What to expect in high school

(Stage 4) Years 7 and 8

Years 7 and 8 involve adjusting to new class timetables, homework, tests, thinking about electives (for Years 9 and 10), and shifting relationships.

Year 7

Many schools begin a transition program during Semester 2 of Year 6. Make sure you attend any orientation or ‘meet the teacher’ events offered by your school. It will make Year 7 easier if you know what to expect, how the school works and who to talk to about issues. Staying in touch with your child's progress is harder than primary school as they may have a different teacher for each subject. Getting to know the staff is important.

Some questions to ask at information sessions:

• Is there a parent or student portal with details of timetables, assessment tasks, excursions and so on? How do you access it?
• Who is the year adviser for Year 7 and how do you contact them?
• How do you contact individual teachers with any concerns?

Homework and study

In high school, students need to do both homework and study.

Does your child have a homework and study planner or diary? Are they using it? Check it weekly. If they aren't using it, find out why. Some will prefer scheduling homework and setting reminders on their iPad or phone, but you still need to check they are keeping up with their homework and study each week. Add all assessment task and exam dates to our  term assessment planner (DOCX 53.57KB)  – print a copy to keep it on the fridge as a reminder. A  study timetable (DOCX 52.96KB)  will help students plan some time each week to revise their work.

Your child will do  NAPLAN  this year, assessing their literacy and numeracy skills.

Wellbeing

Monitor your child's technology use. Are they on Facebook when trying to do their homework? Are they receiving or making texts or calls late at night? Sleep requirements start to change this year and sleep deprivation is a big problem for many students. Midnight texts from friends will only make this worse. Learn more about keeping your child safe online from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner – eSafety information.

If bullying becomes an issue, always contact the school.

The  NSW anti-bullying website  also provides resources and information for students, teachers, parents and carers.

Year 8

Your child should be settling into high school by now. Attend any parent-teacher events offered. Meeting your child's teachers makes it easier to communicate with the school if there are issues.

Homework and study

If your child seems to be struggling with the difficulty of the work or getting organised to get it done, contact the year adviser.

Remind your child to write any due dates for assessments or exams on their term assessment planner as soon as possible. Use the study timetable to schedule enough time in the weeks and days before assessments, tests and exams. This is a vital habit for students to learn now. In Year 8, students sit  VALID  tests, assessing their knowledge and skills in science.

Electives

From Term 2 onwards, schools will ask Year 8 students to select electives for Year 9. Go to the information events and ask questions. Discuss elective choices with your child. Encourage them to choose subjects they enjoy and expect to do well in. Year 9 electives are about following interests, not setting up career paths. For some students,  vocational education and training (VET)  subjects may be an option in Years 9 and 10.

Wellbeing

Year 8 is a time of shifting relationships for many. Your child may experiment with friendships, push boundaries and want to spend more time away from the family. Balance is important. Know who they're hanging out with in person and online. Know how much screen time your child is having – it can interfere with important sleep, exercise and study time.

If bullying becomes an issue, always contact the school.

The  NSW anti-bullying website  also provides resources and information for students, teachers, parents and carers.

(Stage 5) Years 9 and 10

At this stage you might want to help your child set some goals to focus on – this might help answer some of the 'why' questions you are bound to be getting, and also help with social commitments and part-time jobs.

Year 9

Year 9 is the first year of Stage 5. Start talking with your child about what they might want to do after Year 12. At this age, many often question why they need to learn certain things – having a goal can help them to focus.

Assessments, homework and study

In Year 9, students will become familiar with more formal assessment processes. Print out our  term assessment planner (DOCX 47.04KB)  and check your child is writing down all exam and assessment dates – keep it on the fridge as a reminder. Your child will also do the external  NAPLAN  tests this year.

Encourage your child to read for pleasure, to try different genres and more difficult books. This will build their vocabulary and show them different styles of writing – helping with their own writing and comprehension.

Wellbeing

In Year 9, some students seem to swing from one extreme to another with all the changes going on. Relationships are changing with their peers and their families. They are asserting their independence but often without the good judgement that comes with maturity. The teenage brain is a ‘work in progress’ – the brain structure is changing and teens are flooded with hormones. The habits they learn now, good and bad, will form the basis for later years. This could be a good time to be talking with your teen about alcohol and drugs.

If bullying becomes an issue, always contact the school.

The  NSW anti-bullying website  also provides resources and information for students, teachers, parents and carers.

Year 10

Some students in Year 10 start part-time jobs, many have sporting and social commitments and life can get busy. It’s important they schedule time to study, as well as do homework and assignments, so they don’t get behind with their school work.

Assessments, homework and study

In Year 10, students follow a formal assessment program. Make sure your child writes all assessment task dates on the  term assessment planner (DOCX 47.04KB)   for each term and stick it on the fridge as a reminder. Late assessment tasks usually mean penalties such as reduced marks, so keep an eye on upcoming tasks – especially those that require a lot of preparation. Adding tasks to their smartphone calendar with alarms to remind them before each is due will also help keep them on track.

