At Shirley Smith High School, our curriculum is grounded in the Australian Curriculum, providing every student with a rigorous, engaging and future-focused education. We are committed to developing curious, connected learners through high-quality teaching, inclusive practices and meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for success both within and beyond school.
Our teaching and learning are organised across four faculty areas that foster deep learning and authentic connections across disciplines:
- Eat Move Thrive – Health and Physical Education, Food Technology, and our social and emotional learning program.
- Global Perspectives – English, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), Languages, our Library, and Learner Labs, which provides targeted literacy and numeracy support for students requiring additional intervention.
- Creative and Performing Arts – Visual Arts, Ceramics, Textiles, Drama and Music.
- STEM – Science, Mathematics, Digital Technologies, Design and Technologies, Engineering, and Wood and Metal technologies.
Our dedicated Wellbeing and Inclusion Team complements our curriculum by coordinating tailored small-group programs that provide targeted support to meet the diverse learning and wellbeing needs of students.
Every student participates in our Connect program, a dynamic and responsive social and emotional learning curriculum designed around the evolving needs of our students and community. Through Connect, students develop skills in wellbeing, resilience, respectful relationships, self-awareness, emotional regulation, help-seeking, digital citizenship and positive participation in school life.
Students also engage in Curiosity Labs in Years 7 and 8, an inquiry-based program that encourages creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking through authentic, interdisciplinary learning experiences.
In Years 9 and 10, Curiosity Labs evolves into our Careers program, supporting students as they prepare for future pathways. Students explore career opportunities, develop employability skills, write résumés and job applications, participate in work experience, learn about college and post-school options, investigate Australian School-Based Apprenticeships and other vocational pathways, and complete the Road Ready program to prepare for independent travel and driving.
Collaboration is at the heart of our approach. Teachers work together through co-planning, co-teaching and ongoing professional collaboration to design engaging learning experiences that are responsive to student needs and underpinned by evidence-informed practice. Through a balanced and responsive curriculum, Shirley Smith High School equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive as lifelong learners in an ever-changing world.