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11-12 Pathways

At Korowal, our aim is for students to complete their schooling with a resilient, creative, compassionate approach to life
and a desire for future learning.

Stage 6: Pathways (Year 11 & 12) - a better way to study the HSC

In Year 11 & 12, students undertake the Higher School Certificate (HSC) program in a compressed curriculum model that we call Pathways. HSC subjects are usually taught over two years, involving 120 hours of instruction in each of the two years. At Korowal,we teach an HSC course compressed into a single year. This means that students experience 240 hours of instruction in a subject in a single year and only take three subjects at a time. For a full-time student, half of the HSC subjects are studied in Year 11 and exams in those subjects are undertaken at the end of Year 11. The other half is studied in Year 12. It is also possible to study part time over a longer period.

Advantages of the Pathways approach:

  • The HSC is completed in two manageable cycles, avoiding the stress of sitting for all exams at the end of Year 12.

  • This supports student wellbeing and allows a deeper focus on fewer subjects.

  • Assessment is more formative or continuous, as it is for university students

  • This model allows us to offer an wide variety of subjects

Because our course is compressed and accelerated, senior secondary students at Korowal must be enrolled by October each year. HSC classes begin during Term 4.

We offer the following subjects: 

  • English: Standard, Advanced, Extension 1, Extension 2

  • Mathematics: Standard, Advanced, Extension 1, Extension 2

  • Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology

  • HSIE: Business Studies, Society & Culture, Studies of Religion II, Modern History, History Extension

  • Visual Arts

  • Music

  • Drama

  • Design & Technology

  • Industrial Technology & Multimedia

Students also have Distance Education Courses available to them, such as Ancient History and Open High School Courses such as Languages, as well as VET via external providers.

The Pathways Senior College Environment

Senior students at Korowal have unlimited access to the library and Learning Resources Centre. They have their own common room. They refer to teachers by their first names and do not wear a uniform. Relationships between students and teachers are based on mutually respect. In all of these ways, Korowal provides an environment that is appropriate for senior students.

Each Pathways student has a mentor relationship with one member of staff, who oversees and helps with their study, as well as their social and emotional development.