Choosing Courses and Pathways for HSC Success at Henry Kendall High School

Multiple Pathways Choosing Courses for the HSC Year 11, 2025 / Year 12, 2026

Henry Kendall High School Our School and the HSC Henry Kendall High School has a long tradition of high academic achievement. It also has a reputation for ensuring that all students are successfully guided into meaningful pathways. A well-rounded education, high expectations, achievement and success for all. Learning partnerships, strong relationships and the whole individual. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Our School and the HSC Our recent HSC results reflect; Regularly attaining the highest % of band 6 results for comprehensive schools on the Central Coast and Hunter - five out of the last seven years. Significant university placements, including early entry. It s not just about academic pathways and university entry the HSC is important for all pathways and every student e.g. TAFE and workplace opportunities, employability skills. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Why Complete Senior Schooling? Students who do not complete Year 12 or an equivalent vocational qualification are more likely to experience: restricted work, unemployment and limited further educational opportunities over their lifetime. Technological developments, including AI, are transforming the way we live and work on a similar scale to the industrial revolution. Young people today will face a very different world when they finish school many of the jobs that their parents do may soon be automatable or AI-augmented. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School 5 Factors Defining Gen @ Digital - Digital change is constant and fast. Global - global connectedness on every level. Social - If social media sites were countries, Facebook would be the largest at 1.5 billion, followed by China at 1.4 billion, India at 1.3 billion and Instagram at 400 million. Mobile - Constantly on the go, moving from place to place they are moving homes, jobs, and careers faster than ever before. Visual - YouTube is a close 2nd global search engine, and more than 100 hours of content gets uploaded every minute. If you were to watch just the content that has been put up this week, it would take you 115 years. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Planning a pathway that is flexible, interchangeable and provides long term options is more vital now than ever. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School The Higher School Certificate The Higher School Certificate is an internationally recognised credential that provides a strong foundation for the future. Research shows that a student who has completed their HSC has an 80% increase in achieving a better future. A centre of excellence

Meeting the HSC eligibility requirements Satisfactorily complete Years 9 and 10 or gain other qualifications that satisfy NESA Attend a government school, an accredited non-government school, a NSW Education Standards Authority recognised school outside NSW, or a TAFE college Complete HSC: All My Own Work (or its equivalent) before you submit any work for Preliminary or HSC courses, unless you are only entered for Year 11 and Year 12 Life Skills courses Satisfactorily complete courses in the NESA approved patterns of study. Sit for and make a serious attempt at the required HSC exams Meet the HSC minimum standard of literacy and numeracy within five years of starting your HSC course.

Certain patterns of study and course requirements apply You must satisfactorily complete: a Preliminary pattern of study that includes at least 12 units an HSC pattern of study that includes at least 10 units. Both patterns of study must include at least: 6 units of Board Developed Courses 2 units of a Board Developed Course in English 3 courses of 2 or more units (either Board Developed or Board Endorsed Courses) 4 subjects.

Henry Kendall High School Types of HSC Courses Board Developed are the large number of courses that are set and examined by Education Standards that contribute to an ATAR Board Endorsed are developed by schools, TAFE, Universities. They count towards your HSC but do not have an HSC examination and do not contribute to your ATAR Vocational Education and Training (VET) School based or TAFE NSW. VET courses can contribute towards your HSC. Some Board Developed VET courses have an optional HSC so can contribute to your ATAR School Based Apprenticeships and Training (SBAT) - SBATs are available to all Year 10, 11 and 12 high school students in NSW. They allow students to commence an apprenticeship or complete a traineeship while at school. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Board Developed Courses Board developed courses cover the following areas of study: English Maths Science - - Technology Creative Arts PDHPE Human Society and its Environment - Languages - Vocational Education and Training (VET) Curriculum Frameworks - Please refer to Pathways Booklet for the full range of Board Developed Courses

Board Endorsed Courses Board Endorsed courses are generally developed by schools, TAFE or Universities. They contribute to the HSC, but don t count towards your ATAR: Marine Studies Photography Sport Lifestyle and Recreation

Henry Kendall High School Changes for students sitting the HSC From 2025, all courses with an HSC examination will be eligible for inclusion in the ATAR calculation. This will now include the following subjects Automotive, Business Services, Construction. Electrotechnology, English Studies, Entertainment Industry. Financial Services, Hospitality, Human Services, Information and Digital Technology. Mathematics Standard, Primary Industries, Retail Services, Tourism Travel and Events. This change will apply to Year 10 students choosing Stage 6 subjects in 2024, who will sit exams and attain an ATAR in 2026. Students can choose their subjects knowing that any course with an HSC exam can count towards their ATAR.

Henry Kendall High School VET Vocational Education and Training or VET offers a faster job-focused pathway to a career compared to a three-year bachelor degree. VET provides students with first-hand experience in the workplace through an apprenticeship or traineeship. VET qualifications can provide students with a choice of more than 500 careers. Students can pursue a VET qualification through a public provider, like TAFE NSW, or a private provider. Unlike going to university, students don t need an ATAR to do a VET course. There may be minimum qualifications, but they may relate more to other factors, such as knowledge, skills and other relevant qualities. Some VET courses can be studied at school as part of the HSC / others can be studied at TAFE while still at school completing the HSC. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School SBAT s School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) are more than just part-time jobs - they re a great way to set yourself up for the career you want whilst you are completing your HSC. SBATs are available to all Year 10, 11 and 12 high school students in NSW. They allow students to commence an apprenticeship or complete a traineeship while at school A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship combines paid work, training and school; and as well as an industry recognised national qualification you will gain credit towards the HSC. Some apprenticeships and traineeships can contribute towards the ATAR. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Multiple Stage 6 Pathways For those seeking University future HSC and ATAR Rigorous study expectations ATAR Flexibility in future pathway Possible HSC/ATAR = potential university options Possible ATQF Cert II as part of HSC (dual qualification) ATAR/Vocation al For those not considering University Looking at TAFE/Apprenticeships/Employment/Traineeships/SBA Ts HSC and/or ATQF Cert II and/or Certificate or Attainment Non- ATAR/Vocation al A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Stay until you are 17! Students must attend school until they turn 17 unless: they obtain full time employment minimum of 25hrs/week; enrol in TAFE or another approved training organisation for a full-time course; or a combination of both. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Making Subject Choices Subject choice should be tailored for the individual student; not their friends or possible teacher. Golden Rules for subject choice: To maximise an engagement and achievement students should choose the subjects and courses (levels) at which they can do well, have an interest in, or they have an aptitude for. Otherwise choose subjects based on interests and future career needs subjects you will enjoy. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Curriculum Breadth Students always drive the curriculum at HKHS, but we will make decisions to ensure that the three pathways are embedded in the curriculum structure. Our job is to ensure that we cater for the needs of our students and provide the courses they want, but as with all schools there are limitations. Do not make choices about course selection based on limited advice about the impact of certain courses on ATAR s if such advice is received, always seek clarification from the Principal, Deputy Principal s or Careers Advisor. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School What if you don t get all your Subjects? We form the Subject Lines differently each year according to the majority of student selections. Class size generally needs to be in excess of 12 to be considered, so not all classes will run. This is due to staffing constraints. However, there are occasions that we use additional resources to run some smaller classes to ensure curriculum breadth. Some students will NOT get all their first choices and will need to ensure they include a second and a third choice. All problems/issues will be looked at. A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School What is meant by subject lines? These were the Year 11 Subject Lines in 2024 (example only) Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5 Line 6 English Adv Hospitality Bus Studies SaC Biology French Beg English Adv Maths Ad Bus Studies SaC CaFS Inv Science English Sta Maths Ad Chemistry Anc History Geography IT Timber English Sta Maths Sta Mod History Hospitality Music Legal Stu English Sta Maths Sta Primary Ind Biology PDHPE PDHPE English Stu Maths Sta Visual Arts Eng Studies Physics Software SLR A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Choosing the correct pathway for you is serious business. The key is information, information, information. Talk through your ideas at home in the coming weeks. From 6pm on 20th June we will be running our second pathways evening where you can access the Teachers and Head Teachers of each subject to get more information and specific advice. I encourage you to be prepared for those conversations and make the most of them. The subject selection process follows this and is online. This will be followed by an interview process in Week 1 Term 3 A centre of excellence

Henry Kendall High School Finally! We will provide clear advice about pathways and subjects that will suit your abilities and interests please listen to that advice. We will also do everything we can to provide you with the subject mix you are looking for. Henry Kendall High School has a long successful record of providing quality education for all students, no matter what their interests and pathways. Thank You. A centre of excellence