Introduction:
Education plays a crucial role in developing the young people who will take responsibility for our country in the future. Our challenge is to prepare these young people for the future while catering for their current individual needs. Their future is a rapidly changing one, being shaped by forces like:-
1. Global integration and international mobility;
2. The emergence of Asia as a centre of economic and political power;
3. Globalisation and technological change;
4. Complex environmental, social and economic pressures such as climate change; and
5. Rapid and continuing advances in information and communication technologies (ICT)
National Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians, December 2008
In fundamental terms, to meet these challenges our young people need to be
1. Successful learners;
2. Confident individuals; and
3. Active and informed citizens.
National Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians, December 2008
To meet these needs the curriculum must deliver outcomes in three broad areas:- 1. A solid foundation in literacy and numeracy for further learning;
2. Deep knowledge and skills that will enable advanced learning and ability to create new ideas and translate them into practical applications;
3. General capabilities that underpin flexible and analytical thinking, a capacity to work with others and an ability to move across subject disciplines to develop new expertise.
National Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians, December 2008
It is against this background that Maroochydore State High School has developed a Curriculum Framework and Curriculum Philosophy capable of delivering an excellent and relevant schooling experience. The Framework and Philosophy incorporates the government’s drive to develop “a clever, skilled and creative Queensland”, responds to the forces shaping the national curriculum agenda while respecting the views of the local community about what constitutes a quality curriculum and excellent schooling. We aim to lay the foundations that engage young people in life-long education and training and to enrich their lives. Our learning environment is based on strong traditional values, features an innovative and dynamic curriculum, rich digital learning experiences and it is enhanced by excellent teaching and resources.
Philosophy:
The following principles are fundamental to our philosophy –
1. Teaching strategies, learning experiences and curriculum offerings need to reflect the developmental stage of young people. The needs of middle school students (Year 8 and 9) are very different to those of senior school students (Year 10, 11 and 12)
2. A broad and general education is provided in the middle school, which seeks to build relationships, engage students and lay the foundations for success in the senior school
3. The middle school curriculum has a distinct focus on literacy and numeracy and includes social, cultural, scientific, technological and aesthetic learning.
4. The senior school curriculum provides for the multiple pathways through schooling to further education, work and active citizenship and accommodates the different aspirations, orientations and capacities of students and the organization of the senior curriculum recognises and incorporates adult learning needs.
5. The curriculum subject offerings provide students with the opportunity to develop increasingly deep knowledge and skills in their chosen disciplines.
6. An extensive range of curricular and co-curricular programs (academic, vocational, artistic and sporting) that cater for the full range of students must be offered.
7. Students have access to a broad range of extra curricular activities that extend and enhance the curricular and co-curricular programs
8. The incorporation of Information and Communication Technology across the whole school curriculum in every faculty and year level.
9. Students leave Maroochydore State High School with a recognized qualification or exit directly into full-time employment or further education and training
10. There is alignment between curriculum, assessment and reporting. Assessment promotes, assists and improves learning, it informs progress of teaching and learning and it informs or range of people about students’ achievements. Reporting to a range of audiences, including parents, occurs on a regular basis in clear, unambiguous terms.
11. The curriculum develops the citizen roll of young people as healthy, informed, creative, democratic eco-citizens.
12. Individual monitoring of every student’s progress occurs on a regular basis and schooling programs are modified on an individual basis, as required, to meet each student’s emerging and changing needs.
Curriculum Features:
Thus, the Maroochydore State High School curriculum framework includes provisions for:
• High levels of care and support
• Safety and discipline
• Developing relationships
• Literacy and numeracy
• Active and informed citizenship
• Social competence
• Ethical behaviour
• Self-management
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Strong links and partnerships with the community
• Developing resilience
• Communication and Information Technology
• Programs of excellence
• Internationalism and intercultural understanding
• Physical activity
• Creative industries
• Multiple pathways
The Curriculum Philosophy and Framework of Maroochydore State High School focus our energy and efforts on realizing our vision of “Excellence in Education for All”.
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