Year 7, 8 & 9 2019 transitioning to Year 8, 9 & 10 in 2020

For the current Year 7, 8 and 9 students, the Science Learning Area in 2020 will be offering:

• Three classes of Year 10 ATAR Science and three classes of 10 VET Science.
• Five classes of Year 9 ATAR Science and two classes of 9 VET Science.
• A common Year 8 Science course
• All classes will offer Science topics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science.

Students that have demonstrated a reliable consistency of highly satisfactory performance in Year 9 ATAR Science and Year 8 Science will be placed in ATAR classes. Placement in ATAR classes can be competitive. Students who have demonstrated low, yet satisfactory, performance, in Year 8 Common or 9 ATAR classes (or unsatisfactory performance) will be placed in VET Science. Those students currently in Year 9 VET Science will be placed in Year 10 VET Science unless demonstrating an exceptional standard of achievement.

In addition, Science is cross timetabled with Mathematics, and this may restrict the availability of classes to select from for placement. However, every effort is made to ensure a fair and appropriate placement.

Year 9 &10 ATAR Science presents the full range of the curriculum offering grades of A to E. Students completing highly satisfactory achievement in Year 10 ATAR Science are recommended for ATAR subjects in Year 11.

Year 9 & 10 VET Science offers a modified curriculum with more difficult concepts removed, thus only grades of C to E are offered. All students are invited to the General course of Integrated Science in Year 11.

Year 8 Science is a common curriculum which presents the full range of the curriculum offering grades of A to E. This allows students to freely demonstrate their understanding having had a year of transitioning to secondary education in Year 7.

If you or your children are concerned about their placement in Science for 2020 feel free to discuss this with their Science teacher.

Brett Crosbie
Head of Science