1. THE HSC AND SUBJECT SELECTIONS Information for Year 10 students and parents

2. Parent Information Evening Agenda  Welcome Margaret Hutchinson / Rod Rowe  The structure of Stage 6 Sharon Westman  HSC and Links ProgramRod Rowe  VET coursesCheryl Harland  School-Based TraineeshipsSharon Westman / Dave Hamilton  HSC options at TaFETony Dickenson  Subject selection process / dates / classes/ lines and web choices Rod Rowe

3. Purpose / aim of tonight  To provide you with the necessary information to assist your students /children attain their goals in Year 11/12 and beyond.  To begin the journey that the HSC will entail.  To provide you with some insights/information that will help you ask the right questions to promote discussion.  To provide you with information about how the subject selection process and lines work.  To present some important dates and resources for further investigation.

4. Stage 6  Year 11 = Preliminary  Year 12 = HSC  Year 11 + Year 12 = Stage 6

5. Stage 6 Team  Deputy Principal – Stage 6 (Ms Westman)  Year Advisors (Mr Moss – Year 11 and Mr Fowler – Year 12)  Head Teacher Administration (Mr Rowe)  Transition Advisor (Mrs Hamilton)  Careers Advisor (Mr Dickenson)  Staff – Head Teachers and classroom teachers

6. What’s on offer in Stage 6?  Teacher mentors  Senior Study (and study skills program)  Flexible Timetable (Year 12 only)  TaFE  Traineeships  No sport on Wednesday afternoons  All My Own Work and Crossroads  Future Moves Parent Support Program  Student Millennium  Driving … Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

7. Subject Selections  You should use the following strategies when making your choice of subjects:  1. Select subjects which are necessary (i.e.: pre-requisite, assumed knowledge, recommended) for your chosen career / tertiary course, provided: a) you are reasonably sure about what you wish to do; b) you have the ability to obtain a satisfactory result in this subject.  2. Select subjects in which you are interested. If you are interested in a given subject there is some probability that you will be interested in a career / tertiary course related to this subject, even if you don’t know it yet. Students should not select courses based on their friends' choices.

8.  3. Select subjects in which you are proficient. There is no point doing a subject in which you lack the necessary pre-requisite ability. If you can't cope at school you are unlikely to be able to cope with a similar course at a tertiary level. It may be wise for you to re-think your career goals.  4. If possible, always try to select subjects which will keep your options open, particularly if you are unsure about your future career/course direction. Draw up your plan for your pattern of studies for both the Preliminary and HSC years to ensure that you'll be eligible for a HSC. When making decisions about subjects it is best to think of a 'bundle' of courses that you can then select from.

9. The process 1. Students are provided with information and teacher / parent assistance 2. Parent information evenings and Faculty night 3. Individual interviews with Careers Team 4. Options class – practice different choices 5. Make selections online – web choices 6. Student lines generated 7. Negotiations with students about subjects and patterns of study 8. Finalised patterns of study for Year 11 – 2015 by end of Term 3

10. What you can do to help your students in their senior years?  1. Read with them the subject selection booklets provided and discuss their future options  2. Look at different options-if unsure keep your options open  3. Assist with web choice selections / meeting dates  4. On-going discussion - your children / teachers / Career Advisor…

11.  5. Take advantage of faculty night presentations and parent interviews  6. Keep your students organised and stick to the dates involved in the process  7. ENSURE STUDENTS PUT SUBJECTS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE FOR WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO STUDY IN YEAR 11  8. Keep dialogue open between your student and the school

12. NSW HSC  The highest educational award gained in NSW schools  The HSC: an internationally recognised credential standards-based - students receive HSC marks that indicate the standard they have achieved

13. Board Developed Courses (BDC) and Board Endorsed Courses (BEC) BDCsBECs HSC examno HSC exam counts towards HSCschool-based assessment used may count towards the ATAR*counts towards HSC includes some VET** coursescannot contribute to the ATAR includes Life Skills coursesincludes some VET courses * Australian Tertiary Admission Rank ** Vocational Education and Training

