Curriculum

At St Francis Xavier College our curriculum is our road map for the implementation of our mission for creating young people who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully navigate the joys and complexities of work, life and leisure in the 21st Century. We believe that success in education is about building curiosity, compassion, and mobilising the cognitive, social and emotional resources of our learners to take action now and in the future, and we offer a breadth and depth of curriculum through which this occurs.

At St Francis Xavier, we aim to provide excellence in teaching and learning through a challenging and inclusive curriculum. We encourage our students to embrace scholarship as a response to God’s gift of intellect. We teach our students to respond authentically to a culture of critical thought, creative thinking, reflection and independent work.

Our emphasis is on celebrating difference and diversity and see this as a core component of teaching and learning. We support a collaborative approach to learning and curriculum design, aligning and working closely with external partners and professionals to support the needs of all students.

The Design and Technologies Department aims to provide students with real-world experiences in a range of contexts from Engineering, Construction, Metal and Woodworking, to Food and Hospitality, Graphic Design and Textiles. Students are given authentic learning experiences with opportunities to develop relevant designs following the design process, as well as both technological capability and perspective for the future of our human society and environment. 

Our courses are designed to show students that Design and Technologies subjects are not only fun and engaging topics that allow them to practically apply their unique interests and skills, but as meaningful life pursuits with important applications in our community, both now and into the future.

Many career choices will require an in-depth knowledge of technology and employment opportunities within the industry are expanding rapidly.

This course focuses on computational thinking and the application of the design process to create and develop digital solutions using a variety of digital technologies.

Through the study of Digital Technology, students present, validate, and evaluate their solutions. In doing so, they develop and extend their understanding of designing and programming, including fundamental computer science principles such as algorithm selection and complexity, structuring data for processing and problem-solving.

Students may explore a single technology deeply or may consider many different technologies in pursuit of a solution.

As lifelong learners, students of English at St Francis Xavier College are learning skills and content that are vital in our modern world. Through literacy, language and literature students are learning how written and visual language is constructed, its purpose and an appreciation of language as a piece of art! To do this, students are encouraged to read and view widely, write often and voraciously analyse diverse and stimulating texts.

Our hope is that students at SFX gain a full understanding of how literary texts shape and are shaped by the society for which they are created.

Health and Physical Education at St Francis Xavier College aims to provide students with the essential knowledge, skills and capabilities to develop a passion for lifelong health and wellbeing. The modern student is faced with opportunities and challenges to their health and wellbeing in their physical, social, cognitive and digital lives. At SFX, the Health and Physical Education program is integral to equipping students with practical skills such as resilience-building, nutrition development, mental health toolkits, critically analysing the components of respectful relationships and the application of tactical awareness and skill development. 

The HPE faculty prides itself on extending opportunities to students to explore further pathways through our elective and senior subject offerings of Sport and Recreation, Physical Education Studies, Exercise Science, and Outdoor and Environmental Education. Through their education at SFX, students and staff endeavour to walk together through holistic practices to influence and create lifelong contributors to their own health and wellbeing.

Sport is an important part of the co-curricular life of the school. Teams are entered in all major zone competitions. St Francis Xavier students regularly participate in the following sports:

• Australian Rules
• Netball
• Basketball
• Softball
• Rugby League
• Hockey
• Rugby Union
• Indoor Soccer
• Cricket
• Swimming
• Soccer
• Athletics
• Volleyball
• Cross Country

The HPE faculty prides itself on extending opportunities to students to explore further pathways through our elective and senior subject offerings of Sport and Recreation, Physical Education Studies, Exercise Science, and Outdoor and Environmental Education. Through their education at SFX, students and staff endeavour to walk together through holistic practices to influence and create lifelong contributors to their own health and wellbeing.

Sport and Recreation (Year 9 only or Year 10 only)

This Sport and Recreation elective is a one-year course. Students have the opportunity to participate in the recreation-based course in either Year 9 or Year 10 (not both).  This subject provides students with the opportunity to participate in more Physical Education lessons throughout the year of study.  The Sport and Recreation course will give students the opportunity to participate in the following units:

• Safe Surfing
• First Aid and Community Sports
• Micro Teaching
• Urban Challenge

The Physical Education Department offers both accredited and tertiary courses within the Senior School. The courses offered in the Physical Education Department are designed to prepare students for University and other educational institutions as well as vocational opportunities.

Courses include:

• The Exercise Science (T)
• The Physical Education (A)
• Outdoor Education (A)
• The Sports Development (T/A)

For more information please see course handbooks.

In our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, individuals with a proficiency in languages are consistently leaders in their chosen fields. The bilingual advantage sets SFX students apart in post-school opportunities and tertiary entry requirements. Globally, employability is amplified with languages.

At SFX, our Language programs nurture a love of learning. SFX Language students gain increased confidence in their own language, or languages, and develop metalanguage and learning strategies that are transferable across subjects. Learning a language produces cognitive benefits including improved memory and decision-making, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and notably, greater concentration, creativity and flexibility. Language studies foster a deep appreciation and engagement with diverse perspectives through art, culture and media in its original form.

Our Language teachers are passionate about teaching students to challenge and transform how they interpret the world and their place in it. Through linguistic and intercultural exploration, students learn how to decentre and connect effectively and respectfully with diversity.

We currently offer two languages: Japanese and Spanish.

