Secondary Curriculum

Senior students are educated where the overarching focus is on teaching students self-reliance and responsibility to help students achieve long-term success, well beyond their secondary education. Secondary students have subject choices aligned to the SACE pattern of subjects. The school is regarded for its academic achievements within the senior school over the years, with many exiting students moving onto an academic learning journey. VET and other learning pathway alternatives, remain a focus for the school. Quorn Area School has been recognized as the lead school of the State Government ‘Trade Schools for the Future’ and we are now in our 17th year of working with Industry to develop learning opportunities.

Summary overview

Detailed overview

Overview(V9.0)

The Australian Curriculum sets out the essential knowledge, understanding and skills students need to learn, and the quality of learning that is expected of the students as they progress through the first 11 years of schooling.

The Australian Curriculum is designed to prepare young people for the future world in which they will learn, and prepares them to respond to the challenges that will continue to shape their world. It sets out the priorities and aspirations we hold for all our young people. The curriculum represents what the Australian community values as the knowledge, understanding and skills that young people should attain.

The Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (December 2019) commits all Australian governments to achieving 2 goals: 

The Australian education system promotes excellence and equity. 

All young Australians become confident and creative individuals, successful lifelong learners, and active and informed members of the community. 

The delivery of a world-class curriculum in Australian schools is one of the actions to achieve these goals. 

The primary audience for the Australian Curriculum is teachers. It is written in plain and concise language using the vocabulary appropriate for professional practitioners of each learning area.

The F–10 Australian Curriculum is implemented in schools according to the timelines and approaches determined by their state and territory education and curriculum authorities.

History of the  Australian Curriculum

There are a range of materials available that explain the initial development and evolution of the Australian Curriculum. In 2009, the council of Commonwealth and state and territory education ministers approved The Shape of the Australian Curriculum document, which guided the development of the Australian Curriculum and has continued to be updated with each development.

The review of the Australian Curriculum undertaken in 2020–21 has led to the development of the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0.

The three dimensions of the Australian Curriculum

Overview of the Australian Secondary Curriculum(V8.4)

Fifteen senior secondary subjects across English, Mathematics, Science, History and Geography have been endorsed by the council of federal, state and territory education ministers as the agreed and common base for the development of state and territory senior secondary courses. English, Mathematics, Science and History subjects were endorsed in December 2012, and Geography was endorsed in July 2013.

The senior secondary Australian Curriculum for each subject specifies content and achievement standards. The content describes the knowledge, understanding and skills that are to be taught and learned. The achievement standards describe the quality of learning (the depth of understanding, extent of knowledge and sophistication of skill) expected of students who have studied the content for the subject.

State and territory curriculum, assessment and certification authorities are responsible for determining how the Australian Curriculum content and achievement standards are to be integrated into their courses. The state and territory authorities also determine assessment and certification specifications for their courses and any additional information, guidelines and rules to satisfy local requirements, including advice on entry and exit points and credit for completed study.

ACARA continues to work with states and territories to develop processes, options and timelines for further senior secondary Australian Curriculum subjects.

Click here to view the 7-10 Curriculum(V8.4)