in detail:
Academic Excellence in Senior School
The King's School is recognised for the academic successes of our students, and has become one of the highest achieving non-selective schools through our commitment to academic excellence.
During their senior school years, boys build on the solid foundations of primary schooling, enriching their learning and strengthening their skills. Our focus is on delivering authentic learning experiences that develop young men to take their place in the workforce or go on to further studies.
From Year 7, boys are provided with an enriched learning environment. Our academic focus is to provide young men with the opportunity to develop 21st Century competencies – critical and creative thinking, problem solving and collaboration, along with dispositions of curiosity, perseverance and empathy.
These capabilities are essential in assisting students to become global citizens who can make an outstanding impact in their community beyond the School gates.
Teaching and Learning
Our School motto, ‘Fortiter et Fideliter” empowers our students to be brave learners, to take risks, to fail and as a result, develop resilience. Students need to be able to make a positive impact on their surroundings, influence the future, understand others’ intensions, actions and feelings, and anticipate the short- and long-term consequences of their actions in order that they might graduate as global thought leaders, with Christian wisdom and integrity for a world in need.
At the core of academic excellence is the ability to empower students to think critically, to synthesize and integrate new information in novel ways and to ‘learn to learn’. These skills remain with students long after they have left school and will become increasingly essential to student success in the future as the amount of available information increases exponentially and is ubiquitously available online. Similarly, motivation plays a critical role in achieving academic excellence.
There is no doubt, many jobs of the future are yet to exist. To be employable and positively contribute to society in the future, our students will need to be problem solvers, creative and critical thinkers and good team players. If we are to prepare our students for the next 50 years of their lives and beyond we must embrace cutting edge teaching and learning practices.
The School’s robotics program caters for the growing demand for teaching science, technology, engineering and maths in schools . Robotics at King’s takes technology education to a new level where skills and knowledge become hands-on, preparing students for the future through creativity and engagement.
Our teachers use the latest evidence-informed research and student data to know our students’ stories, inform targeted teaching practice and enhance each student’s learning. Year Coordinators support our students to become more agile, independent and resilient learners who develop a growth mind-set that enables them to apply feedback and enjoy being challenged.
The Curriculum Continuum
The Senior School offers the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) curriculum organised into three stages:
- Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8)
- Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10)
- Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12)
The wide range of courses caters for different interests and ability levels, and boys are encouraged to choose courses appropriate to their needs and which will help build on their abilities.
The current curriculum and courses offered are structured according to these three stages of learning and include a wide range of subjects and interests.
Year 7 and 8 (Stage 4)
In Year 7 boys enjoy a broad learning experience including English, Mathematics, Science, Biblical Studies, Geography, History, Technology, Music, PDHPE and Visual Arts. In Year 7 boys also study a Language and have the choice of Chinese, French or German. Our aim is to provide an experience which provides a broad overview of subject areas which can build the foundation of the future learning journey.
Moving into Year 8, boys continue to study a strong core of mandatory subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, PDHPE, Technology and Biblical Studies. In Year 8 boys are for the first time provided with the choice of two electives selected from:
- Agricultural Technology
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Commerce
- Drama
- French
- German
- Industrial Technology
- Information & Software Technology
- Music
- Visual Arts
Year 7 students are also offered the Music Acceleration Program at the commencement of the year, and the Mathematics Acceleration Program from Semester 2.
Year 9 and 10 (Stage 5)
As they progress into Year 9, boys continue to study a strong core of subjects which includes a two year program of English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, PDHPE and Biblical Studies. In Year 9, boys choose three electives from a choice of:
- Agricultural Technology
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Commerce
- Design & Technology
- Drama
- Food Technology
- French
- Geography Elective
- German
- Graphics Technology
- History Elective
- Industrial Technology Engineering
- Industrial Technology Metal
- Industrial Technology Timber
- Information & Software Technology
- Language Arts*
- Music
- Philosophy
- Physical Activity and Sports Studies
- Visual Arts
*Language Arts is an elective subject taught by the Educational Support Services department, aimed at improving literacy. Participation is by invitation only.
The renowned King’s Boys to Men Program is incorporated into the learning journey in Term 4 of Year 10, providing necessary life skills.