14. Course structure  All courses have a unit value  Most courses are 2 Units  2 Units= 4 hours of instruction per week =120 hours per year = 100 marks  1 Unit = 60 hours per year = 50 marks  All 2 Unit courses have equal status

15. Requirements  Preliminary Course minimum of 12 Units including 2 Units of English (mandatory) students must satisfactorily complete the Preliminary course before commencing the corresponding HSC course  HSC Course minimum of 10 Units including 2 Units of English (mandatory)

16. Both the Preliminary and HSC Courses must include:  At least 6 Units of Board Developed Courses, including at least 2 Units of English  At least 3 courses of 2 Units value or greater  At least 4 subjects (including English)  At most, 6 Units of courses in Science can count towards HSC eligibility

17. English  English Advanced Preliminary Extension 1 HSC Extension 1 HSC Extension 2  English Standard  English Studies (Content Endorsed Course – no HSC exam – non ATAR)  Fundamentals of English

18. Mathematics  Mathematics Preliminary Mathematics - Extension 1 HSC Mathematics - Extension 1 HSC Mathematics - Extension 2  Mathematics General Preliminary Mathematics General HSC Mathematics General 2 (Board Developed Course – HSC exam) HSC Mathematics General 1 (Content Endorsed Course – no HSC exam – non ATAR)

19. Languages  Different courses: Beginners Continuers (not offered in 2015)  Eligibility criteria apply to all courses

20. Extension courses PreliminaryHSC English 1English 1 and 2 Mathematics 1Mathematics 1 and 2 History Music Some Languages Some Vocational Education & Training (VET) courses

21. Life Skills  Designed for a small percentage of students with special education needs  Curriculum options are determined through collaborative curriculum planning process  Board Developed status  Count towards HSC  Cannot contribute to ATAR

22. VET  VET courses - a workplace credential while at school  Qualifications are recognised Australia-wide (AQF – Australian Qualifications Framework) Vocation Context Requirements from the Training Package Competency-based assessment HSC Context Requirements from the Board of Studies Optional HSC Examination (for 240-hour courses) Assessment requirements Industry Curriculum Frameworks

23. VET Industry Curriculum Frameworks Board Developed Courses Automotive Human Services Business Services Information and Digital Technology Construction Metal and Engineering Electro-technology Primary Industries Entertainment Industry Retail Services Financial Services Tourism and Events Hospitality Students must complete 35 hours of mandatory work placement per 120 hours of course work.

24. Satisfactory completion Students must: follow the course developed or endorsed by the Board apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort achieve some or all of the course outcomes complete work placement for VET Board Developed Courses make a genuine attempt at assessment tasks that total more than 50% of the available school assessment marks for HSC courses only

25. Reporting – HSC

26. The Record of Achievement All years listed, with the most recent year first All HSC courses listed with Assessment Mark, Examination Mark, HSC Mark and Performance Band All Preliminary courses listed

27. How is the HSC determined? Internal assessment 50% External HSC exam 50% HSC mark 100%

28. School based assessment  Why is it important? Contributes 50% of HSC mark (and ATAR if student is eligible) Is a course completion requirement Is used to calculate an HSC mark in the case of a successful Illness/Misadventure appeal

29. HSC examinations  Contribute 50% of HSC mark  VET exams are optional  Some courses have practical examinations and/or submitted works or projects in addition to the written HSC examination  Written examinations are held in October- November each year

30. VET Credentials

31. VET Assessment  Assessment is competency based  Assessment of relevant tasks counts towards AQF VET qualification component

32. What is the difference between the HSC and the ATAR?

33. HSCATAR is for all students is for students wishing to gain a place at a university reports student achievement in terms of a standard achieved in individual courses is a rank NOT a mark presents a profile of student achievement across a broad range of subjects provides information about how students perform overall in relation to other students provides the discrimination required by universities for the selection process

