Years 7–10
Radford College celebrates and caters for the unique needs and qualities of adolescents. Years 7 to 10 are important years, as students commence their path to discover who they are in their capabilities, interests and values.
In the Secondary School, students are introduced to a range of new subjects to inspire and challenge them. All students are offered a set of core subjects which are fundamental to a person's education. In Years 7 and 8, students are exposed to a wide range of elective subjects in order to get a "taste" of everything to see what they enjoy best. In later years, they choose their preferred elective subjects so they can spend more time on the subjects in which they excel.
Our greatest aspiration is to help students to embrace their intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual development. We encourage the pursuit of excellence in all areas by providing a learning community that lives up to its values and which provides each student with a range of quality experiences.
Years 7 and 8
Years 7 and 8 are the bridge between primary school and secondary school. We aim to celebrate and cater for the unique needs and qualities of young adolescents and provide multiple opportunities for every student to experience success.
Years 7 and 8 provide a broad range of teaching and learning activities that build upon the transdisciplinary approach of our Junior School and prepare students for the subject-based approach of later secondary schooling. The program is differentiated, where appropriate, to cater to the needs of each individual student.
To assist the transition into Year 7, our students have a pastoral mentor who teaches them for at least one subject, and in Year 8 we aim to have their pastoral mentor teach them for one subject. They are also exposed to the wealth of talent from experienced specialist teachers.
In Years 7 and 8 students study English, mathematics, science, a semester each of history and geography, health and physical education, religious and values education and languages – Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish – as the core subjects. In addition, they participate in trimester rotations over the two years covering dance, digital technology, drama, food technology, graphics and design, media arts, music, textile technology, visual arts, and wood technology. Year 7 students will also undertake the interdisciplinary wicked problems unit.
In the final trimester of Year 8 students will engage in two interdisciplinary projects across the arts, and design technology that have a focus on developing skills such as collaboration, critical and creative thinking. Students will be invited to participate in the College's co-curricular and service-learning activities offered in Years 7 and 8, and a wide range of enrichment activities.
Please see the Years 7-8 Academic Subject Guide below for more details.
Years 9 and 10
In Years 9 and 10 students have the opportunity to gain a depth of knowledge and understanding in subjects of their choice, as well as continuing to study the core program which comprises English, mathematics, science, a semester each of history and geography, health and physical education and religious and values education.
In the elective program they choose two of the following: big history, Chinese, dance, drama, food technology, French, graphics and design, information technology, international commerce, Japanese, media arts, music, philosophy, skills plus (for selected students), Spanish, textile technology, visual art and wood technology.
In Year 10 the core program adapts slightly in preparation for senior school with a study skills unit and one science subject each semester from earth and biological science and physical and chemical science.
Students will continue with their two chosen Year 9 electives, However, requests can be made to change subject within a subject change window, and will be approved where possible.
Please see the Years 9-10 Academic Subject Guide below for more details.
Unit outlines for currently enrolled students may be viewed through Nexus, using your family login.