Planning Your Pathway

After Year 10 and until the age of 17, students must be:

• in school, or registered for home schooling OR

• in approved education or training OR

• in full-time, paid employment (average 25 hours/week) OR

• in a combination of these three.

So, you’re finishing up Year 10 and need to choose your subjects for the next two years but aren’t sure if the ATAR pathway is the right one for you.

There are heaps of different routes that you can take when nearing the end of your high school experience but if you’re struggling to decide here’s what you should consider :

• What do I like and enjoy? Choose subjects which interest you.

• What am I good at? Choose subjects in which you are capable of doing well.

• What might I need for the future? Realistically consider your post-school career and goals, and choose subjects that will assist you to meet these.

Do you actually want to go to uni?

When it comes to choosing whether you should study ATAR subjects in Year 11 and 12, the first question you will want to answer is whether or not you actually want to go to university.

Of course you don’t have to study ATAR courses to get into university because there are several different pathways available, but if you’re not keen on going to university at all and instead have plans to do a trade or study at TAFE, ATAR subjects are not necessary.

Once a student has successfully completed Year 10 and have decided they do not want a HSC, here are a number of options from which to choose.

Students can:

• choose to do an apprenticeship or a traineeship

• study vocational courses at TAFE

• do a course in higher education

• do other approved education or training

• be in employment, as long as it is full-time, paid work

• do a combination of a number of these.

Students should discuss their options with their parents, principal, careers adviser, year adviser or teachers.

More information can be accessed via the Departments Pathways after School website.