Pathways
Choose your pathway
Students are prepared for a variety of pathways post Year 12. Those who wish to follow a university pathway are provided with the necessary skills and knowledge required for this. Those who wish to gain employment or continue on a vocational pathway are provided with experiences and guidance to maximise their chances of success.
Information sessions are available for parents to access and develop their own knowledge of what lies ahead for their children.
Year 12 UniPrep Program
Our school has partnered with Edith Cowan University (ECU) to offer students a university pathway through the UniPrep Schools Program. It is offered to our Year 12 students to complete in their final year of senior school.
The UniPrep Schools Program contains four academically rigorous units: Future Ready Skills; Academic Literacies; Society and Cultural Studies; and Mathematics. Students complete all four units in Year 12. On successful completion of those units and graduation, students can then apply for most of ECU’s undergraduate courses (excluding courses with specialist entry requirements).
This Program complements other senior school studies by helping students to further develop their academic skills and integrates university experiences.
UniPrep Schools is an endorsed program that provides up to one-unit equivalent (C grade) for each of the four units successfully completed. It offers a skills-focused university pathway that prepares students for the requirements of undertaking a university course.
Explore the St James’ Senior School journey
Year 7
Year 7 students focus is on the transition from Junior School to Senior School as students acquire growing independence, develop decision making skills, explore values and further refine their social and collaborative work skills. Students are encouraged to embrace a wide variety of opportunities in order to begin identifying their own interests. They are encouraged to question and explore other ways of thinking and world views.
Year 8
In Year 8, students continue to develop their exploration of the physical, social and technological world and gain familiarity and confidence with the methods and languages of particular disciplines. They are encouraged to understand that they are active participants in their own continuing development and that of their society and the world. Students are provided the opportunity to explore their own interests and endeavours through the selection of options as they move into Year 9. In Year 8, students are exposed to examinations for the first time as they develop time management, resilience, goal setting and study skills.
Year 9
In Year 9, students are increasingly encouraged to see the links between areas of learning and the interconnectedness of various fields. Teaching programs help students develop a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the context of their lives and the world in which they live. Students spend additional time exploring their own interests and endeavours through participation in option subjects. Pathways post school are explicitly addressed and a variety of enrichment opportunities are provided to explore these pathways including mock interviews, career exploration, TAFE Trade opportunities and workshops. Students experience semester examinations in Year 9 which further develop study skills, resilience, time management and goal setting.
Year 10
In Year 10, students are encouraged to develop a curious and questioning perspective. They have opportunities to explore different pathways for Years 11 and 12, identify their interests and strengths, and choose option subjects accordingly. Various information sessions, guest speakers, seminars and workshops on future pathways are available. Work experience is introduced to provide insights into life after school. Year 10 students also undergo semester examinations to enhance skills necessary for success in Years 11 and 12, including revision, time management, goal setting, growth mindset and literacy and numeracy abilities. Eligible Year 10 students complete the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) as part of their preparation for achieving the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).
Year 11 and 12
In Years 11 and 12, students have a stronger sense of their own strengths, interests and goals. These play a major role in determining their decisions over the course of the two years. Students are involved in tasks that require them to clarify goals, show initiative and perseverance and continue to develop their ability to seek, use and evaluate information for a range of purposes. Students are monitored constantly as they move towards the achievement of their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). Guidance is provided to maximise success in both Year 11 and 12 and life post Year 12.
