Curriculum
Our Teaching Approach
Australian Curriculum Contents
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Early Learning
Gifted Education / Extended Learning
Vocational Education and Training
AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Catholic schools and colleges in Tasmania endeavour to create a culture of excellence that enables all students to flourish:
"The Catholic school is committed to educate the whole person founded on the conviction that human beings have a transcendent destiny and that education of the whole person must form the spiritual, intellectual, physical, psychological, social, moral aesthetic and religious capacities of each child"
The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools, 2016
Catholic Education Tasmania recognises that all students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning opportunities. We provide a system-wide approach to facilitate the development of quality educational programs to meet the diverse needs of gifted and high ability students.
Catholic Education Tasmania Strategic Priorities outline a call to "excel in learning for all: achieve excellence in learning and teaching animated by faith and to develop the whole person".
Catholic Education Tasmania is committed to delivering the Australian Curriculum from Prep to Year 10 in our schools and colleges. Implementation has been completed in the learning areas of:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Health and Physical Education
- Technologies
Teaching in the remaining learning areas is based on the Australian Curriculum and full implementation is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020.
Assessment and Reporting
Catholic Education Tasmania schools issue formal reports including an A-E (or equivalent rating) twice yearly. Some schools and colleges have also commenced the provision of continuous online feedback in order to provide regular information for students and parents about the student’s progress and achievement. Assessment is conducted using the Achievement Standards from both the Australian Curriculum and the Good News for Living RE curriculum.
Teachers participate in moderation practices to ensure consistency in assessment both within each school and between schools.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER EDUCATION
Catholic Education Tasmania pays respect to Elders: past, present and future. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s unique cultural and spiritual connections, and the rich contribution they bring to our schools and colleges.
Catholic Education Tasmania acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of Australia. We respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land, and acknowledge their unique contribution to the life of this country.
The Catholic Education Commission Tasmania has endorsed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy to support our Catholic schools and colleges to form collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, parents, communities and organisations.
Educational support and funding are available to schools to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Our Catholic schools and colleges utilise this funding to implement programs, initiatives, and school-based support for the improvement in outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.
Catholic schools and colleges in Tasmania are committed to reconciliation and improving the learning and life outcomes of our students, ensuring that:
- There is recognition of the diversity of cultures and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- We provide a curriculum inclusive of Tasmanian Aboriginal histories and cultures.
- Schools are encouraged and supported to develop their own Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs).
- All our Catholic schools develop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educational Annual Plans that encompass aspects of culture and identity, targeted literacy and numeracy intervention programs, school and child readiness, partnerships, leadership quality teaching and workforce development, attendance and engagement, and transition points and pathways to post-school options.
- The cultural rights, practices, high expectations, hopes and dreams of parents and guardians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are protected and celebrated.
- Ongoing educational, pastoral and cultural support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is provided through school-based curriculum initiatives.
- Key teachers are appointed in all our primary schools to work in partnership with communities and families to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Our Catholic secondary schools appoint Aboriginal Student Success Teachers (ASST’s) who advocate for their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families.
EARLY LEARNING
Early Years
Research shows quality early learning leads to better outcomes at school and in later life. Catholic Education Tasmania is committed to ensuring high quality early learning, both in the years prior to compulsory schooling and in the early years of school. Catholic Education Tasmania also acknowledges and values families as a child’s first and most influential teacher. Beginning in the early years, encourage parents and carers to work in partnership with our schools to ensure the flourishing of the whole child. All aspects of early learning are infused with the Catholic faith.
Birth to Five
Catholic Education Tasmania has worked closely with schools and their local communities to develop our early years program Setup for Success. Setup for Success promotes learning for life for young children and their families and is open to all families within the community. Setup programs are evidence based and delivered by qualified educators from within the school community. Schools advertising their programs as Setup for Success have been endorsed by the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office (TCEO).
Additional programs such as playgroup or outsourced movement, music or drama programs, are offered on a school by school basis and are monitored by the school.
Kindergarten
Tasmanian Kindergartens provide 15 hours of play-based early learning in a school setting for children who are four years of age on or before 1 January of the year they start Kindergarten. CET Kindergarten teachers use the Belonging, Being and Becoming – Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to plan and provide quality teaching and learning experiences to meet the needs of all children. CET leaders and kindergarten teachers work collaboratively to align practices in CET kindergartens with the National Quality Standard.
Prep to Year Two
Catholic Education Tasmania recognises the importance of positive connections and successful transition to the early years of schooling (Prep to Grade 2), and promotes continuity and alignment of Early Years Learning Framework practices and the Australian Curriculum. The Australian Curriculum sets out what all learners in Prep to Grade 2 should be taught through the specification of curriculum content and general capabilities. The Good News for Living curriculum framework underpins Religious Education in Tasmanian Catholic schools.
GIFTED EDUCATION / EXTENDED LEARNING
Catholic Education Tasmania recognises that all students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning opportunities and provides a system-wide approach to facilitate the development of quality educational programs to meet the diverse needs of gifted and high ability students.
Catholic schools and colleges in Tasmania endeavour to create a culture of excellence that enables all students to flourish:
"The Catholic school is committed to educate the whole person founded on the conviction that human beings have a transcendent destiny and that education of the whole person must form the spiritual, intellectual, physical, psychological, social, moral aesthetic and religious capacities of each child"
The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools, 2016
Educational support and access to resources is available to schools and colleges to assist them in identifying gifted students, assessing their specific needs, and making appropriate recommendations.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs are available in Years 10-12 in all Catholic colleges and in some cases, these courses are also available to Year 9 students. Due to its integration into existing timetables, VET is accessible to all students regardless of their pathway choices.
VET units contribute both to the Tasmanian Certificate of Education and to an industry recognised qualification. Undertaking a VET program, therefore, is an appealing and rewarding choice of study.
VET programs can lead to traineeships, apprenticeships, further education and training, and employment. School-based apprenticeships involve part-time work, school and training arrangements for students 16 years and above. They are available in all Catholic Education Tasmania colleges and require working a minimum of 7.5 hours a week and a maximum of 15 hours. This can be worked in and outside school hours.
Opportunities for VET through Catholic Education Tasmania include Aquaculture, Animal Studies, Agriculture and Horticulture, Automotive, Business, Early Childhood Education and Care, Community Services, Construction, Defence, Electrotechnology, Engineering, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Introduction to Health industry pathways, Maritime Operations, Sport, Fitness and Outdoor Recreation, and Tourism.
Not all programs are available at all colleges. If you are interested in a program that is not offered at your college you may be able to negotiate with your college to travel on a regular basis to another nearby provider to undertake that program.