Curriculum Reform and home schooling
NESA is updating syllabuses through the Curriculum Reform process. Find out when you need to start using the new syllabuses.
When to implement the new syllabuses
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) will provide information to home schooling parents as we release new syllabuses, to let you know when you will need to implement them.
By viewing the Curriculum Reform timeline, you can find out:
- what new syllabuses are coming
- what year to implement new syllabuses.
When applying for initial or renewal of home schooling registration, your child's educational program must be based on the new syllabuses, where applicable. Educational programs need to meet the minimum curriculum requirements as outlined in the Guidelines.
NESA's guide to NSW Curriculum syllabus documents and support materials
NESA's guide to using syllabus documents and support materials can support home schooling parents access and use the NSW Curriculum website.
Primary
Implementation required 2024
All educational programs presented for assessment now need to be based on the following syllabuses
Mandatory
Optional (elective) syllabus
Syllabuses available for early implementation
Mandatory
- Creative Arts K-6
- Human Society and its Environment K-6
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6
- Science and Technology K-6.
Optional (elective) syllabus
Secondary (7-10)
Implementation required 2024
All educational programs presented for assessment now need to be based on the following syllabuses
Mandatory
Optional (elective) syllabus
- Aboriginal Languages K–10
- Classical Languages K–10
- Modern Languages K–10
- Computing Technology 7–10 (replacing Information and Software Technology).
Children who commenced studying an optional (elective) syllabus in Years 7 or 9 in 2023 may continue and complete the study of that syllabus.
Syllabuses available for early implementation
Senior Secondary (11-12)
Implementation required 2024
All educational programs presented for assessment now need to be based on the following syllabuses
- Computing Technology Life Skills 11–12 (replacing Information Processes and Technology Life Skills)
- Enterprise Computing 11–12 (replacing Information Processes and Technology)
- Geography 11–12
- Geography Life Skills 11–12
- Software Engineering 11–12 (replacing Software Design and Development)
Children who commenced studying an optional (elective) syllabus in 11 in 2023 may continue and complete the study of that syllabus.
Preparing for 2025
Two optional (elective) syllabuses are available for implementation in 2025 are:
- Health and Movement Science 11-12 (replacing PDHPE)
- Health and Movement Science Life Skills 11-12 (replacing PDHPE Life Skills)
Children who commenced studying PDHPE syllabus in Year 11 in 2024 may continue and complete the study of that syllabus.
If you are planning to include one of these optional (elective) courses in your child's educational program, you have extra time to transition to the new syllabuses. From 12th April 2025, however, your child’s educational program must be based on the new syllabus.
New syllabuses developed under NSW Curriculum Reform are available on NSW Curriculum.
Changes in the new syllabuses include:
- simple, concise language that identifies key knowledge and skills
- clear learning outcomes and related content with examples
- the removal of stage statements
- content that is easily accessed and navigated on a new NSW Curriculum website
- supports for students K–6 with significant intellectual disability.
Under the Education Act 1990, all children in NSW registered for home schooling must have an educational program based on and taught in accordance with the relevant NESA syllabuses. This includes the new syllabuses as required by the timeframes communicated to home schooling parents.
Registration requirements for the assessment of home schooling registration applications have not changed. If your educational program does not adequately demonstrate that it is based on relevant NESA syllabuses, you may:
- receive a shorter period of registration, or
- have your application refused.
Authorised Persons (APs) assess home schooling registration applications. They make a recommendation according to the NSW Education Act 1990. The assessment process is also described in the Guidelines.
NESA provides ongoing professional learning for APs on new syllabuses.
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