Francis School (Years 7 & 8)
With each student’s needs as the focus, the Years 7 and 8 curriculum is structured around our clear focus on Community. This ‘big idea’ with the General Capabilities (Australian Curriculum) connects all Learning Areas within the curriculum, ensuring that students are provided the grounding of knowledge and skills in all Learning Areas, building a strong foundation for studies beyond this year level.
Learning How to Learn
Students in Francis School learn study skills as part of the College’s Orientation and PD program. Skills covered include:
Orientation:
- Growth mindset
- Goal and strategy setting
- Setting up organisational processes, including file management
- Appropriate use of technology
- Effective use of technology
- Brainology – Understanding how the brain works to enhance learning
PD Program:
- Using the student planner
- Unpacking success criteria
- Managing assignments
- Planning and working backwards from the task
- Front ending the success criteria
- Understanding the phases of learning: previewing, consolidation, reviewing
- The importance of routine practice
- The brain and memory
- Managing examinations
- High impact revision practices
- Processing and prioritising feedback
Opportunities for Extension and Support
Students in Year 7 and 8 are supported and challenged inside classes. In Year 8 Mathematics and English, students have the opportunity to participate in extension or support classes, to better target developmental needs in literacy and numeracy.
Subjects & Assessment
Francis School marks an important transition from Primary to Secondary education. The emphasis in Francis School is to ensure students feel a sense of community and belonging, so that they can experience academic success. Emphasis in Francis School is on building common academic routines and processes, which improve transferability and understanding across subjects. Teachers work intentionally to support the developmental needs of the students, particularly mindful of ongoing needs for orientation.
In Year 7, the emphasis is on all students undertaking a mandatory course of study, with some adjustments made to accommodate students with particular needs. The Year 7 timetable structure is as follows:
| Core Subjects | English
Humanities RE |
Mathematics | Science | HPE |
| To support transition students in English, Humanities and RE have a common teacher. Students in Core Subjects are with a Common Learning Area Group. | ||||
| Term Time Subjects | Design | Drama | Italian | Music |
| Digital Solutions | Economics and Business | Japanese | Visual and Media Arts | |
In Year 8, courses reflect national curriculum content and skills objectives and student outcomes are assessed using the Standards Elaborations of the QCAA. The Year 8 timetable structure is as follows:
| Core Subjects | English
Humanities RE |
English | RE | Mathematics | Science | HPE |
| Semester Subjects | Curriculum Support | Design | STEM Extension | Drama | Italian | Music |
| Digital Solutions | Economics and Business | Japanese | Visual and Media Arts | |||
| Students Must choose Digital Solutions and 3 others | ||||||
