording accurate and reliable data in investigations. Students will examine how the needs of society focus scientific research on continually reviewing existing models and theories in response to new findings and technological advances. Body systems, including the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, and measures to control the transmission of infectious diseases will be introduced in Biology. In Chemistry, students examine the nature of matter and how it recombines in various chemical reactions. The chemistry and dynamics of Earth systems will be examined with reference to human-induced climate change and how energy flow in the Earth’s atmosphere can be explained by heat transfer. Energy will also be explored in Physical sciences, where students will investigate waves and how energy can be generated.

GEOGRAPHY (One Semester)

As students work towards the achievement of Level 10 standards in geography, they develop knowledge about the operation of one of the major natural systems; for example, the hydrologic cycle, plate tectonics or the weather. The other major theme of Year 9 Geography focuses on issues for the year 2050. Examples of development topics include: poverty; the links between food, hunger and technology; and the social and economic consequences of development in creating rapidly growing cities, megacities, informal settlements and rural depopulation. Students investigate and learn to evaluate the impact and/or effectiveness of development-related projects, policies and strategies (such as large-scale water projects, tourism, the use of foreign aid, social reform and population control) on physical and human landscapes, locally, nationally and globally.

HISTORY (One Semester)

Students examine three topics in depth. These topics are:

The Industrial Revolution

The technological innovations that led to the Industrial Revolution and other conditions that influenced the industrialisation of Britain (the agricultural revolution, access to raw materials, wealthy middle class, cheap labour, transport system and expanding empire) and of Australia.

Making a Nation

The extension of settlement, including the effect of contact (intended and unintended) between European settlers in Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The experiences of non-Europeans in Australia prior to the 1900s (such as the Japanese, Chinese, South Sea Islanders and Afghans) and living and working conditions in Australia around the turn of the twentieth century.

World War I

An overview of the causes of World War I and the reasons why men enlisted to fight in the war. The places where Australians fought and the nature of warfare during World War I. The impact of World War I, with a particular emphasis on Australia (such as the use of propaganda to influence the civilian population, the changing role of women and the conscription debate). The commemoration of World War I, including debates about the nature and significance of the ANZAC legend.

HEALTH

This Year 9 subject explores a range of important health and wellbeing topics designed to support students’ personal growth and understanding of themselves and others. Areas of study include values, personal development, sex and relationships, harm minimisation, community health, and health resources and promotion. Through these units, students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions, build healthy relationships, and contribute positively to their communities.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

In Year 9 Physical Education, students build on previously developed skills and engage with new activities through the ‘Game Sense’ approach. The program includes units such as Fitness and Circuit Training, Net Games, Court Games, Invasion Games, Striking and Fielding, Gymnastics, and Fitness Testing. The focus is on skill development, applying strategies and tactics, understanding personal fitness levels, planning exercise routines, and developing leadership skills.