Year 11 and 12 (Stage 6)
From Year 11, English is the only mandatory subject. In these final two years students tailor their learning program to their specific needs and interests, and with a view to their subsequent study after King’s. Mathematics is strongly encouraged as part of the Stage 6 academic program as many tertiary courses have this as part of their mandatory requirements for course enrolment.
To foster balance in the learning program and keep options open post Year 12, while taking into account a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses, boys are encouraged to develop a mix of subjects so they have a balance between English / Humanities, Mathematics and Sciences, Creative, Practical and Theoretical subjects.
The King’s School continually assesses which courses should be offered at the School, in an effort to suit the needs, abilities and interests of its students, as well as offering opportunities outside the School in nationally recognised Vocational Educational and Training (VET) Courses. Extension courses may also be undertaken in areas of special interest.
Students in Years 11 and 12 have the opportunity to study towards the NSW Higher School Certificate, including acceleration programs in Mathematics and Studies of Religion and individual subjects by invitation.
The Higher School Certificate (HSC)
King’s currently offers more than 45 HSC subjects. Students can specialise in a particular area or choose a diverse combination of subjects. Marks come from a combination of internal assessments and external HSC examinations, as well as major projects and performances in specialist subjects.
The School also offers access to VET courses at TAFE. Vocational Education and Training courses offered through TAFE will count towards the HSC and will also lead to qualifications recognised across a range of industries. Students may choose to enrol in both ATAR framework and non-ATAR framework courses.
Having completed public examinations at the end of their Year 12, students graduate with the Higher School Certificate. This internationally recognised credential allows students to apply for entry into Australia’s universities. As one of Australia’s leading academic schools, King’s produces many highly successful university undergraduates, some of whom go on to take study at some of the world’s leading universities.
Enrichment and Extension
Success for each student at King’s is to feel a sense of rigour, motivation, achievement and enjoyment from what they are learning by acknowledging their learning needs, strengths, interests and goals.
The Enrichment and Extension opportunities at King’s endeavours to ensure that the needs of all our students are met through varied and rigorous classroom and co-curricular experiences.
To ensure the needs of our high potential learners, including gifted students, are identified and supported, the School offers further programming options. For students with academic gifts, we aim to develop talent through a variety of educational opportunities designed to promote intellectual, social and emotional capabilities through their time at King’s.
Educational Support Services
A team of specialised Educational Support Services (ESS) teachers work collaboratively with staff to enable boys to develop their full academic, social and emotional potential. ESS supports students to consolidate their literacy skills and students with English as a second language.
The quality of the unique and progressive ESS programs of The King’s School demonstrate leadership in education by facilitating student learning through the use of: encouragement, empowerment, personal growth and academic learning. Teaching practice facilitates students’ learning by providing the necessary tools, both cognitive and life skills, upon which to develop their understanding and encourage a love of learning.
The ESS department also offers a transition class that provides for students in Years 7 to 12 with mild to moderate learning disabilities.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Students can achieve both HSC and a nationally recognised Certificate II or Certificate III in their area of interest. VET courses can be combined traineeship or apprenticeship and are are designed to provide students with dual pathway opportunities to either fast track their university studies or prepare them for immediate trade-related employment.
Courses are available on campus in Business Services and Primary Industries, and a broad range of other courses are available through partnership with TAFE. Students may be eligible for an ATAR (depending on their pattern of study).
Information Services
The Senior Library staff provide a welcoming and dynamic learning environment that empowers students to be collaborative, curious, creative, critical, and competent users of information, and to be engaged readers.
Located on the top level of the Centre for Learning and Leadership, the Library is a well-resourced and dynamic space with flexible learning areas dedicated to reading, maker education, individual study, and group work. The Library is also home to The King’s Institute and the Professional Learning Centre for staff. These spaces cater for formal classes, informal use by students and staff, and co-curricular activities that include the Reading and Writing Clubs, and the MakerPlace.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
The King’s School is currently a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the globe. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognised by many universities worldwide.
The IB Diploma Programme will be offered to students entering Years 11 and 12, and is a diverse and rigorous pattern of study that provides an excellent foundation for higher education. The adoption and implementation of the IB Diploma Programme is another way The King’s School seeks to develop Global Thought Leaders.
The King’s School is currently working towards authorisation over the next 24 months and further information will be released over this time.
Further information on the International Baccalaureate Programme may be found here.
To learn more and view our IB Diploma Programme brochure, please click here.
