Senior School
Senior School
Our senior curriculum is designed to prepare students for their post school pathways, including university, CIT and the workforce. Students are offered a challenging and diverse subject choice in their senior years from a wide range of subjects endorsed by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS), as well as opportunities to undertake nationally accredited vocational courses.
Students are supported in their learning by highly skilled teachers of senior studies as well as a Director of Senior Studies and Coordinator of Data Analytics who track their learning trajectory and provide guidance, support and advice.
All subjects contribute to the award of a Senior Secondary Certificate and for those seeking an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), the College offers a broad range of subjects to support this pathway. Those students who elect not to pursue an ATAR may undertake a school-based apprenticeship. Vocational educational and Training courses are also offered by the College in a range of subjects.
Information for seniors
Senior Curriculum
ACT college system
The ACT operates a system of school-based curriculum and assessment within the policy and procedures of the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS).
Colleges in the ACT may choose to offer their own range of courses that have been accredited by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS). Consequently, there is no external final exam.
Senior assessment
Assessment is continuous throughout each semester, with tasks providing information on the performance of each student in the group. Unit grades and scores are the results of student achievement measured against the assessment criteria contained in each course framework.
To maximise the results for each study package, it is important that students attend all classes, submit all assessments and make a consistent effort over the four semesters in each of their courses.
ACT qualifications
The ACT senior secondary system recognises a range of university, vocational or life skills pathways. Students may be issued the following qualifications and statements:
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ACT Senior Secondary Certificate
The ACT Senior Secondary Certificate is issued by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies at the end of Year 12 showing results obtained in all units completed. Students have a choice of studying an accredited package or a tertiary package of courses
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Tertiary Entrance Statement
This statement allows students to apply for admission to tertiary institutions. It is a record of a student’s performance in all ‘T’ courses and their ‘scaled scores’, that is, course scores for each subject which are moderated by the AST performance of the group. The ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies issues it. The statement also gives students an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). This is calculated from a student’s best three ‘T’ Majors and the next best score in either a ‘T’ Major or Minor.
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ACT Statement of Achievement
This is issued to students who fail to complete the requirements for an ACT Senior Secondary Certificate and/or leave college before the end of Year 12.
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Vocational Education Certificates
Students who successfully complete vocational courses (‘V’ Courses), including participation in Work Placements (“on-the-job training”) may be granted a nationally recognised Certificate I or Certificate II under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
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Statement of Attainment
Students who successfully complete units of competency forming part of a vocational certificate, but fail to complete all the requirements for a Certificate I or Certificate II, will have the completed units of competence listed on a Statement of Attainment.
Certificate requirements
Requirements for the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate To attain an ACT Senior Secondary Certificate all students must have completed a minimum of 17 standard units in an approved program of study. This program should include a minimum of 4 courses from A, T, M, E, H or C from 3 different course areas including English.
Refer to the Senior Handbook for more information.
ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies
The ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (ACT BSSS) is a statutory authority responsible for the certification of senior secondary school studies in government and non-government schools in the Australian Capital Territory.
ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies