Senior School Curriculum

OUR CURRICULUM

Our approach to curriculum, structured especially for boys, embraces deep learning and rigour whilst ensuring that we are preparing our students to flourish beyond school though interdisciplinary programming, inquiry-based learning and an emphasis on fostering creativity and critical thinking enhanced by the innovative use of technology.

Boys are able to select from a broad range of subjects, enabling them to keep their future options open. More than 30 subjects are on offer for Year 11 and 12 students.

YEARS 7 AND 8 (STAGE 4)

In Years 7 and 8, students study the core courses of:

  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • Languages (Year 8 only) - French, German, Japanese and Chinese
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • PDHPE (Personal Development Health and Physical Education)
  • Religion and Ethics
  • Science
  • Technology (including Graphics Technology, Agriculture, Design and Technology and Information and Communication Technology)
  • Visual Arts

YEARS 9 AND 10 (STAGE 5)

Students continue their study of the core courses of:

  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • PDHPE
  • Religion and Ethics
  • Science

Students also select two elective courses from a range of courses offered including

  • Agriculture
  • Applied Critical Thinking (Year 9 only)
  • Chinese
  • Chinese in Context (Heritage) (Year 9 only)
  • Commerce
  • Design and Technology
  • Drama
  • Elective Geography
  • Elective History Empires and Conquests
  • Elective History War and Revolution
  • French
  • German
  • Graphics Technology
  • Industrial Technology Engineering
  • Industrial Technology Timber
  • Information Software and Technology
  • iSTEM
  • Japanese
  • Music
  • Photography and Digital Media (Year 9 only)
  • Physical Activity & Sports Studies
  • Visual Arts

YEARS 11 AND 12 (STAGE 6)

In Years 11 and 12, students study Preliminary (Year 11) and Higher School Certificate (Year 12) courses and sit the external HSC Examinations in these courses at the end of Year 12.

At Knox, English and Mathematics are compulsory in Year 11 and English is compulsory in Year 12. Students also select additional courses to study such as:

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Continuers and Extension
  • Design and Technology
  • Drama
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Economics
  • Engineering Studies
  • English Extension One (Years 11 and 12)
  • English Extension Two (Year 12)
  • French Continuers and Extension
  • Geography
  • German Continuers and Extension
  • History Extension (Year 12)
  • Industrial Technology
  • Information Processes and Technology
  • Investigating Science
  • Japanese Beginners
  • Japanese Continuers and Extension
  • Legal Studies
  • Mathematics (all levels)
  • Modern History
  • Music Course 1, Course 2 and Extension
  • PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education)
  • Physics
  • Science Extension (Year 12)
  • Studies of Religion
  • Software Design and Development
  • Visual Arts
  • Additional courses offered internally and externally

Students must select a total of at least twelve units of study in Year 11 and at least ten units in Year 12.