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ConnectHenley High School prides itself on offering a diverse and robust curriculum that aligns with both the Australian Curriculum and the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
Our commitment to excellence and choice is reflected in various specialised programs designed to meet the unique needs of our school community.
Highly regarded for our broad curriculum, career guidance, and innovative use of ICT tools, we provide students with the flexibility to choose their educational journey.
Our Sports Academy features a specialised program for high-achieving student athletes in 10 sports, emphasising our dedication to developing both athletic and academic prowess.
The school excels in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as multidisciplinary projects, literacy and numeracy, and VET (flexible industry pathways) programs.
Additionally, we integrate internationalism, ensuring a global perspective in our educational approach. Students from around the world study at Henley High where shared perspectives between local and international students greatly enhance the learning environment.
At Henley High School, we are committed to delivering high-quality teaching and learning experiences for all students, including those with significant intellectual and/or physical disabilities and those who may feel marginalised.
Curriculum Guide
The Henley High School 2025 Curriculum Guide describes courses offered in Years 7 to 12. Subject selection at the secondary level is very important in shaping future pathways and links between school, further study and the world of work.
Course counselling and subject selection takes place in Term 3 each year.
Middle school
Years 7-9
Henley High School has a focus on continuity of learning in the
middle years. Close links with our feeder primary schools
ensure that we are able to build and expand upon the learning that has taken place in Years 5 and 6.
Middle school students are actively encouraged to take control of their learning. Teachers work closely with students to develop a curriculum that is challenging and relevant. Some parts of the curriculum will be taught
with an integrated approach. This means that some subjects are taught with a particular theme or topic.
At Henley High School there is a House System that starts in the middle school and consists of five houses: Florey, Lowitja, Mawson, Mitchell and
Oliphant. Each House has a House Leader and Manager and a team of teachers who work together to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all students within the House.
Middle school curriculum
The middle school curriculum provides students with a broad range of studies. Students study a total of 14 semesters in each year, where a unit of study is a semester of work (approximately 3.5 hours per week of class lessons).
General capabilities
A major focus in the middle years is building strong and effective relationships. This supports the development of personal and social capabilities and ethical and cultural understanding, which are needed to be successful in the wider community.
Students will learn skills in digital technologies using laptops and electronic devices. Literacy and numeracy is also a key focus area in all subjects. The emphasis is on gaining these skills within a diverse range of learning contexts.
Subject selection
| Selection | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students complete 2 semesters of each (compulsory) | English Mathematics Science Humanities | English Mathematics Science Humanities Japanese | English Mathematics Science |
| Students complete 1 semester of each (compulsory) | Digital Technologies Health and PE Home Economics Performing Arts Technologies Visual Art | Health and PE Home Economics Technologies | Health and PE History Food and Health |
| Students choose (choice): 1 semester in Year 8 5 semesters in Year 9 | Nil | Dance Drama Media Arts Music Visual Art | Design and Technologies Flexible Learning Humanities Home Economics Languages Physical Education The Arts Vocational Education and Training (Flexible Industry Pathways) |
Senior School
Year 10 curriculum
All Year 10 students will study the equivalent of 14 semesters over the full year and by offering an extensive range of options, we can best cater for the needs and abilities of all learners.
Students in Year 10 must undertake Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) (formerly PLP) and this is a compulsory component of SACE. A ‘C’ grade or better is required to successfully complete this 10 credit unit. EIF is embedded into the Year 10 Care Group Program.
South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) (Year 11 and 12)
The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) is a modern, internationally-recognised secondary school qualification designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and capabilities to flourish in an evolving and challenging world.
Students will be awarded the SACE when they successfully complete requirements that include a range of skills and subjects they may study at school or may have acquired through other education, training or experience.
To complete the qualification, students will need to attain 200 credits from a selection of Stage 1 and Stage 2 subjects. A 10-credit subject is usually one semester of study, and a 20-credit subject is usually studied over two semesters.
The SACE is flexible and student schedules may differ depending on school pathways. The majority of students in South Australia will start their journey with EIF in Year 10 Care Group, their selection of Stage 1 subjects in Year 11 (including the compulsory Maths and English choices), and their selection of Stage 2 subjects in Year 12 (including the Research Project, completed during Year 11).
