hscstudy

Studying for The Higher School Certificate at St Marys Senior High
St Marys Senior High is dedicated entirely to preparing students for the NSW Higher School Certificate. It was the first Government senior high to be established in New South Wales. A senior high school is able to operate in ways that are different from a 7-12 high school or a TAFE College. The large number of students means that we can provide a much wider choice of subjects than most schools.

HSC Pathways allows a student to accumulate their 10 units of study over a maximum of five years. Students who may have talents in the sporting, performing or other areas, that require them to be able to access a more flexible study pattern, may find this a suitable option.

This brochure sets out some of the requirements which students must meet if they are to succeed in gaining the HSC. Please note that this is a brief overview only and more information will be provided on enrolment.

Higher School Certificate
The HSC is issued by the NSW Board of Studies to students who have satisfactorily completed a course of study at an accredited institution. The Board has opened up a range of pathways to the HSC from which students may select the path that best suits their needs.

At St Marys, students will have the opportunity to select from:
·         A two year, full time program of study leading to the HSC.
·         A two-year full-time program, including a number of TAFE-delivered subjects, leading to both HSC and
          Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accreditation
·         A part-time program enabling a student to accumulate the HSC over a longer period.

In individual cases, it may be possible to provide for programs which enable students to maintain part-time employment on a morning or afternoon basis.

Board of Studies Rules – A Brief Summary
To be eligible to enter for the HSC you must hold a NSW School Certificate or its equivalent. The principal may grant provisional eligibility in some cases.

In order to receive the HSC, you must:
·         Study an approved pattern of 12 units in Preliminary and 10 units in HSC courses.
·         Have a satisfactory record of participation and application in each of these courses.
·        Complete a sufficient number of Preliminary and HSC courses within five examination years.

”Preliminary courses” are those usually taken in Year 11 and do not have an external exam. “HSC courses” are usually taken in Year 12 and may end with an HSC exam

General Course Information
Courses are described in terms of “Units”. A unit refers to a period of class work totalling about two hours per week. Most courses are “Two Unit” i.e., about four hours per week.

There are two main types of course:
· “Board Developed courses” are taught to a syllabus set by the Board of Studies and involve an externally set and marked HSC examination, as well as a school assessment.
· “Board Endorsed courses” are assessed and examined at school level.

Most courses are taught on our own campus. However, we also offer our students the opportunity to study TAFE-delivered vocational courses at various TAFE sites on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

Some of these TAFE courses are Board Developed, but most are Board Endorsed. All TAFE courses offer some kind of dual accreditation – both by the Board of Studies and the AQF. We also offer, on campus, some vocational courses which have dual accreditation with industry.

Students may also access school delivered VET courses at schools within the Colyton Cluster VET network of schools

Course Pattern

To receive the HSC you must satisfactorily complete a Preliminary and an HSC course pattern including:
At least 6 units of Board Developed Courses including at least 2 units of a Board Developed Course in English.
At least 3 courses of 2 Unit value or more
At least 4 subjects
At least 12 Preliminary Units
At least 10 HSC Units.

University Requirements
Students looking to study at university should consider carefully their selections. Tertiary entrance requirements should no be the only criteria for subject selection.
To maximise their opportunity for success students need to be good at the subjects and also enjoy them. If you are interested in university study immediately after the HSC, then you must qualify for a University Admissions Index (UAI). To do this, at least 10 of your HSC units must be Board Developed, including at least two units of English. The UAI may include units accumulated by a student over a time span of 5 years.

Career Choices
Although it might seem a long way off now, there is life after the HSC and it will arrive sooner than you think. Our careers teacher and support staff are available
to help you plan the right kind of HSC for your future, whether it involves work, TAFE or University.

School and Department Requirements
We have a minimum of “school rules” as our students are committed to their task and fit easily into our routine. Those rules we do have are based on Board and Department requirements as well as concerns about the safe and happy operation of the school. They relate to matters such as:
·         Attendance and punctuality at classes and meetings
·         Completion of set work, tests and assessment tasks
·         The school dress code
·         Smoking, alcohol or other drugs

All students must complete a 25 hour program in personal development related courses and must be actively engaged in sport during Year 11. Students are required to complete the “HSC – All my own work” program to ensure they meet BOS requirements.

Can’t Decide?
This is OK and you are right to be concerned about making the best choices for your HSC years. Our staff will be happy to provide any further information you need. We are also concerned that you make the right decisions for your future.