Eligible students receive their  Record of School Achievement (RoSA)  if they leave school at the end of Year 10 to work or complete other study.

Planning for the future

This year, your child will choose subjects for Years 11 and 12. Start talking about this early – with them, the careers adviser and their teachers. Students planning to get their HSC will have opportunities to sit the  HSC minimum standard online tests  from Year 10 onwards.

Vocational education and training (VET), including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, is a great option for students who think they may wish to pursue a trade after school. Not only can they get a taste of a career, they can finish high school with a qualification and an ATAR, if eligible subjects are chosen. This leaves their options open and can give them a great head start in getting a job.

Wellbeing

It’s important to keep talking openly with your child about alcohol and drugs as they get older. Also, keep a track of social media use. Learn more about staying safe online from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner – eSafety information.

If bullying becomes an issue, always contact the school.

The  NSW anti-bullying website  also provides resources and information for students, teachers, parents and carers.

(Stage 6) Years 11 and 12 at Blackwattle Bay Campus

Years 11 and 12 (known as stage 6) includes the lead up to and completion of the Higher School Certificate (HSC). It's time to start thinking seriously about study timetables and maintaining good physical and mental health to get the most out of this opportunity.

Year 11

In Year 11 your child will be expected to work harder and be more proactive in their study. It's a big step up from Year 10.

It's vital you attend parent-teacher information events this year. You'll receive important information on exactly what's happening this year and how you can help your child cope and succeed.

Homework, study and assessments

Students are expected to complete regular study in all subjects each week, without nagging them into doing it. It’s also a short year, with only 3 terms in the Preliminary course before starting HSC studies in Term 4. Encourage a regular and consistent study schedule from the first week of Term 1. Our  study timetable (DOCX 46.58KB)  allows students to schedule time after school and over the weekend to revise, write summaries and practise sample questions.

At the beginning of the year your child will receive an assessment schedule, with the dates and weighting of all assessment tasks for the course. Review this together and add all tasks to a  term assessment planner (DOCX 47.04KB)  for Terms 1, 2 and 3. Make sure it’s kept in a highly visible place so you can remind your child when tasks are coming up. Adding tasks to their smartphone calendar with notifications before the due date will also help remind them of upcoming assessments.

Students who leave school before the HSC may be eligible for a Record of School Assessment (RoSA). Students working towards getting their HSC will have opportunities to sit the  HSC minimum standard online tests  during Years 11 and 12. The minimum standard tests are not needed for the RoSA.

Wellbeing

Physical activity is still important when study ramps up at school. This is the age many students drop sport, but it's important for them to continue to incorporate exercise into their schedule to help them manage stress as they prepare for the HSC.

Monitor your child's technology use. Research shows that the quality of study and learning suffers when students are frequently interrupted by texts, emails, phone calls or by flicking between homework and Facebook screens. Instead, tell them to schedule 10-minute breaks every hour to catch up on their social lives, if needed.

Some students begin driving in Year 11 and social lives increase. Keep talking honestly with your child about alcohol and drugs.

Year 12

The  HSC  course starts for students in Term 4 of Year 11. It can be hard to get motivated at the end of the calendar year, with summer holidays approaching, but it is essential as most subjects will have their first assessment task this term.

Homework, study and assessments

Students will receive their HSC assessment schedule at the start of the course. As soon as the assessment schedule is received, add the task dates to the term assessment planner for Terms 4, 1, 2 and 3.

If your child hasn’t already passed the  HSC minimum standards  for literacy and numeracy, there are two opportunities to sit the reading, writing and numeracy  online tests  during Year 12. Students are also able to sit the minimum standard tests for up to 5 years after they start the HSC.

If your child is getting anxious about the HSC, a study timetable may help reassure them. Term 4 is a good time to revise the timetable. Make sure the study times set are practical – if they are failing to follow the study timetable they may give up – so help your child set realistic times for studying.

Discuss when your child feels their revision is most effective – are they a morning person? Not many teenagers are. Do they prefer to do their study straight after they get home from school? Maybe they prefer to study after dinner or in chunks on the weekend. Term 4 can be a good time to trial adjustments to the study timetable. It’s also important to discuss the need to keep revising and creating summaries over the long summer break.

Year 12 students need to get straight back into work once school returns after the summer break. Reminding your child they are a quarter of the way through their HSC at the start of the year may help motivate them.

Wellbeing

Some other things to help make the HSC year go more smoothly include:

• avoiding any big decisions that could affect your child such as family holidays and changes in living arrangements, if possible
• ensuring your child eats well and gets enough sleep and exercise
• helping your child balance work and play – many students have part-time jobs – make sure the hours are manageable and don’t interfere with school work
• having open and honest conversations about alcohol and drugs.

Stay in contact with the school, especially if you have concerns. Year 12 teachers want their students to achieve the best possible results and appreciate parents who are interested and supportive. Contact the year adviser if you are worried about your child's emotional wellbeing or how they're handling Year 12 studies.

Remember, the HSC focus is only for a short period of time. Support your child to do the best job possible but also remember the  ATAR  is not the be all and end all. There are many alternative pathways to most careers, even if they don't receive the results they hoped for or an offer from their preferred university.