In the Mathematics department we strive to provide students with essential mathematical knowledge, skills, procedures and processes in number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability. We develop the numeracy capabilities that all students need in their personal, work and civic lives, and provide the fundamentals on which mathematical specialties and professional applications of mathematics are built. Today’s world is influenced by ever evolving digital systems, artificial intelligence and economics. This leads to the need for a capable Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. Mathematics is integral to quantifying, thinking critically and making sense of the world. It is central to building students’ pattern recognition, visualisation, spatial reasoning and logical thinking. At SFX, we pride ourselves on walking together as we build the mathematical capacity of our wonderful students, with emphasis on showing how Mathematics is of practical relevance to the students and on developing their problem-solving techniques.

Additional support

We also offer additional support to students who struggle with Mathematics or would like to extend their understanding at Maths tutorials. Maths tutorials are currently offered Tuesday and Thursday during recess in D7 and Monday afternoon at 3-4pm in the Resource Centre.

The Performing Arts Department aims to inspire and ignite the imaginations of students by providing them with an engaging curriculum, enriching co-curricular opportunities and a nurturing and inclusive environment. We believe that these opportunities facilitate the students’ ability to have the courage to truthfully express how they perceive the world from a creative and critical perspective.

Through the subjects of Drama, Dance, Music and Live Production, students develop their skills in creating, performing, producing, exploring and responding. Performance is an integral part of our curriculum and as such, College events are enriched by the talent and involvement of our Performing Arts students. The School Musical, the SFX Band, MADD Night, Battle of the Bands, Dance Festival, Music Concerts and Drama Evenings showcase the wonderful array of talents and skills developed by our students.

The well-equipped Performing Arts complex comprises a theatre with a comprehensive sound and lighting booth, and multipurpose spaces that give students the opportunity to perform in an authentic environment and become proficient in the use of technical equipment.

Music Tuition at SFX

Here at St Francis Xavier College, we have a number of experienced Music Tutors available during the school day for individual and small group lessons in:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• French Horn
• Trombone
• Violin
• Voice
• Piano
• Guitar
• Bass Guitar
• Drums
• Percussion
• Electronic music
• Music composition and production

Lessons provide students with the opportunity to develop and refine their vocal and/or instrumental skills through customised instruction. Music tuition is encouraged for all students participating in a Music Elective or those students wishing to be a part of our SFX bands.

Students have the opportunity to participate in the following extra curricular ensembles:

• Concert Band
• Junior Band
• String Ensemble
• Guitar Ensemble
• Percussion Ensemble
• Choir
• Dance Ensemble
• Drama Club

Contact Hannah Carey, Head of Performing Arts (Hannah.Carey@sfx.act.edu.au) for more information.

At St Francis Xavier College we are dedicated to offering students a vibrant and relevant Religious Studies curriculum, enabling opportunities for them to critically and creatively reflect and apply our religious beliefs, traditions and practices in a safe and supportive environment.

Religious Studies explores the existential questions of life. Why are we here? Is there a God? Why is there suffering? What is a good life? Does my life have purpose? What does it mean to be human? Is there a role for religion in the wider society? How can I make a difference in my world? How can sacred texts, art, psychology, philosophy, ethics, science, history and world religions contribute to our understanding of religious beliefs, traditions and humanity in general? Religious Studies attempts to address these questions in a variety of units.

Students also explore a variety of religious, philosophical and spiritual worldviews, which attempt to understand how other people practise their faith in multicultural Australia.

As human beings, created in the image and love of God, students are encouraged to remain open to the possibilities of an ever present God, who loves us unconditionally and calls us to love one another.

The St Francis Xavier College Science department vision is to inspire and engage students in the wonders of Science, while equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to become scientifically literate citizens. Science is not just a subject, but a way of thinking and understanding the world around us.

Our goal at SFX is to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in our students. We encourage them to ask questions, seek answers and make connections between scientific concepts and real-world phenomena. We aim to foster a love for Science that will stay with our students throughout their lives—whether they choose to pursue careers in Science or not. Ultimately, our hope is that students will emerge from our Science program as informed, engaged and responsible citizens who understand the importance of Science in a dynamic and evolving world.

The Humanities and Social Science (HASS) Department at SFX covers a broad range of disciplines including history, geography, business, legal studies, global studies as well as civics and citizenship. HASS aims to immerse students in a wide range of activities across these subjects in order to develop the skills required to become active global citizens as they prepare for life beyond SFX in an increasingly globalised world. We focus on developing students’ understanding of the social, political, and cultural dimensions of human society as well as developing and refining students’ critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

HASS provides students with a broad range of opportunities to develop vital skills such as research, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of information. Students are encouraged to investigate, inquire and critically examine a range of social and environmental issues, including globalisation, sustainability, democracy and cultural diversity. Through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, students are provided with the tools to analyse complex social and environmental issues, develop evidence-based arguments and take an active role in shaping the future of their society.

Learning Visual Arts at SFX enables students to nurture their creativity, critical thinking and develop tools to celebrate and challenge ideas through their artmaking. They broaden their repertoire of creative processes to articulate their thoughts and feelings and are guided to engage their own unique artistic voice.

At SFX students study visual arts for a semester in Years 7 or 8, then they can complete electives in Years 9 to 12. Students can undertake courses in Visual Arts, Media or Photography. In Visual Arts, students learn techniques in painting, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, media, and photography. Using these techniques, students are encouraged to create works that engage the audience using unexpected innovative imagery and practices to communicate their ideas. In Photography, students learn to use an SLR camera. They create, edit (using Photoshop or Lightroom) and exhibit photographs, as well as learn how to engage with entrepreneurial practices. In Media, students learn to frame and compose shots, edit captured footage, and work as teams to produce videos, informed by their study of film history and theory.

Our quality equipment across all sections of our department, enable rich and engaging learning experiences to ignite students’ passion for artmaking—for leisure or a career.