Learning support
At Macarthur Girls High there is a strong learning culture and high expectations of students to achieve their personal best. To ensure all students have an equitable opportunity to reach their potential, the Learning and Support Teachers (LASTs) provide direct and timely specialist assistance to students with additional learning and support needs within the regular classroom. These students include students requiring support in the areas of social integration, language and communication, literacy, numeracy and behaviour.
The LASTs, through appropriate assessment, identify students who require support and determine their learning and support needs. In conjunction with regular classroom teachers, they plan, implement, model, monitor and evaluate teaching programs for these students, selecting interventions and strategies that have a strong research base. Through classroom team teaching, and modelling of best practice, LASTs provide effective personalisation of learning and support. They may work with a group, groups, half the class or the whole class. For certain students, a Personalised Learning Plan is developed in collaboration with all the student's teachers, parents, Year Advisor and the school counsellors. The LASTs provide advice and resources for classroom adjustments, suggest evidence-based programs and evaluate their effectiveness within the school context.
All members of the Learning and Support staff are involved in professional learning, expanding their knowledge about how to help students learn more effectively. In addition, they establish, supervise and evaluate the effectiveness of peer reading and homework programs. The Learning Centre is open at lunchtime, three times per cycle and all students are welcome, regardless of need.
Career education
Careers Education at Macarthur Girls High School concentrates on the development of skills, knowledge and attitudes through an integrated program of learning experiences. This program assists students to make informed decisions about school and post-school education, training and employment options and participation in the community.
Students are encouraged to become ‘life long' learners. Careers education provides students with a multifaceted program consisting of small group seminars, excursions, individual career counselling, and a structured timetabled program of lessons in Year 10.
The welfare integrated program, PRIDE, in year 11 and 12 fully encompasses flexibility and access to the Careers Adviser who devises and runs programs catering for the needs of the students.
The School to Work (STW) program provides for students to comprehensively plan for their post school education and the world of work. Careers-based activities support the student's individual STW plans. As part of the program students produce a Personal Learning Plan to assist them in their transition from school to work.
Parents and students are encouraged to make appointments with the Careers Adviser to ensure all parties are fully informed and aware of the options available beyond school.
Vocational Education and
Training (VET) courses
At MGHS, VET courses are offered as part of the HSC and this is reported on their HSC Record of Achievement.
VET courses are either Board Developed Courses, which may contribute to the calculation of an ATAR, or Board Endorsed Courses (BEC's). At MGHS, all school VET (SVET) courses are BECs and one of the VET courses can be counted as a Category B subject for the ATAR.
VET courses enable students to study courses which are relevant to industry needs and have clear links to post-school destinations. These courses allow students to gain both HSC qualifications and accreditation with industry and the workplace as part of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
These frameworks are recognised across Australia and help students to move easily between the various education and training sectors, and employment. The courses each have a specific work placement component and students must complete 35 hours of mandatory work placement per 120 hours of coursework in both the Preliminary and HSC course.
Work placement is a mandatory HSC requirement. Students can use part-time work in industry towards their workplace requirement and may also undertake these courses as part of a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship.
Students receive additional documentation showing the competencies gained. Some of these courses will be delivered by schools (SVET), while others will be delivered by TAFE (TVET) or other providers.
At MGHS in we offer Vet courses including: Business Services, Entertainment, Hospitality, Information Technology and Retail.
Some resources for Year 12 Students and Parents :
University Admissions Centre - Parent Information Guide
UAC Information for Parents (pdf 1716 KB)