CGS CONNECT

OUR CURRICULUM

PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISING WORLD

Canberra Grammar School has a proud tradition of academic success, with 90% of our students choosing to attend university and further their education. Our students are encouraged to develop critical-thinking capacities to have the confidence to lead, and to find creative solutions in a complex world.

Education for a global future

We focus on an educational experience that values the arts and sciences, and believe young people should cultivate a sense of responsibility to act judiciously and be of service to others. There is a focus on excellence, while also recognising that learning, at all levels of ability, should be celebrated and supported.

The School provides a responsive environment to all students, including those needing additional assistance and those with exceptional abilities. Graduates are internationally minded and technologically adept, ready to become future leaders both regionally and globally.

Academic conferences and parent communication

The School encourages our senior students to become self-directed learners, working with their teachers to set learning goals. Parents and students are invited to participate in Academic Conferences with teachers to review academic progress, allowing the opportunity to plan and implement strategies to assist in achieving these goals.

Teaching and innovation

Twenty first century schooling demands light flexible solutions to technology in the classroom. At Canberra Grammar School we are looking at how students can be connected to the wider world of learning through a dynamic wireless network well suited to the range of devices the students and staff have access to and will need in the future.

As light mobile computing options grow we are positioning both our teaching approaches and our approach to how students learn to take advantage of global resources and to develop an international outlook for our students that extends beyond their schooling.

A world of discovery and learning

At Canberra Grammar School our students learn how to learn – to be adaptable, resilient, reflective, and to have the capacity to research, think, act and communicate their ideas in multimodal ways. We provide our students with a core of essential learning that leads to a depth of understanding across major areas of human knowledge with a substantial emphasis on creating a solid foundation in English, Mathematics and Information Technology.

Teaching philosophy

A Canberra Grammar School education prepares students to be intelligent, innovative and international; to be responsible and compassionate leaders who place the welfare of others before self and who are willing to embrace the challenges of our century as opportunities to make a difference.

Our teachers embrace a collaborative approach to learning, supporting diverse interests and enabling rich learning experiences for our students. As our attention is focused on our students, our curricula and pedagogical decisions flow from this focus point.

Our teachers observe, listen and research alongside the students, encouraging them to be inquirers – to wonder and pose questions with many opportunities for critical, analytical, creative and reflective thinking, enriched through reciprocal interactions between peers, teachers and the broader community.

We believe optimal learning outcomes require strong home-school partnerships. Accordingly, we provide clear and continuous communication and encourage parent participation in the learning environment.

IB Primary Years Programme & Australian Curriculum

The learning programme at Canberra Grammar School has been designed to engage students in learning that is relevant, challenging and significant. As an International Baccalaureate School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) our philosophy and approach is based upon the teaching and learning principles of guided inquiry, development of globally significant conceptual understandings, collaborative learning, differentiation and assessment for learning.  Through the PYP framework we incorporate the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework requirements.

Guided inquiry enables our students to integrate information across traditional subject areas and apply the accumulation of their knowledge in a cohesive and effective way. What matters is not the regurgitation of facts rather the development of our students’ capability to take what they have learnt and to apply this learning to new situations. Engaging in guided inquiry involves students and teachers in a collaborative process of identifying questions about a topic that they then work towards answering before communicating, reflecting and acting upon newly acquired understandings and skills.

Learning through inquiry complements the rigorous approach we adopt to the development of students’ Literacy and Numeracy skills; it strengthens the purpose and application of the development of these foundational capabilities. While building foundation skills through inquiry our students participate in blocks of learning time that are dedicated specifically to the explicit and scaffolded teaching of Literacy and Numeracy.

The CGS Primary School is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme accredited school.

YEAR 7 CURRICULUM

Canberra Grammar School (CGS) is a candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP). This means that CGS will be trialling implementation of the MYP in Years 7 and 8 in January 2024 followed by Year 9 in 2025 while the school is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School offering the MYP in Years 7 to 9. Currently Canberra Grammar is authorised to deliver the Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students aligning with our core school values to develop Curious, Creative, Confident, and Compassionate Citizens of the world.

* Only schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.

The Year 7 programme caters for all IB MYP areas of learning. Delivering the Australian Curriculum the programme provides a strong foundation for future learning.

  • Arts: Visual Arts, Drama, Music
  • Design: Design and Technology and Digital Design
  • Language and Literature: English/EALD
  • Language Acquisition: French/Chinese *
  • Individuals and Societies: History and Geography *
  • Mathematics
  • Sciences
  • Physical and Health Education

*Indicates a Semester Course.

Year 8 curriculum

Canberra Grammar School (CGS) is a candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP). This means that CGS will be trialling implementation of the MYP in Years 7 and 8 in January 2024 followed by Year 9 in 2025 while the school is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School offering the MYP in Years 7 to 9. Currently Canberra Grammar is authorised to deliver the Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students aligning with our core school values to develop Curious, Creative, Confident, and Compassionate Citizens of the world.

* Only schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.

In Year 8, students must study a subject from each of the IB MYP areas of learning.

