Curriculum Overview

STAGE 4: Years 7 - 8

Year 7

All Year 7 mainstream students take the same subjects. The following subjects are studied [English; Mathematics; Science; Technology; PDHPE; Music; Art; Geography; History; Japanese; Sport]. You will be with the same students in the same class for all your subjects, except for Technology and Art, where you will be in smaller classes and will have students from other mainstream classes with you.

What Year 7 class will I be in?

There are six classes whose first letters spell out the word STRIVE. Students in the STRIVE classes will be told which class they are in on the first day of school in Term 1. Students selected for the High Potential Class will find out in Term 4 Year 6.

In Term 1 all Year 7 students sit for NAPLAN, which are nationwide diagnostic literacy and numeracy tests. In the second half of the year, they also sit for a state-wide Science [ESSA] assessment. 

What are the High Potential classes?

High Potential (HP) classes promote engagement and challenge for students in a supported environment to achieve their potential. Students in the Year 7 and 8 classes are expected to achieve above their stage in core subjects such as literacy, numeracy, HSIE and Science. Students must have a positive attitude to their learning. 

All students in Year 6 entering WWHS the following year will sit an Entrance Examination in Term 2. From these results and in consultation with Primary Schools, students will be invited to join the HP class. 

Students in Year 8 apply to be a member of the HP class in Term 4 in Year 7. Students are offered placement in this class based on their academic results, attitude to learning and teacher recommendations. 

Mrs Lucas (English Staffroom) is the High Potential Class coordinator. 

Stage 5: Years 9 - 10

In Years 9 - 10, there is much more student subject choice. All students study English, Mathematics, Science, PD/H/PE, History and Geography, and Thursday Sport. They also select three elective courses, studied over the two years.  You will be given a booklet in Term 3 Year 8 which explains the electives and there will also be an information evening for you and your parents-caregivers.

Term 1 all Year 9 students sit for NAPLAN, which are nationwide diagnostic literacy and numeracy test.

In mainstream Years 9 - 10, there are two special classes: the High Potential (HP) Class and the Triple S class (Year 10 only). 

The purpose of the HP classes is to allow students who aspire to go to university, who have demonstrated commitment to succeeding at school and who have high expectations for themselves and their classmates, to succeed in all classes leading up to their HSC. Students in these classes have shown they are committed to their learning and have excellent academic results. The HP class in Year 9 is one class for English, Science, History, Geography and PDHPE. In Year 10, all HP classes are subject-specific and focus on preparing students for success in these subjects in Stage 6. 

Placement in HP classes is based on academic results in the previous years, teacher recommendation and students having a positive attitude to their learning. 

Mathematics has separate HP classes in Years 9 and 10  based on academic results.  

Students in Year 10 are entered with NESA for their Stage 5 courses. Students who meet the requirements for these courses will be eligible to receive their Record of School Achievement (RoSA). Students who do not satisfy the requirements may fail Stage 5 and may not be permitted to progress to Year 11.

Students will receive the transcript of their RoSA when they leave school and have met the requirements of NESA. 

What is the Triple S class?

This is a class in year 10 with 24 students. Triple S stands for Skills and Strategies for Success. Students will be nominated for this class. 

Students are offered positions in this class based on application to their learning, teacher recommendations and students’ positive attitude. Students in this class engage in Project-Based Learning and have additional opportunities to engage in work experience.  

What are Life Skills courses?

Mainstream students in Years 8 - 10 who really struggle with the work in class and are unlikely to achieve many of the outcomes in one or more of the core subjects, may be eligible for modified versions of those courses. These are called Life Skills courses and students are then entered into Life Skills in one or more courses. A student doing a Life Skills course is not in a separate class.

STAGE 6: Years 11 - 12

In Years 11 - 12, the only compulsory subject is English. Students study at least six subjects in their Preliminary year [Year 11 Terms 1 - 3] and at least five in their HSC year [Term 4 Year 11 and Terms 1 - 3 Year 12]. You will be given a booklet in Term 3 Year 10 that explains the HSC, the ATAR and the subject selection process and there will also be an information evening for you and your parents/caregivers. Individual interviews are also held to help students to make appropriate subject choices. The HSC exams are held in October and November each year, with the results made available by NESA in December.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

The school has a Support Unit in B Block for Special Education students in Years 7 - 12. There are four classes in the Support Unit, each of them with a learning support officer to help the teacher and students.