commercial

The faculty is recognised for its innovative and dedicated teachers who provide substantial support to students in their efforts toward the HSC. Faculty members are involved in a range of whole school programs beyond the classroom which include Mock Trial, Student Representative Council coordination and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

Below is a brief description of the courses we offer.

Society and Culture

Society and Culture is a two-unit course studied over two years. It is a course that draws upon cross-disciplinary concepts & social research methodologies from Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Political Science, Legal Studies and Social Ecology.

The course involves completion of a major research task on an area of student personal interest (Personal Interest Project/PIP) that is worth 40% of the HSC mark and is externally assessed via the BOS.

Our students in this discipline have achieved remarkably well over the last few years:

First in the State 2002
First in the State 2003
Fourth in the State 2003
Seventh in the State 2005
Fourth in the State 2006
Sixth in the State 2006
Tenth in the State 2006
Ninth in the State 2007
First in the State 2008
Fourth in the State 2008

Business Studies
The two-unit Business Studies course studied over two years provides an overview of current business operation in the domestic and international context. The HSC course examines topic areas such as The Role of Management, Financial Planning, Marketing, Employment Relations and Global Business designed to give practical application to the theoretical aspects of the course. In terms of HSC success, our Business Studies students' have consistently performed well above the State mean with one of our students attaining 18th in the State at the 2007 HSC Examination.

Economics
This is a two-unit course studied over two years. The preliminary course gives an overview of the economic behaviour of consumers, business and governments and provides a foundation for the HSC course. The HSC Course examines the role of economic management and Australia’s place in the global economy. Students study a number of current economic issues in detail to enhance their knowledge of economic theory in the micro and macro economic areas.

Legal Studies

Legal Studies is a thematic two-unit course studied over two years. The preliminary course gives an overview of the legal system in Australia and how the individual interacts within it. The HSC course examines a number of focus study areas including a compulsory study of Crime, with a choice of two of the following: Family, Consumers, The Global Environment, Indigenous Peoples, Shelter, Technological Change, Workplace and World Order. Legal Studies is a very popular course within our faculty, and has consistently produced HSC exam test scores well above the State mean. The 2007 HSC saw one of our students attain 7th place in the HSC examination.

Vocational Education Training Courses (VET)

In addition to these Board determined courses the Commercial Studies Faculty offers VET or Vocational Education Training courses in the areas of Retail and Business Services. These courses are designed to meet AQF Australian Qualifications Framework standards and provide the opportunity for dual accreditation with HSC and TAFE.

Retail

This is a competency based course with a practical component of a compulsory 70 hour work placement. There is also an optional external HSC examination in this subject. It is possible for students to gain credentialing for an 120 hour course by only completing Phase A of the course. For further information you may wish to consult the Board of Studies website.

Business Services
This is a competency based course with a practical component of a compulsory 35 hour work placement. There is also an optional external HSC examination in this subject.

The Business Services Curriculum Framework is designed to enable students to acquire a range of technical, practical, personal and organisational skills valued both within and beyond the workplace. They will also acquire underpinning knowledge and skills related to work, employment and further training within the business services industry. Through the study of this subject, students will gain experiences that can be applied to a range of contexts, including work, study and leisure and that will assist them to make informed career choices.

Business Services has similarly produced excellent HSC results in recent years:

9th in the State 2006
4th in the State 2008

Meet the Commercial Studies Teachers