34. ATAR eligibility Satisfactory completion of: at least 10 units of Board Developed Courses including 2 units of English at least 4 Board Developed Courses at least 8 units of Category A courses no more than 2 units of Category B courses

35. Calculating the ATAR Board of Studies NSW Raw Moderated Exam + Assessment Marks Universities Admissions Centre Scaled 2 units of English + next best 8 units ATAR The scaled mark for each course is based on the quality of the candidates in that course in that year

36. Consider the following  Abilities  Interests/Motivation  Career aspirations and needs

37. Practical considerations  Syllabus requirements  Practical/Major work components  Subject combinations

38.  What do I want for my future?  What ‘pathway’ best suits me?  Ask for advice from: teachers parents year adviser careers adviser students in Years 11 and 12 publications + website

39. LINKS Program  Four programs for students to consider: Tertiary Link Job Link Career Link Fast Link

40. Tertiary LINK Preliminary = 12 or 13 units 10 Board Developed Courses Extension courses, max 1 VET or TaFE course HSC = 10 units - optional English: Advanced or Standard Mathematics or General 2 (optional) Support = Mentor & Study Skills

41. Job LINK Preliminary = 12 units HSC = 12 units English: Standard or Studies 2U Work Studies – ongoing job support, work experience Focus on SVET, TVET, 2U CEC’s

42. Career LINK Preliminary = 12 units HSC = 10 or 12 units English: Standard or Studies School Based Traineeship (SBaT) Industry Based Learning 2U - supports work placement SVET, TVET, CECs, & BDCs

43. Fast LINK Preliminary = 12 units English Studies 2U Work Studies Focus on 4U in one year of VET (via F2F, DE, TaFE) Various support programs Exit end of Year 11 with Preliminary Certificate and Certificate II AQF qualification

44. LINKS program  You need to consider what you are planning to achieve by continuing on to senior studies.  You need to be able to answer all 11 questions when making decisions about the subjects you wish to study in Year 11 and into Year 12.  By answering YES or NO to these questions you will be able to select which LINK program you are in.  The LINK Program will tell you the type of subjects you should be selecting.

45.  Do I know what type of job/career that I intend to pursue?  Do I intend to go to university?  Do I really need an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank)?  Do I intend to continue onto a TaFE course?  Do I only need the skills for job hunting?  Do I wish to pursue work placement during the senior years?  Do I intend to undertake a School-Based Traineeship while at school?  Do I intend to leave school when I turn 17?  Do I have the skills necessary to enrol in TaFE electives?  Do I have the skills to be an independent learner to study via Distance Education?  Do I really want to be at school?

46. DatePhasePersonnelTimeLocation Term 3 Week 1 Thursday 17 th July Follow up lessons about choices /Stage 6 Parent Information Evening - BOS R.Rowe T.Dickenson M. Hutchinson S. Westman T. Dickenson C Harland R.Rowe Option classes 6.00-7.00 pm Classrooms Staff Common Room Term 3 Week 2 Thursday 24 th July Term 3 Week 2 Faculty Information Evening and Displays Follow up lessons about choices / Stage 6 (web choices) Head Teachers Staff University Representative VET Representative R.Rowe T.Dickenson 6.00-8.00 pm Options classes MPC Classrooms

47. DatePhasePersonnelTimeLocation Term 3 Week 3 Student Interviews (Tuesday 29 th - Wednesday 30 th ) **Bring in subject selection sheets Parent Interviews Career Team Year Advisor Nominated Staff & Executive Career Team Year Advisor Nominated Staff & Executive Students booked into time slots Parents –as arranged/booked Staff Common Room Meeting rooms Term 3 Week 4**WEB CHOICES – one week to submit choices online** R. Rowe Teachers ** Friday WEB CHOICES locked ** Computer rooms Home TERM 3 Week 5 – END OF TERM Line choices established Negotiations with students TaFE nominations Completed choices R. Rowe T. Dickenson Final Tuesday Assembly or arranged time MPC