Senior Studies: Years 11 and 12
The Shearwater High School offers a hybrid curriculum – a blend of Steiner educational philosophy and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) curriculum.
Senior School students are able to choose one of three alternate pathways: a Higher School Certificate (HSC) with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR); an HSC (non-ATAR); or a Shearwater Senior Studies Certificate (non-ATAR).
Since Shearwater began its senior studies program in 2001, students who have chosen the HSC have achieved excellent results across a range of subjects. Students who have completed a Shearwater Senior Studies Certificate have also had marked success, often using their projects as portfolios for gaining entry to tertiary institutions.
Integral to the senior program at Shearwater is the mandatory Philosophy course, developed and written specifically to meet the developmental needs of our senior students. A Stage 6, two-unit Board Endorsed Course, Philosophy encompasses holistic elements that satisfy our commitment to Steiner education, while simultaneously being part of the HSC credential. The course has been taught for the past 10 years, having been rewritten in 2008, 2013 and 2016, and has been received by the students with enthusiasm and interest.
Creativity is the basis of a successful holistic education program and the Shearwater senior learning program has been designed to allow the greatest possible opportunity for meaningful self-expression and creativity.
Shearwater’s Wearable Arts Vision in Education (WAVE) performance event has provided the practical focus for many of the courses we offer our Senior students, including Visual Art, Visual Design, Drama, Music, Industrial Technology, Photography, Digital Imaging and Video, as well as the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Entertainment Industry course.
The sciences exist in balance with the arts and provide an opportunity for the students to develop thinking skills. Shearwater offers a broad range of Mathematics and Science subjects, including all senior Mathematics courses, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Business Studies, Personal Development Health & Physical Education (PDHPE), and Marine Studies.
Humanities subjects develop the students’ understanding of themselves and others, their society and culture. English is a mandatory subject, the Standard course being the required minimum in Years 11 and 12. We also offer Advanced English as well as Extension I and Extension II, the latter two courses giving students the opportunity for creative literary expression. Modern History, Business Studies and Society and Culture further students’ opportunities for the acquisition of both conceptual and factual knowledge, critical thinking skills and literary expression.
At Shearwater, the Class Guardians guide the same Class group from Year 8 to Year 12. The role of the Class Guardian is both pastoral and educational. Young adults need the guidance of worldly, experienced teachers who can answer their concerns with clarity and assurance. Guardians may only teach the class for part of the year. However it is the Guardians’ role to schedule the Class learning program; attend to the students’ individual learning needs and support them with personal difficulties as they arise; organise excursions, camps and field trips; co-ordinate parent liaison; monitor individual students’ progress and coordinate the bi-annual reporting of student progress.
The Class Teacher/Class Guardian structure develops and supports the relationship between teachers and students, that is a hallmark of Steiner education.
Shearwater’s senior studies program seeks to cultivate inner mobility, subtlety and lightness in our students, preparing them to meet the changing demands of a rapidly evolving work place, requiring a flexible, adaptable, multi-skilled and creatively focused workforce.
Senior School students are able to choose one of three alternate pathways: a Higher School Certificate (HSC) with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR); an HSC (non-ATAR); or a Shearwater Senior Studies Certificate (non-ATAR).
Since Shearwater began its senior studies program in 2001, students who have chosen the HSC have achieved excellent results across a range of subjects. Students who have completed a Shearwater Senior Studies Certificate have also had marked success, often using their projects as portfolios for gaining entry to tertiary institutions.
Integral to the senior program at Shearwater is the mandatory Philosophy course, developed and written specifically to meet the developmental needs of our senior students. A Stage 6, two-unit Board Endorsed Course, Philosophy encompasses holistic elements that satisfy our commitment to Steiner education, while simultaneously being part of the HSC credential. The course has been taught for the past 10 years, having been rewritten in 2008, 2013 and 2016, and has been received by the students with enthusiasm and interest.
Creativity is the basis of a successful holistic education program and the Shearwater senior learning program has been designed to allow the greatest possible opportunity for meaningful self-expression and creativity.
Shearwater’s Wearable Arts Vision in Education (WAVE) performance event has provided the practical focus for many of the courses we offer our Senior students, including Visual Art, Visual Design, Drama, Music, Industrial Technology, Photography, Digital Imaging and Video, as well as the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Entertainment Industry course.
The sciences exist in balance with the arts and provide an opportunity for the students to develop thinking skills. Shearwater offers a broad range of Mathematics and Science subjects, including all senior Mathematics courses, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Business Studies, Personal Development Health & Physical Education (PDHPE), and Marine Studies.
Humanities subjects develop the students’ understanding of themselves and others, their society and culture. English is a mandatory subject, the Standard course being the required minimum in Years 11 and 12. We also offer Advanced English as well as Extension I and Extension II, the latter two courses giving students the opportunity for creative literary expression. Modern History, Business Studies and Society and Culture further students’ opportunities for the acquisition of both conceptual and factual knowledge, critical thinking skills and literary expression.
At Shearwater, the Class Guardians guide the same Class group from Year 8 to Year 12. The role of the Class Guardian is both pastoral and educational. Young adults need the guidance of worldly, experienced teachers who can answer their concerns with clarity and assurance. Guardians may only teach the class for part of the year. However it is the Guardians’ role to schedule the Class learning program; attend to the students’ individual learning needs and support them with personal difficulties as they arise; organise excursions, camps and field trips; co-ordinate parent liaison; monitor individual students’ progress and coordinate the bi-annual reporting of student progress.
The Class Teacher/Class Guardian structure develops and supports the relationship between teachers and students, that is a hallmark of Steiner education.
Shearwater’s senior studies program seeks to cultivate inner mobility, subtlety and lightness in our students, preparing them to meet the changing demands of a rapidly evolving work place, requiring a flexible, adaptable, multi-skilled and creatively focused workforce.