Secondary School Curriculum

Our mission:

To deliver a quality curriculum that reaches and exceeds educational standards and expectations, bringing together student wellbeing , academic, teaching and learning and curriculum. 

Overview: 

Welcome to the International Secondary School Curriculum page. This is the place where you can find information about the curriculum offered by our school, which is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for success in the global community. Our curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, which is recognized worldwide for its rigour and high standards. At our school, we strive to create a challenging and engaging learning environment that fosters the development of critical thinking, creativity, and a passion for lifelong learning. We believe that a well-rounded education is essential to prepare students for the diverse challenges they will face in the future, and our curriculum is designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in whatever path they choose.

Guided by the  AIS Vision, we strive to be a community of learners encompassing both children and adults. We believe in the capacity of each individual to engage in a meaningful, personally challenging learning Journey. We believe that a students’ ability to become a life-long learner is shaped by their capacity to both develop self-knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the communities in which they live. 

At AIS, we believe that learners construct knowledge, skills and understanding through integrating new experiences with their prior learning. We understand that learning is optimised when knowledge is organised around major concepts and that it is best promoted through the use of authentic, collaborative learning experiences. 

We believe that effective learning necessitates metacognition, with a focus on helping students to become skilful thinkers supporting the broader educational aim of developing them as resilient, self-directed and independent individuals. We do this through the process of promoting and applying Academic Wellbeing where our students are first happy, healthy, safe and engaged, then they can go on to be the best learners possible.

We understand that such capabilities are enriched when students are challenged to reflect upon ethical and moral viewpoints while being provided with opportunities to take socially responsible action. To that end we develop global citizens who seek to make a difference for good in our world. 

Senior Learning at AIS: Senior students at AIS have the option to matriculate under the Australian NSW Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Both globally-recognised curricula comprise the rigorous study of a range of subjects that allow students to pursue tertiary education options all over the world. Learning Coordinators at AIS are on hand for students, parents and guardians, with the assistance of a strong and knowledgeable careers team, to provide advice and guidance about senior pathways and subject selection.

2023 Year 11-12 Handbook

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)

Higher School Certificate (HSC)

The objective of our curriculum in Year 9 and 10 is to provide students with the opportunity to be flexible in their subject choices to allow them to choose appropriate academic pathways to help them prepare for their senior studies. These students have the option to choose subjects from both the Cambridge IGCSE and Australian Curriculums to study across Year 9 and 10. Students who are learning English as a Second Language who do not meet the requirements to enter our mainstream program, will be enrolled in the ESSPP program which also runs as a two-year program and is designed to allow these students to transition into either of our mainstream senior programs (IBDP or HSC).  Finally, students who join us in Year 10 will enter our Senior Preparation Program (SPP) which will help to prepare them for their Senior Studies in Year 11 and 12. Our Junior Learning Coordinator is on hand for students, parents and guardians, with the assistance of a strong and knowledgeable careers team, to provide advice and guidance about senior pathways and subject selection.

2023 Year 9-10 Handbook 

Senior Preparation Program Handbook

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)

Students in Year 6-8 will follow the Australian Curriculum. Students will undertake a diverse range of subjects which will focus on developing key 21st Century skills such as Critical Thinking, Communicating, Researching and Self-management through a conceptualised learning approach. Developing these skills will allow our students to successfully transition from Elementary into the Secondary school and provide them with an appropriate platform to embark upon their studies when they progress into the IGCSE and Australian Curriculum subject offerings  in Year 9 and 10.