Community Update
It was a pleasure to welcome more than 200 parents, grandparents, students and carers onto the Senior Campus early this week for our Secondary School Open Morning. Students from Years 9 and 10, supported by our leadership team, hosted small group tours, answering questions and providing a wonderful insight into life at Redlands for our guests. Redlands reputation as a leading school of choice for families both nationally and internationally continues to grow through our focus on each individual student, exceptional teachers and world-class learning programs and resources.
We were also delighted to host our Year 10 students, parents and carers on Wednesday night for the Pathways and Subject Expo information session hosted by our Secondary School leadership team. This important session provides our Year 10 community with important information regarding the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs in order to support their selection for commencement in Year 11.
Redlands has offered both the HSC and IB pathways for over 30 years, longer than any other school in NSW. Our decades long association with both HSC and the IB has helped to build our reputation as a leading provider of a well-rounded global education. I understand that these two programs may be a mystery to a large number of our families as they currently navigate their way through our Preschool, Kindergarten, Junior School and early years of Secondary School so I will endeavour to unpack them a little more below, with further information on the HSC and IB programs available here.
In short, the HSC is the highest educational award in New South Wales schools. The HSC is an internationally recognised credential that provides a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue university qualifications at home or abroad, vocational training or employment. Preliminary courses begin at the start of Year 11 and continue for three terms. These courses are the building blocks and prerequisites for the HSC. Our students have the opportunity to practise key skills, take calculated risks and learn more about their subjects before beginning their HSC courses in Term 4 of Year 11. In Year 12, students will complete internal assessments that contribute towards their HSC marks, before sitting their final exams at the end of the year.
Redlands has offered the International Baccalaureate since 1988, longer than any other school in NSW. The IB is an international qualification, recognised for its academic rigour and holistic learning focus. The IB course is taught continuously over two years in Years 11 and 12 and provides a liberal educational experience across six academic subjects allowing for focus in the three Higher Level subjects and breadth in the three Standard Level subjects. Final grades are determined through exams and internal assessments. There is a combination of both traditional examination and assignment style assessment, with the former testing a breadth of knowledge and the latter a depth of understanding.
I remain grateful for the continued guidance and support our community provides and, as ever, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Community Engagement team should you have any feedback, suggestions or questions.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
Kindest regards
Mr Grant Birse
Head of Community Engagement
9908 6406
gbirse@redlands.nsw.edu.au