• To help your child with homework and study, visit Help with homework.
• For more tips to getting through Year 12, visit HSC.
• To watch a video and read more about the HSC minimum literacy and numeracy requirements, view NESA – HSC minimum standard.
• To learn more about the HSC minimum standards, visit NESA – What is the HSC minimum standard?
• If your child doesn’t complete the HSC, they may be eligible for a RoSA. See  NESA – Record of School Achievement  for more information.

Talking about alcohol and drugs

Alcohol and drugs can cause permanent damage to the adolescent brain and stop it from maturing properly. It is illegal to serve or provide under 18s with alcohol.

For tips on talking to your teen about alcohol and drugs, visit  Your room – For parents  for information and resources to download.

For advice on holding parties, visit NSW Police – Safe party tips.

Help with homework

Homework is often a revision of what is covered in class. As well as regular weekly homework, your child may have assessments such as assignments or projects with due dates.

A key to success is being organised. To avoid Thursday night meltdowns about incomplete homework, read our homework tips.

Homework tips for all ages

These tips are relevant for all students Kindergarten to Year 12.

• Ask your child about their homework, know what they are learning about and when assignments are due.

• Use our School Planner (PDF 207.8KB)  to record when assessments and exams are scheduled so you can help your child prepare in advance. Make to-do lists to spread out the workload.

• Get into a routine of doing homework at a set time, ideally a little each day.

• Have a set place where the kids can do their homework, with the equipment they’ll need:

  • pens and pencils
  • highlighters
  • scissors
  • glue
  • scrap paper
  • ruler
  • calculator
  • printing paper
  • computer and internet access
  • a printer.

• Turn mobiles to aeroplane mode or off so there are no disruptions.

• If there’s no set homework, encourage your child to do some reading. For younger children, it’s great for them to read aloud to you. For older kids, ask them to tell you about what they have been reading.

• Don’t jump in and give answers. Homework is about helping kids become independent learners.

• Encourage your child to start assignments as soon as they receive them – this will reduce any night-before stress.

• Your child needs to do their own projects and assignments. There’s no point submitting work done by anyone other than the student. Teachers need to know what students can do independently.

• If your child is having difficulty with their homework, contact their class teacher for help.

Studying in high school

Once in high school, regular study becomes more important. Study time is completely different to doing set homework. Students in high school should regularly review work covered in class, summarise key ideas and do additional reading and research on topics, as well as practise tasks such as essays and maths problems.

Suggestions for effective studies

There is no one ‘best’ way to study. Students often find different methods and times to study to suit themselves. The key is regular study, not cramming before a test or exam.

Some suggestions for effective study time include:

• no mobile device use – no social media, messaging or calls during study time
• finish any homework for the day before starting study – remember they are separate
• focus on one topic at a time
• highlight class notes or handouts
• prepare summaries in your own words to revise concepts and skills learnt in class
• draw diagrams, mind maps or brainstorms to show the main ideas and links between them
• explain a topic or key concept to someone else
• prepare glossaries of technical language for the topic or course, include examples of appropriate use
• memorise short quotes
• read summaries aloud – you can record yourself and play them back while travelling
• write key concepts on flash cards with an explanation on the back to use for quick recall testing
• read widely about topics being studied – add any new information or quotes to your summary (remember, when you use words or passages from a source such as a book, article or website you must reference them and use quotation marks).

The best study is active study – not just reading pages and pages of notes. Try creating summaries and lists, drawing mind maps, practising answering questions, teaching someone else about a topic and so on. Active study helps move content from short-term to long-term memory. When reading over notes, try to read them aloud.

Study timetable

A study timetable can be useful to help high school students plan time each week revising work covered in class.

This is an  example of a completed study timetable (DOCX 56.59KB)  for a Year 11 student.

Make your own study timetable

• Download or print our Study timetable (DOCX 52.96KB).
• Fill in regular activities such as school, sport, part-time jobs and so on. Don’t forget to include meal times and time to travel to activities.
• Students should discuss how much time to spend studying with their teachers. Older students will be spending 1 to 2 hours on each subject each week. This will increase as they get closer to the HSC.
• Think about the best time to study. Some kids prefer to get straight into it after the after-school snack, to get it out of the way. Others like to chill before dinner and get into their school work in the evening. Identify the most effective time.
• Block out chunks of time on the Study timetable to study at the identified most effective times. Some subjects will require more time than others – use the advice of the class teacher. Don’t forget to consider the school timetable when you are creating a study timetable – it might be a bit much to do 2 hours of physics on the same day as a double period. Don’t forget any subjects – even the ‘easiest’ will require revision in Years 11 and 12.
• Colour code the chunks of time for different subjects.
• Allow a break of at least 5 to 10 minutes each hour.
• Trial the study timetable for a fortnight and see if it is realistic. There’s no point having a study timetable that isn’t followed.
• Be realistic, some days there will be a pile of homework or family events which means a day off study. If your child can stick to their study timetable 70 to 80% of the time, they are on their way to success.