At Connections High School, our curriculum is designed to provide depth and breadth of learning experiences for our students while meeting the standards of the Australian Curriculum. We prioritise personalised learning, collaboration, and student well-being, creating a supportive and flexible environment where every student can thrive. Our timetable is structured to support these priorities.
Core Subjects
Our core curriculum classes—English, Maths, HASS, and Science—are taught in year-level groups to ensure clear alignment with the Australian Curriculum.
- Years 7 and 8: Students are taught core subjects in pairs—English and HASS, and Maths and Science—by the same teacher. This approach reduces the number of teachers for each student, easing the transition from primary school to secondary school. It also allows skills to integrate across subjects, such as applying Maths graphing skills to Science experiments.
- Years 9 and 10: Students benefit from subject-specific teachers who bring specialist knowledge to enhance learning depth and engagement.
Non-Core Subjects
Non-core subjects, including Arts, Technologies, Physical Education/Health, and Auslan, are structured in two-year groupings (Years 7/8 and Years 9/10), with two classes for each subject.
- Mixed-Year Classes: These foster collaboration and provide opportunities for students to engage with peers across year levels.
- Co-Designed Courses: Teachers and students collaborate to design the content and structure of non-core classes, enhancing student engagement and ownership of learning.
- Beyond the Classroom: Programs include regular incursions and excursions, making use of community facilities and ensuring learning is practical and relevant.
- Flexibility and Choice: Students can select from a variety of options that align with their interests, passions, and future aspirations.
Daily Connect and Well-Being
Every student participates in a Daily Connect class, which includes students from Years 7 to 10. These sessions occur:
- At the start and end of each day, fostering relationships, providing well-being support, and strengthening connections with a trusted teacher.
- Friday afternoons: Extended sessions focus on collaborative activities and team building within the Daily Connect group.
- Planning and Review: At the beginning and end of each week, students engage in structured planning and review sessions. These sessions focus on developing executive function skills, such as organisation, prioritisation, and time management. Research shows that regular planning and reflection can reduce stress, improve well-being, and enhance learning outcomes.
Creative and Flexible Learning
- Creative Pursuits: Students dedicate 20 minutes daily to self-directed creative projects, supported by non-core teaching staff.
- Research indicates that daily creativity has been linked with improved cognition and mental health.
- Flexible Learning Time (Wednesdays): An opportunity for students to take stock of where they are at and what they need. Options for this time include review and consolidation of learning, completing tasks, working with teachers or assistant teachers, collaborating with peers, physical activity, or individual downtime. This time can also be used for appointments or excursions, minimising disruptions to regular lessons.
Timetable Highlights
- Three Sessions Daily:
- Session 1: Short, focused lessons for core subjects.
- Session 2: Short, focused lessons for core subjects.
- Session 3: Longer, engaging sessions for non-core subjects, with optional break.
- Regular Breaks: 10 minute break in the middle of sessions 1 and 2 with change of subject following.
- Alternative Wednesday Program: Provides midweek flexible options to recharge, review or pursue interests in-depth, ensuring beginning and end of week productivity.
- Friday Afternoons: Collaborative activities planned by students and teachers encourage connection and creativity.
Designed by Students, Backed by Research
Our curriculum and timetable were shaped by input from over 40 high school and college students, combined with current research on best practices in education. This collaborative process ensures our program is effective, flexible, and student-centred.
Preparing for the Future
At Connections High School, we support students to thrive and prepare them for whatever comes next, be that further study, traineeship or apprenticeship, or work. Our carefully selected and codesigned curriculum offerings, alongside our wellbeing practices, keep students engaged in school and feeling positive about their future opportunities.