Learning
At our school, we teach the NSW curriculum and offer many different subjects to support each student’s learning. We know that development of skills in literacy and numeracy are the building blocks for learning and for everyday life. Our teachers use effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their goals.
Why choose us for your child’s learning?
Strong foundations
We focus on the skills your child needs to succeed in school and beyond. This helps them feel confident and prepared for the future.
High-quality education
We offer a range of subjects to match what students enjoy and want to learn about. Our skilled teachers support every student to find what they love, do their best and succeed.
Inclusive and personalised learning
Our teachers adjust how they teach to suit your child’s needs, interests and learning pace. We make sure every student feels confident and supported.
Extension opportunities
Some students are ready for more challenges. We offer open-ended tasks, enrichment programs and support. We help all students to reach their full potential.
What students learn
Students learn a wide range of subjects in the NSW curriculum. They build skills, think creatively and prepare for life beyond school.
At our school, students can take part in special religious education (SRE) or special education in ethics (SEE) classes, depending on what’s available. These classes are delivered by approved providers.
When enrolling your child, you’ll be able to choose an option from the approved providers offered at our school. Students not attending SRE or SEE are given supervised alternative meaningful activities.
You’re welcome to change your choice at any time. Just let us know in writing or use the online form.
Parkes High School Scripture
Christian Special Religious Education (Combined Churches) classes involve open discussion and interactive learning based on the authorised curriculum, Think Faith. The goal of these classes is to provide students with opportunities to explore the bigger questions of life and gain a basic understanding of Christian beliefs and study contemporary issues related to the Christian faith. Students will also develop the critical literacy skills required to make informed decisions about the Christian faith for themselves. Fortnightly classes are held for students in years 7-9.
Special Religious Education Teacher: TBA
Our Special Religious Education teacher is employed by the Parkes Association for Christian Education.
Information about the SRE curriculum:
Name: Think Faith
Approved by: The Baptist Union of NSW
Our learning approach
Our school uses explicit teaching. This means we clearly tell students what they are learning, why it is important and how to do it step by step. Explicit teaching helps students understand new ideas by breaking them into smaller parts.
Learning at our school is student-centred, inclusive and practical. We are committed to equity and access. We support all learning styles and needs. Our teachers use proven teaching strategies. They take part in ongoing professional development to stay up to date with best teaching practice.
Our learning approach includes:
- real-world learning: hands-on tasks, group work and exploring new ideas
- technology: to help students learn and build digital skills
- flexible teaching: the right support for each student, with a focus on wellbeing
- community connections: through excursions and local programs.
Helping students progress
We support every student’s academic progress by:
- checking their progress and giving clear and timely feedback
- setting learning goals with each student
- giving extra help with personalised plans and support from specialist staff
- reporting on each student’s learning progress so parents and carers know how their child is doing
- providing targeted literacy and numeracy support in small groups
- making wellbeing part of everyday learning
- working with families to support learning at home and school
- helping students through transitions, like starting school or moving to a new stage of learning.
Learn more about additional learning support at our school.
Studying at high school
There is no one ‘best’ way to study. Students often find different methods and times to study to suit themselves. The key is regular study, not cramming before a test or exam.
Some suggestions for effective study time include:
- no mobile device use – no social media, messaging or calls during study time
- finish any homework for the day before starting study – remember they are separate
- focus on one topic at a time
- highlight class notes or handouts
- prepare summaries in your own words to revise concepts and skills learnt in class
- draw diagrams, mind maps or brainstorms to show the main ideas and links between them
- explain a topic or key concept to someone else
- prepare glossaries of technical language for the topic or course, include examples of appropriate use
- memorise short quotes
- read summaries aloud – you can record yourself and play them back while travelling
- write key concepts on flash cards with an explanation on the back to use for quick recall testing
- read widely about topics being studied – add any new information or quotes to your summary (remember, when you use words or passages from a source such as a book, article or website you must reference them and use quotation marks).
The best study is active study – not just reading pages and pages of notes. Try creating summaries and lists, drawing mind maps, practising answering questions, teaching someone else about a topic and so on. Active study helps move content from short-term to long-term memory. When reading over notes, try to read them aloud.
A study timetable can be useful to help high school students plan time each week revising work covered in class.
This is an example of a completed study timetable (DOCX 56.59KB) for a Year 11 student.
- Download or print our Study timetable (DOCX 52.96KB).
- Fill in regular activities such as school, sport, part-time jobs and so on. Don’t forget to include meal times and time to travel to activities.
- Students should discuss how much time to spend studying with their teachers. Older students will be spending 1 to 2 hours on each subject each week. This will increase as they get closer to the HSC.
- Think about the best time to study. Some kids prefer to get straight into it after the after-school snack, to get it out of the way. Others like to chill before dinner and get into their school work in the evening. Identify the most effective time.
- Block out chunks of time on the Study timetable to study at the identified most effective times. Some subjects will require more time than others – use the advice of the class teacher. Don’t forget to consider the school timetable when you are creating a study timetable – it might be a bit much to do 2 hours of physics on the same day as a double period. Don’t forget any subjects – even the ‘easiest’ will require revision in Years 11 and 12.
- Colour code the chunks of time for different subjects.
- Allow a break of at least 5 to 10 minutes each hour.
- Trial the study timetable for a fortnight and see if it is realistic. There’s no point having a study timetable that isn’t followed.
- Be realistic, some days there will be a pile of homework or family events which means a day off study. If your child can stick to their study timetable 70 to 80% of the time, they are on their way to success.
Parkes High School Homework Centre
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