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Current as of Tuesday, 27 September 2022.
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Guidelines for home schooling registration
9. Curriculum for secondary education – Years 7 to 10
Key learning areas
The minimum curriculum for secondary education for all NSW children is based on the NESA syllabuses for the following mandatory key learning areas each year:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) – one syllabus from this area
AND the parent’s selection of two syllabuses, each from a different key learning area from the following list:
- Creative Arts
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE
- Languages
- Technology.
The selection of the syllabuses from the 4 elective key learning areas above may be changed from year to year during the period of secondary education.
Each syllabus contains stage statements providing a summary of the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes for each stage of learning.
The programming tool in ‘Support information’ on NESA’s website may assist parents to document the educational program for secondary education.
Syllabuses for Years 7 to 10
Syllabuses for each key learning area
The following information provides the website address for each syllabus and an overview of the key organising strands or elements of the syllabus.
English
English in Kindergarten to Year 10
There is one syllabus for the English key learning area.
Key organisers of the English syllabus relate to the following 5 objectives:
- Communicate through speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing and representing
- Use language to shape and make meaning according to purpose, audience and context
- Think in ways that are imaginative, creative, interpretative and critical
- Express themselves and their relationships with others and their world
- Learn and reflect on their learning through their study of English.
Mathematics
Mathematics in Kindergarten to Year 10
There is one syllabus for the Mathematics key learning area. Syllabus strands relate to:
- Working mathematically which is embedded across all other strands and substrands and includes:
- communicating
- problem solving
- reasoning
- understanding
- fluency
- number and algebra
- measurement and geometry
- statistics and probability.
In Stage 5 Mathematics (Years 9 and 10), parents can choose from one or more of the three substages. Each substage varies in level of difficulty. Mathematics 5.1 has the lowest level of difficulty with Mathematics 5.2 having a higher level of difficulty and Mathematics 5.3 having the highest level of difficulty. Most children in Stage 5 study Mathematics 5.1 and some of Mathematics 5.2. Parents can adjust the content to meet the needs of the child.
Science
Science in Kindergarten to Year 10
There is one syllabus for the Science key learning area. Syllabus strands relate to:
- skills
- working scientifically
- practical experiences and student research
- knowledge and understanding
- physical world
- earth and space
- living world
- chemical world.
Human Society and its Environment (HSIE)
Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) in Kindergarten to Year 10
There are multiple syllabuses for the HSIE key learning area. At least one syllabus from the key learning area must be studied.
The HSIE syllabuses can be taught together, separately or integrated with other HSIE syllabuses. Most parents choose to include some History and some Geography.
History
Syllabus strands relate to:
- The Ancient World – depth studies: Investigating the Ancient Past, the Mediterranean World and the Asian World (Stage 4)
- The Ancient to the Modern World – depth studies: the Western and Islamic World, the Asia-Pacific World and Expanding Contacts (Stage 4)
- The Making of the Modern World (Stage 5) – Australians at War (World Wars I and II) and Making a Better World or Australia and Asia
- The Modern World and Australia – Rights and Freedoms (1945 to present) and the Globalising World or a parent developed topic (suggested topics contained in the syllabus) (Stage 5).
Geography
Geography K–10 Syllabus (2015)
Syllabus strands relate to:
- Landscapes and Landforms, Place and Liveability, Water in the World and Interconnections (Stage 4)
- Sustainable Biomes, Changing Places, Environmental Change and Management and Human Wellbeing (Stage 5).
Parents may also choose from the following syllabuses within the HSIE key learning area for Years 7-10:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Commerce
- Geography Elective
- History Elective
- Work Education.
Creative Arts
Creative Arts in Kindergarten to Year 10
Parents may choose from the following six syllabuses within the Creative Arts key learning area for Years 7-10:
- Dance*
- Drama*
- Music*
- Photographic and Digital Media
- Visual Arts
- Visual Design.
Parents may change the syllabus being studied each year during Years 7 to 10.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
PDHPE in Kindergarten to Year 10
Parents may choose from the following syllabuses in this key learning area for Years 7 to 10:
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Child Studies
- Physical Activity and Sports Studies.
Technology
Technological and Applied Studies in Kindergarten to Year 10
Parents may choose from the following syllabuses in this key learning area for Years 7 to 10:
- Agricultural Technology
- Design and Technology
- Food Technology
- Graphics Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Information and Software Technology*
- Marine and Aquaculture Technology
- Technology (Mandatory)*
(Note: Although the name of the syllabus has the word mandatory, it is not mandatory for home schooled children to study this syllabus) - Textiles Technology.
Parents may change the syllabus being studied each year during Years 7 to 10.
Languages
Languages in Kindergarten to Year 10
Parents may choose from the available syllabuses for K-10 Languages.
Parents may change the syllabus being studied each year during the Years 7 to 10.
Children with disability
Some children with disability may require adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment so that they can access the syllabus outcomes and/or content. If adjustments do not provide sufficient access for the child, a Life Skills course may be appropriate. Advice and programming support for children with disability can be found in each syllabus and on the NESA website.
Resources
Parents may choose resources that are helpful and relevant to the child’s learning needs and interests.
Guidance regarding time
In secondary education (Years 7 to 10), there is generally a greater focus on English and Mathematics with an equal spread of time for other subjects.
The syllabuses have been developed to provide 100 hours of study in a year. This is approximately two and a half hours per week over 40 weeks for each syllabus. These times are a guide only.