What subjects do the kids do there

[Gandalf]

Hi Guys, or should I still say Howzit...

I am coming over to Aus (hopefully by the end of 2007) with my family....

We are planning to settle in QLD somewhere in Brisbane...

My Daughter is currently in a Private school in SA and is doing the following subjects

Maths

Science

English

Afrikaans

Business Studies

IT

Travel and Tourism (as an extra interest subject)

She is a brilliant student (straight A's (makes me very proud) ;-)

I assume that we will send her to a private school there...

Here is my question/s

What subjects can she take there, I would prefer if she could do another subject in place of Afrikaans

What would the workload be like changing subjects in her "matric year"

How many subjects are required in Aus and what are the core subjects. ( she has done a bit of French previously)

how have other parents managed to help their kids going from SA to Aus and straight into Matric.

Many thanks for the help...

Cheers

Gary

[Queensland Girl]

I hope our member COLTON has picked this up.

Please pm her so doesnt miss your question.

She has just done what you are intending to do.

She moved a straight A daughter for her final year to Queensland, and will be able to give the real deal!

[Jongman]

2. The schools differ almost 90% from SA schools. Not only are the subjects different but the study material is completely different. The methodology of teaching and the experience is completely different. For example, in maths you are issued with a graphics calculator in year 8 (grade 8) and you do all you calculations on that specific calculator. They even have a couple of days where you spend the lesson working out how to use your calculator. Another example is in biology. Your textbook contains all the answers in the back of the book and its so strange to use the book and know that you have all the answers! History is completely different to SA. English is first language and extremely advance. Specialist courses are given at some schools and those students have been in the class since year 8.

3. There are TEE and TER subjects that you have taken from year 8. TEE is for university admittance. For example, I took Maths pathway one in year 10, then I did foundations of maths in year 11, and in year 12 it would have to be discrete maths TEE. Because I did foundations TEE in year 11, I would have to do discrete TEE in year 12. With history I chose modern history TEE in year 11, and I would have to do Ancient history TEE in year 12. Subject selections in year 10 and influence your year 12 immensely! And your subjects build on each other. Imagine doing Computer studies HG in matric, without doing it in grade 10 or 11.

I just wanted to let you know that I went through the same thing. I moved from an Afrikaans school to an English school during my Year 11 year. The subjects differ a lot from South-African schools, but each Australian State follows its own curriculum.

My advice to you would be to check out the Department of Education, Queensland’s website and see what official subjects are on offer.

http://education.qld.gov.au

I coped pretty well so I’m sure your daughter will be fine.

Kind regards

Fred

[Guest colton]

Hi Gary99,

If you go to the "Youth" section and look under "Moving during matric or final year" you will see my more detailed reply. Sorry have no idea how to post it here.

I asked my daughter again on how to reply to this post and so the following is her opinion, she is in year 12 at the moment. She still feels she did the right thing but stresses that each child is different. If after reading my other post you still have questions please feel free to ask away.

As far as Fred's post goes; my daughter read it and says she has none of those problems here in Queensland, she does Biology at the moment and wishes she had the answers in the back of her book. She actually doesn't know what some of the things he is talking about are, this has nothing to do with Fred but most likely the fact that each state works differently, can seem like different countries some times, let alone the difference between public and private schools. I may be wrong but I do not think Fred went to school in Queensland or if it was a private school? From what you have mentioned your daughter will be in the same position as my child, so what I talk about are her experiences in that environment.

Your daughter will obviously have to drop Afrikaans but the other subjects are all available at my daughters school so I am sure you will have no problem with the school you pick. Just a little interesting fact, my child did Geography in RSA, top student in her class and obviously her favourite subject, but when we came here the year 12's didn't have Geog. as an option because there was not enough interest in their year 10. This doesn't mean they don't do Geog, the year 11's do but not this years "matrics". Anyway that wasn't a huge problem she just changed to Ancient History and is doing well even though she has never done it before.

Unfortunately there is no right or wrong answer you just need to take it on your own child's merit.

Colton

Edited May 24, 2007 by colton

[Heather]

Hi there

I too moved a child in year 12 - he coped well and would never have it any other way.

I currently have a child in year 12 and the options open to them are outstanding.

My son currently does, english, maths, IPT, graphics, PE and drama

My twins two years ago did english, maths, marine, PE, computers and physics

the other one did english, maths, french (correspondence as the school stopped teaching it in year 10), dance, chemistry and IPT

There are a lot of schools that offer more academic subjects and a lot that offer more practical courses like home ec, woodwork etc..

We made the decision to move the oldest while he was still at school as it was suggested to us that for his own sake it would be more beneficial as those friends he will make at school will be the ones that go onto varsity with him etc... and I must say...it was the best advice we received...

regards

Heather