At Canberra Grammar School these are:

  • Arts: Visual Arts, Drama, Music , Dance
  • Design: Design and Technology, Digital Design, Textiles and Design
  • Language and Literature: English/EALD
  • Language Acquisition: French, Latin, Chinese
  • Individuals and Societies: History/Geography * Economics, Business and Law, Global Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Sciences
  • Physical and Health Education

These areas of learning are supported by compulsory lessons in Religious Education and Values (RaVE)

Year 9 and 10 curriculum

Canberra Grammar School (CGS) is a candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP). This means that CGS will be trialling implementation of the MYP in Years 7 and 8 in January 2024 followed by Year 9 in 2025 while the school is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School offering the MYP in Years 7 to 9. Currently Canberra Grammar is authorised to deliver the Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students aligning with our core school values to develop Curious, Creative, Confident, and Compassionate Citizens of the world.

* Only schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.

At Year 9 students must study a subject from six of the IB MYP areas of learning.

At Canberra Grammar School these are:

  • Language and Literature: English/EALD
  • Language Acquisition: French, Latin, Chinese (this will be the language studied in Year 8)
  • Individuals and Societies: History, Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Sciences
  • Physical and Health Education

These areas of learning are supported by compulsory lessons in Religious Education and Values (RaVE).

The acquisition of a second language is a key requirement of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. This reflects Canberra Grammar School’s emphasis on holistic education which creates inquisitive, open and culturally competent thinkers. Language learning is a process occurring over many stages, years, and contexts. Some of our students may be studying a language for the first time, and some may be moderately or highly proficient. The IB MYP is uniquely positioned to provide flexible, engaging options for language learning depending on student interest and prior experience.

YEAR 9

In Year 9, students will choose a subject from the Language options available and an elective.

Language Electives
  • Chinese
  • French
  • Latin
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Economics and Law
  • Global Studies
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • Film
  • Textiles and Design
  • Design and Technology
  • Digital Design
  • French
  • Chinese
  • Latin
  • Health and Exercise Science
  • Aboriginal Studies

 

YEAR 10

Language Electives
  • Chinese
  • French
  • Latin
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Economics and Law
  • Global Studies
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • Film
  • Textiles and Design
  • Design and Technology
  • Digital Design
  • French
  • Chinese
  • Latin
  • Health and Exercise Science
  • Aboriginal Studies

Years 11 to 12 curriculum - IB

Canberra Grammar School is an authorised IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Years 11 – 12. The IBDP offers an international education with access to a worldwide community of schools and educators. There are more than a million IB students in over 140 countries, and the diploma is recognised in tertiary institutions worldwide. The Programme aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Learn more about the IB DP on IBO.ORG.

The IBDP curriculum comprises six subject groups and students must choose one subject from each of Groups 1 to 5. Students not wishing to select a subject from Group 6 may select a sixth subject from any of Groups 2, 3 or 4 if this subject can be offered on line 6 (number of students dependent). Some subjects are also offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). Students also complete study in the Theory of Knowledge course, an Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).

 Group 1
Language & Literature
Group 2
Language Acquisition
Group 3
Individuals in Society
Group 4
Sciences
Group 5
Mathematics
Group 6
The Arts
  •  English A
  • Chinese A
  • Chinese B
  • English B
  • French B
  • German B
  • Latin
  • Indonesian ab initio
  • Spanish ab initio
  • French ab initio
  • Business Management
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Global Politics
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Environmental Systems and Societies
  • World Religions
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Design Technology
  • Sports, Exercise and Health Science
  • Environmental Systems and Societies
  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation
  • Film
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Visual Arts

Years 11 to 12 curriculum - HSC

Canberra Grammar School has long had an excellent reputation for academic success. The HSC offers students to study a rich and varied curriculum with an educational experience that prepares young adults to be intelligent, innovative and international in their outlook.

Canberra Grammar School has long had an excellent reputation for academic success. The HSC offers students to study a rich and varied curriculum with an educational experience that prepares young adults to be intelligent, innovative and international in their outlook.

In an era that will be dominated by such challenges as rapid globalisation, environmental change and extraordinary technological advancement, our students must develop a critical capacity to analyse complex problems, a creativity to find solutions and have the confidence to lead, and the HSC prepares students to be ready for the world.

The HSC is awarded to students who successfully complete Years 11 and 12 in NSW. The HSC is an internationally recognised credential that provides a foundation for students entering tertiary study, vocational training or employment. In line with our vision, the HSC contains a powerful curriculum and clearly defined standards of achievement.

CGS is the only school located in the nation’s capital that offers the Higher School Certificate in Year 11 and 12. Learn more about the HSC on the NSW Education Standards Authority website.

Core/Compulsory Electives
  • English Standard or Advanced (or EAL/D) or Studies (non-ATAR)
  • Mathematics: Standard, Advanced or Extension
  • Aboriginal Studies
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Dance
  • Design Technology
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Extension
  • English as an Additional Language
  • Entertainment VET
  • Geography
  • Legal Studies
  • Mathematics Extension
  • Modern History
  • Music
  • PDHPE
  • Physics
  • Software Design & Development
  • Studies of Religion II
  • Textiles and Design
  • Visual Arts
  • Work Studies (non ATAR)