Overview
At a Glance
Teaching and Learning at Somerset College
At post-compulsory level (Years 11, 12 and 13) the Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies Certificate is the vehicle by which students complete secondary education and gain accreditation for work and further study. In addition, the introduction of the international first year university level course, The International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, gives our students access not only to universities in Australia, but all round the world.
A child's first experiences at school are among the most important in life. Each aspect of the child's whole self - physical, social, intellectual and emotional development is nurtured by trained and highly qualified classroom teachers.
Teachers take the time to help all young learners to -
Students take a common core of subjects from the eight key learning areas - plus Religious and Philosophical Studies.
English - ESL where needed
Mathematics including Maths Problem Solving Extension
Science
Humanities
Languages Other Than English Italian in Years 4 and 5 and German, Japanese or French in Years 6 and 7
Technology - Computing, Graphic Art Web Design
The Arts - Visual Art, Music Drama
Health and Physical Education - Health Education, Physical Education, Sports Programme, Outdoor Education and Swimming
Religious and Philosophical Studies - Religious Education, Pastoral Care, Personal Development, Chapel / Seasons programme
Year 8
As Year 8 is regarded as an introduction to Senior School curricula, all pupils take the same subjects.
Language A (English)
Language B (French, German or Japanese)
Humanities
Mathematics
Science
Arts
Religious and Philosophy
Physical Education and
Technology
Years 9 and 10
The Subjects in Years 9 and 10 consist of core subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, Physical Education and Religious and Philosophy and elective subjects which may include Art, Arts Technology, Design Technology, Drama, French, German, Health and Physical Education, Information Technology, Japanese, Multi Media Studies, Sound Effects and Engineering, Music and Studies in Commerce. All pupils select three subjects from the electives offered in Years 9 and 10.
Year 9 2013 Course Selection Information
Years 11 and 12
Queensland Board regulations specify that students take 5 subjects over the 2 years or 4 semesters to be eligible for an Overall Position (OP) score. English is compulsory and must be passed at the very least at SOUND achievement to be accepted into university. At Somerset we insist that students take 6 subjects and include in the compulsory category, one of three types of mathematics.
Year 11 2013 Course Selection Information
3-YEAR SENIOR PROGRAMME
The 3-Year Senior Programme is closely aligned with the Sports Excellence Programme at the school. This is a novel approach to coping with the demands of the senior year of study and has served many students of Somerset College over the years. Now formalized and structured, the programme is co-ordinated by the Deputy-Academic. Students who undertake the 3-Year Senior/Sports Excellence Programme, do so from the start of Year 11 and undertake to complete the two years of their General Certificate (Year 12 subjects) over three years (4 subjects per year).
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA COURSE
At Somerset students have the choice of doing either the QSA Certificate only, of doing the QSA Certificate course and the IB Diploma course, or of doing the IB Diploma by itself. The IB Diploma course is an international senior diploma course that is valued and recognised by all Australian and International universities. With the IB, students still take 6 subjects and these 6 subjects will be acceptable to both the Board and the IB organisation. Students taking the IB will also undertake a course called The Theory of Knowledge, write an Extended Research Essay and play sport, undertake a creative activity and do community service of some sort (CAS). All senior students at Somerset, whether they be IB or OP students will take the Theory of Knowledge and CAS, albeit, in a more restricted form for non IB Diploma students.
The Queensland Core Skills Test -
All senior students who wish to be OP eligible must also sit for the QCS test in September of their final school year. The QCS, Queensland's only common external test, is used to moderate the school assessed mark. The test consists of a Writing Task, two Multiple Choice papers, and a Short Response paper. QCS practice is a regular occurrence at Somerset.
THE SOMERSET SPORTS PROGRAMME (at a glance)
At Somerset we offer -
At Somerset we offer -
-
The Deputy Headmaster
-
The Dean of Middle Years Learning
- The Academic Counsellor
- The Head of Senior School
- The Dean of Activities
- The Heads and Directors of the major curriculum areas
- The Year 8 Supervisor and
- The Junior School Deputy
At post-compulsory level (Years 11, 12 and 13) the Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies Certificate is the vehicle by which students complete secondary education and gain accreditation for work and further study. In addition, the introduction of the international first year university level course, The International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, gives our students access not only to universities in Australia, but all round the world.
Prep to Year 3
A child's first experiences at school are among the most important in life. Each aspect of the child's whole self - physical, social, intellectual and emotional development is nurtured by trained and highly qualified classroom teachers.
