Our teaching and learning programs at Waratah aim to foster a passion for learning that will stay with students throughout their lifetime.
The curriculum at our campus is organised according to the guidelines of the NSW Education Authority (NESA).
Mandatory subjects
Stage 4 (Year 7 and 8)
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Lanugages other than English (LOTE)
- Human Society and its Environment (History and Geography - HSIE)
- Creative and Performing Arts - Music and Visual Arts (CAPA)
- Technology and Applied Studies (TAS)
- Personal Development, Health and Physial Education (PDHPE)
- Sport
Stage 5 (Year 9 and 10)
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Lanugages other than English (LOTE)
- Human Society and its Environment (History and Geography - HSIE)
- Creative and Performing Arts - Music and Visual Arts (CAPA)
- Technology and Applied Studies (TAS)
- Personal Development, Health and Physial Education (PDHPE)
- Sport
Electives
In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of elective courses. Our students choose 2 semester-long electives in Year 7 and 8, three electives in Year 9 and one additional elective in Year 10. For more information, visit Elective subject selection.
Inquiry Based Learning
All electives in Year 7, 8, 9 and our Year 10 'Z' elective course are based on an Inquiry Based Learning methodology. This is a highly engaging, student centered method. It aims to foster future learning skills and provide opportunities for students to apply and practice these skills through real world, personally meaningful projects.
Learning is organised around a driving question or challenge that requires deep research and inquiry; students then engage in enrichment experiences through our links with industry and community; and finally they are required to share their learning with a final product, showcase or performance
Cross curriculum learning
Cross curriculum content enriches and support learning. Our students study a range of learning across the curriculum content. Priorities include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
- sustainability
General capabilities
- critical and creative thinking
- ethical understanding
- information and communication technology capability
- intercultural understanding
- literacy
- numeracy
- personal and social capability
Other learning across the curriculum areas
- civics and citizenship
- difference and diversity
- work and enterprise.
© NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2012
Links
To learn more about the curriculum in NSW, visit:
- NSW Department of Education – key learning areas
- NESA’s Parent Guide – Schooling in NSW which provides information about learning stages, key learning areas and syllabuses
- NSW Department of Education policy – Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K–12.