Mathematics
John Curtin College of the Arts has a tradition of academic excellence in Mathematics. Students are consistently awarded prizes in recognition of outstanding results in the Australian Mathematics Competition, just one of many competitions students participate in during the academic year.
Students are encouraged to participate in the Have Sum Fun Mathematics Competition, Australian Share Market Game, Maths Quest, Mathematics Challenge, Mathematics Enrichment and the Macquarie Business Mathematics Competition. Certificates of High Distinction and Distinctions are regularly achieved as our results are consistently above state average.
The needs of academically talented students are catered for through the Academic Excellence Program in Years 8 to 10. This program provides special, discrete classes for students who have been selected on the basis of their academic performance and potential. AEP students are offered a variety of learning experiences designed both to develop skills and competencies while providing challenging and motivating learning experiences.
All students' abilities in Mathematics are catered for by students working in streamed pathways which offer opportunities to maximise individual students' potential.
Mathematics is also offered in our Academic Excellence Program.
Science
Our Science teachers believe it is vital that all students receive grounding in current scientific processes, knowledge, values and skills for them to function in our complex, changing society. Science at the college also provides students with the opportunity to gain a level of understanding sufficient to pursue tertiary studies in any major scientific discipline.
The curriculum in Years 8, 9 and 10 is closely aligned to the Science Learning Area Statement in the Curriculum Framework. The Working Scientifically outcomes address the skills of scientific inquiry and the ways people use scientific information, whilst the Understanding Concepts outcomes cover distinctive scientific understandings, theories, ideas and knowledge, and draws from the traditional scientific disciplines.
Students in Years 8 and 9 are placed in non-streamed classes where they are offered a generalised course designed to give them an overview of the major scientific disciplines and a solid foundation in scientific problem solving methods and scientificcommunication. In Year 10 students are streamed into pathways leading to particular combinations of upper school subjects.
In 2009 the Year 12 to be offered are TEE Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Human Biology and the Wholly School Assessed subject, Senior Science. In Year 11, Units 2A and 2B Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Human Biology are offered. These lead to Units 3A/3B in 2010 and the WACE examinations. Integrated Science 1A/1B is also to be offered. All courses are designed to match closely with the Curriculum Council guidelines on assessment and content.
Science is also offerd in our Academic Excellence Program.
Technology and Enterprise
This dynamic area encompasses the four subject areas of Computing, Business Education, Design and Technology and Home Economics, and is one of the most exciting learning areas for the 21st century.
It represents just over 25% of all the courses being offered at John Curtin. The learning pathways delivered are directed towards diverse careers including, information technology, accounting, hospitality, and manual trades.
Technology and Enterprise offers computer science, applied information technology, accounting and finance, material design and technology (wood, metal and textiles), design (technical graphics), children, family and community (caring for others and living independently) and food science and technology (hospitality).
These course options provide life skills to take students confidently into the future world of work, careers and vocations.