Teachers take the time to help all young learners to -
- Develop independence
- Develop early literacy and numeracy skills
- Form social relationships
- Discover, explore and solve problems
- Share their understandings and feelings
- Learn about self and about being part of a group
- Encompass Christian values in daily school life
- Swimming
- Motor skills programmes
- Technology
- Art
- Music
- Physical education
- Languages Other Than English - Italian (from Year 2)
- Easter
- Book Week
- Science Week
- Grandparents' Day
- Multicultural Day
- Beachathon
Students take a common core of subjects from the eight key learning areas - plus Religious and Philosophical Studies.
English - ESL where needed
Mathematics including Maths Problem Solving Extension
Science
Humanities
Languages Other Than English Italian in Years 4 and 5 and German, Japanese or French in Years 6 and 7
Technology - Computing, Graphic Art Web Design
The Arts - Visual Art, Music Drama
Health and Physical Education - Health Education, Physical Education, Sports Programme, Outdoor Education and Swimming
Religious and Philosophical Studies - Religious Education, Pastoral Care, Personal Development, Chapel / Seasons programme
Year 8
As Year 8 is regarded as an introduction to Senior School curricula, all pupils take the same subjects.
Language A (English)
Language B (French, German or Japanese)
Humanities
Mathematics
Science
Arts
Religious and Philosophy
Physical Education and
Technology
Years 9 and 10
The Subjects in Years 9 and 10 consist of core subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, Physical Education and Religious and Philosophy and elective subjects which may include Art, Arts Technology, Design Technology, Drama, French, German, Health and Physical Education, Information Technology, Japanese, Multi Media Studies, Sound Effects and Engineering, Music and Studies in Commerce. All pupils select three subjects from the electives offered in Years 9 and 10.
Year 9 2013 Course Selection Information
Years 11 and 12
Queensland Board regulations specify that students take 5 subjects over the 2 years or 4 semesters to be eligible for an Overall Position (OP) score. English is compulsory and must be passed at the very least at SOUND achievement to be accepted into university. At Somerset we insist that students take 6 subjects and include in the compulsory category, one of three types of mathematics.
Year 11 2013 Course Selection Information
3-YEAR SENIOR PROGRAMME
The 3-Year Senior Programme is closely aligned with the Sports Excellence Programme at the school. This is a novel approach to coping with the demands of the senior year of study and has served many students of Somerset College over the years. Now formalized and structured, the programme is co-ordinated by the Deputy-Academic. Students who undertake the 3-Year Senior/Sports Excellence Programme, do so from the start of Year 11 and undertake to complete the two years of their General Certificate (Year 12 subjects) over three years (4 subjects per year).
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA COURSE
At Somerset students have the choice of doing either the QSA Certificate only, of doing the QSA Certificate course and the IB Diploma course, or of doing the IB Diploma by itself. The IB Diploma course is an international senior diploma course that is valued and recognised by all Australian and International universities. With the IB, students still take 6 subjects and these 6 subjects will be acceptable to both the Board and the IB organisation. Students taking the IB will also undertake a course called The Theory of Knowledge, write an Extended Research Essay and play sport, undertake a creative activity and do community service of some sort (CAS). All senior students at Somerset, whether they be IB or OP students will take the Theory of Knowledge and CAS, albeit, in a more restricted form for non IB Diploma students.
The Queensland Core Skills Test -
All senior students who wish to be OP eligible must also sit for the QCS test in September of their final school year. The QCS, Queensland's only common external test, is used to moderate the school assessed mark. The test consists of a Writing Task, two Multiple Choice papers, and a Short Response paper. QCS practice is a regular occurrence at Somerset.
THE SOMERSET SPORTS PROGRAMME (at a glance)
At Somerset we offer -
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Cricket
- Rugby
- Swimming
- Athletics
- Cross Country
- Basketball
- Hockey
- Softball
- Netball
- Sailing
- Rowing
- Touch
- Cycling
- Kayaking
- Water Polo
At Somerset we offer -
- Music - Instrumental and Choral programmes
- Drama
- Speech and Drama
- Debating / Public Speaking / Mooting
- Creative Writing/Wordsmiths
- Elite Sports Programmes
- Clubs and Societies
- Dance
- Chess
- Community Service
- Academic Extension Clubs
- Tours - Italy, Nepal, Germany, Japan
- Exchange Trips
