Senior School Graduation Requirements & Good Standing Policy Overview

1. Lesmurdie Senior High School Senior School Parent Information Evening -2009-

2. Overview • Graduation Requirements • Good Standing Policy • Assessment and the School Assessment Policy • Supporting students in Senior School

3. Graduation Requirements • Achievement of a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is controlled by the Curriculum Council who: • Set graduation standards; • Determine the final graduation status of all students in Western Australia; and • Award the WACE to each eligible student.

4. Graduation Requirements • Due to the phased introduction of the WACE, the requirements change slightly from year to year. • Current Year 12 students must meet the 2009 WACE requirements. • Current Year 11 students must meet the 2010-2015 requirements.

5. Current Year 12 Students • Complete at least 10 full-year subjects. • Single course units count as a half subject. • Students at LSHS mostly study pairs of units which equate to a full year subject. • Achieve an average of at least C in eight full-year subjects/courses. • 24 points. • At least four C grades in Year 12.

6. Current Year 12 Students • Achieve English Language Competence • Complete at least four units of English across two years. • Meet the standard for English Language Competence (Work Samples – Level 4) • English Language Competence Test (if required).

7. Current Year 12 Students • Complete 20 hours of Community Service. • Sit the WACE examinations in each course when enrolled in a pair of Stage 2 or 3 units unless exempt. (VET students)

8. Current Year 11 Students • Complete at least 20 course units (at least three two-unit pairs). • Achieve an average of C grade or better. • Across at least 10 course units from at least five courses (including the three two-unit pairs). • 24 points.

9. Current Year 11 Students • Achieve English Language Competence • Complete at least four units of English across two years. • Meet the standard for English Language Competence (Work Samples – Level 4) • English Language Competence Test (if required).

10. Current Year 11 Students • Complete, in final WACE Year (Yr 12), at least one pair of course units from list A (arts/languages/social sciences) and list B (math, science, technology) • Complete 20 hours of community service. • Sit the WACE examinations in each course when enrolled in a pair of Stage 2 or 3 units unless exempt. (VET students)

11. Why a Good Standing Policy? • To clearly articulate the standards needed to achieve a WACE. • To encourage consistent performance above the required standard throughout Year 11 and 12. • To actively recognise the efforts of students who are both consistently performing and excelling. • To support students who have fallen below the required standard to ensure that they get ‘back on track’ as quickly as possible.

12. Senior School Standards • The policy is clearly focussed on performing at or above the standards and not on the ‘standing’ which may be assigned at any point to a student. • C average in each semester. • 80% or better attendance in each scheduled course/activity. • Good Conduct. • Complete 20 hours of Community Service by the required time.

13. Good Standing • Maintain performance across each semester at or above the Senior School Standards. • All the normal privileges of Senior School apply.

14. Advanced Standing • Achieve outstanding performance in relation to the performance standard (between 12.5 and 15 graduation points within a semester). • Meet all of the other Senior School Standards. • A range of supplementary privileges apply for the duration of the semester of Advanced Standing.

15. Conditional Standing • Perform below a C average, and/or • Attend less than 80% of all scheduled classes/activities, and/or • Consistently breaching the good conduct standard, and or • Not completing 20 hours of community service by the scheduled times.

16. Conditional Standing • Loss of a range of privileges normally afforded to Senior School Students. • Intervention, by the school, to support the student in meeting/exceeding the Senior School Standards by the end of Semester. • Extra study session during session 26 as available. • Early intervention/notification process for teachers of conditional students. • Tutoring sessions during Session 27 (enrichment) as available. • Ongoing monitoring by Senior School Coordinator.

17. Conditional Standing • Students cannot be on Conditional Standing for two semesters in a row. • Students with two conditional semesters in a row will be involved in an intensive review of their ongoing school program. • Year 11 students with two conditional semesters will be asked to repeat year 11.

18. Assessment at School • All students at LSHS are provided with a number of pieces of information on commencing each course; • Course outline which relates to the Curriculum Council Syllabus. • Curriculum Council Syllabus. (optional) • Assessment Guide, including: • Assessments to be used and the format of each assessment. • Timing of all assessments (week) • Weighting of each assessment.

19. School Assessment Policy • Curriculum Council requires that all students complete the assessment and educational program for any course studied. • Students must submit all assessments on time. • Penalties apply for late submission and students may be required to submit an assessment even if they will be awarded a zero mark.

20. School Assessment Policy • Provides for special circumstances. • Provides for students with special needs. • Provides a framework for the fair and equitable assessment of all students in all courses across Senior School.

21. School Assessment Policy • Please refer to the process (flow chart) for seeking extensions on assessments. • Please refer to the information outlining circumstances in which it is legitimate for students to miss assessments on the date presented/due.

22. How does the school support Senior School Students? • Good Standing Policy • Tutorial Sessions: • Organisational skills • Study skills • University and TAFE information • Individual Pathway Planning and Exit Planning processes. • Supplementary tuition as available. • Strong cross-school emphasis on ‘career development’.

23. How can you support your Senior School Student? • Promote organisation. • Promote effective and consistent study. • Promote discussions with your student about their assessment programs and the timing of various assessments. • Refer to the Good Standing policy in discussions with your student. • Refer to the Assessment policy in discussions with your student.

24. How can you support your Senior School Student? • Promote ongoing discussions between your child and each of their teachers. • Promote discussions between your child and the Senior School Coordinator as needed. • Promote the value of activities in tutorial.

25. How can you support your Senior School Student? • Contact teachers in circumstances where you need information regarding your child’s progress. • Contact the Senior School Coordinator if you need help, advice or are worried about any aspect of your child’s Senior School education or their post-school destinations.