Teaching & Learning

Our Curriculum 

The College curriculum uses visible learning strategies and evidence-based practices to meet NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements. Our teachers are lifelong learners and we are committed to a culture that mentors and supports them to be the best teachers and carers they can be. 

Teaching & Learning Framework

Our Teaching & Learning Framework is based on three core principles: visible learning, lifelong learning and dynamic learning. Our goal is student agency and collective teacher efficacy. 

Collective teacher efficacy is the collective belief of all staff in their ability to positively affect students. A school staff that believes it can collectively accomplish great things is vital for the health of a school and improving student learning outcomes.

Student agency means the student is actively involved in the learning process. They take ownership of their learning through meaningful and relevant activities that reflect their interests. Students are empowered to self-regulate, self-initiate and self-reflect with appropriate guidance from all their teachers.

We commit to this success structure by encouraging our students to set goals, develop a growth mindset, build resilience and pursue curiosity. To deliver on this promise, we offer students a wealth of opportunities in their studies – from individual and collaborative learning, and critical and creative thinking, to cross-curricular approaches.

We set clear learning intentions and success criteria for formative assessment, and provide detailed and constructive feedback while allowing students time for self-reflection.

Teaching & Learning Framework

Subject Courses Offered in 2024/2025

	Year 7-10 Mandatory Subjects
	Year 9-10 Elective Subjects Offered (students select two)
	Year 11-12 Subjects Offered

	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Ancient History
Applied Philosophy
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Commerce
Construction (VET) **
Design and Technology
Drama
Economics
Engineering Studies
English
English Standard
English Advanced
Extension English 1 Unit
Extension English 2 Unit
English Studies
Entertainment Industry (VET) **
Food Technology
Geography
History
History Elective
History Extension
Hospitality (VET) **
Industrial Technology – Timber
Industrial Technology Multimedia and Timber
Computing Technology
Investigating Science
Legal Studies
Literacy
Marine Studies
Mathematics
Mathematics Standard
HSC Mathematics Standard 1
HSC Mathematics Standard 2
Mathematics Advanced and Year 10 Accelerated
Mathematics Advanced and Year 11 Accelerated
Mathematics Extension 1
Mathematics Extension 2
Modern History
Music
Music 1
Music 2
Music Extension
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
(PDHPE) Health & Movement Science
Photographic and Digital Media
Physical Activity and Sports Studies
Physics
Religious Studies
Science Accelerated
Science
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Software Engineering
Software Technology
Society and Culture
Spanish
Spanish Beginners
Spanish Continuers
Spelling
Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies
Studies of Religion I
Studies of Religion II
Technology
Visual Arts
Visual Design
Work Education (by invitation)

Year 12

Year 12 students at Waverley College construct their pattern of study using the following guidelines:

• Students must select a minimum of ten (10) units of study.
• A course in Religion is compulsory for students at Waverley College.
• A minimum of two (2) units must be in English.
• Content Endorsed Courses (CEC) do not count towards an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
• The ATAR will be calculated using no more than two (2) units of Category B NESA Developed Courses.

Year 11

Year 11 students at Waverley College construct their pattern of study using the following guidelines:

• Students must select at least twelve (12) units of study.
• A course in Religion is compulsory for students at Waverley College.
• A minimum of two (2) units must be in English.
• A maximum of two (2) 1U subjects can be selected.
• A maximum of six (6) 2 unit subjects can be studied.
• Content Endorsed Courses (CEC) do not count towards an ATAR.
• The ATAR will be calculated using no more than two (2) units of Category B NESA Developed Courses.

Overview of Subjects Offered in Stage 6

For an overview of the subjects offered in Stage 6 (subject to timetabling), please click here.

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) – preliminary course information page

Year 10

Year 10 students at Waverley College complete a series of Mandatory Courses and choose two (2) Elective Courses to meet NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements.

*Students at Waverley College are required to complete Religious Studies.

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Syllabuses Page

Year 9

Year 9 students at Waverley College complete a number of Mandatory Courses and choose two (2) Elective Courses to meet NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Requirements.

The subjects to be taken in Year 9 and continued through until the end of Year 10.

*Students at Waverley College are required to complete Religious Studies.

The subject selection booklet for Year 9 will be distributed during Term 2. 

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Year 9 to 10 Syllabuses Page

Overview of Subjects Offered in Stage 5

For an overview of the subjects offered in Stage 5 (subject to timetabling), please click here.

Year 8

Year 8 students at Waverley College complete all Mandatory Courses to meet NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements.

Year 7

Year 7 students at Waverley College complete all Mandatory Courses to meet NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements:

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Year 7 to 8 Syllabus pages

Years 5 and 6

We prepare your son for a seamless transition to Year 7. He will primarily be taught by his base teacher at the Junior School, but his learning experiences will engage him in a varied curriculum that includes subjects taught by specialist teachers in STEM, Innovation & Literacy, PDHPE, Performing Arts, Art, Science and TAS.

Our ‘one school’ approach means that your son will follow the same Teaching & Learning Framework and Wellbeing Framework from Years 5 to 12.

Junior students benefit from access to Senior School facilities, including the swimming pool and Performing Arts Centre (PAC).

Enhanced Learning Educational Services (ELES) Online Study Skills Handbook

Waverley College has subscribed to the ELES Online Study Skills Handbook.

The ELES Online Study Skills Handbook provides a comprehensive and interactive online guide for the school community (students, parent and teachers) as to the study skills needed for success in high-school studies. This approach taps into students’ affinity with technology to create a new and effective way to improve students’ study skills.

This is a great online resource for parents and students to address all their study skills issues and concerns and enable students to learn new ways to improve their results at school. The handbook has a huge amount of information for both students and parents as well as a large number of interactive activities.

You can access the log-in page for the ELES Study Skills Handbook here

For username and password details, please email lozdirik@waverley.nsw.edu.au