The SACE has evolved to provide students with more flexibility to choose subjects that reflect their interests, skills, and career goals, using a combination of SACE subjects, Vocational Education and Training (Flexible Industry Pathways), community learning, university, and TAFE studies.
SACE subjects are made up of investigations, performances, and other assessment tasks to demonstrate skills, knowledge, and personal capabilities throughout the year. Some subjects will have an end-of-year exam worth a maximum of 30% of the overall grade.
Further information is available at the SACE website.
Subject selection
| Selection | Year 10 | Year 11 SACE Stage 1 | Year 12 SACE Stage 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students complete 2 semesters of each (compulsory) | English Mathematics Science | English | Nil |
| Students complete 1 semester of each (compulsory) | Fit for Life History EIF (Exploring Identities and Futures) | Mathematics Research Project | Nil |
| Students choose (choice): 6 semesters in Year 10 8 semesters in Year 11 8 semesters in Year 12 | Design and Technologies Flexible Learning Home Economics and Health Humanities Languages Mathematics Physical Education Science The Arts Vocational Education and Training (Flexible Industry Pathways) | Design and Technologies Flexible Learning Home Economics and Health Humanities Languages Mathematics Physical Education Science The Arts Vocational Education and Training (Flexible Industry Pathways) | Design and Technologies English Flexible Learning Humanities Languages Mathematics Physical Education Science Sports Academy The Arts Vocational Education and Training (Flexible Industry Pathways) |
Curriculum areas
English
Alexandra Christodoulou
English is a compulsory subject in the Australian Curriculum and SACE Stage 1, which builds upon the skills developed in previous years. In Years 7-10, students are exposed to a wide range of classic and contemporary texts and have an opportunity to develop their own writing style.
In Stage 2 English Literary Studies, students will study a range of literary texts which could include:
- Literary fiction (novels)
- Films
- Classic poetry
- Plays
- Short stories
At Henley High School, we use Thinking Routines to elicit feedback from our students and develop critical thinking skills. We also explicitly teach oracy skills to encourage students to activate each other as learning resources for each other. Both of these approaches provide students with the appropriate level of stretch and challenge in their learning.
We also provide students with enrichment experiences such as Poetry, Shakespeare and State Theatre Performances, a Book Club and a Short Film Festival.
Subjects
- Year 7 to 10 English
- Stage 1 and 2 Essential English
- Stage 1 and 2 English
- Stage 1 and 2 English Literary Studies
Mathematics
Nicole Osborne
Mathematics is a compulsory learning area up to Year 11, with students being required to pass one semester of Year 11 Mathematics to SACE.
Years 7 and 8 maths students focus on developing in the proficiency strands, understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning, within the fields of number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.
From Year 10 students begin to select the level of Mathematics that best suits their needs and abilities. Students are encouraged to choose the highest level they are capable of in consultation with their teachers.
Henley High School offers all Stage 2 Mathematical SACE subjects in Year 12, providing students the opportunity to study the mathematical courses that best align to their chosen career pathways.
Maths Club runs once a week and provides one-to-one support for students who need help with their mathematics homework, assignments or test preparation from teachers who volunteer their time.
Subjects
- Specialist Mathematics
- Mathematical Methods
- General Mathematics
- Essential Mathematics (Applied Mathematics – Stage 2, Numeracy – Stage 1)
- Mathematics
- Extracurricular activities such as Maths Quiz Night, Mathematics Competitions
Science
Andrew Sayers
The Science Faculty at Henley High School has an established reputation for achieving excellence. Students who study Science have consistently achieved outstanding results over a sustained period, with multiple merits in Year 12 every year and a high proportion of A grades (above the state average).
The school has invested heavily in Science in recent years, with five new science labs (providing a total of ten specialist science labs) and cutting edge technology and equipment. This strategic investment has the Science Faculty well positioned to continue to achieve excellence in the years ahead.
At Henley, students have the opportunity to participate in numerous extra-curricular Science programs and activities. One noteworthy example, is our unique STEMlings program, where a select group of Year 8 students have the opportunity to participate in a range of STEM-related excursions.
Subjects
- Science
- Body and Mind Science
- Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- Psychology
- Nutrition
- Earth and Environmental Science
Humanities
Linda Emes
The Humanities help us to understand our heritage and where we currently stand in our world. We investigate where our ideas, languages, laws and many other aspects of our lives came from and are heading.
We develop open minds and learn to appreciate different cultures, ideologies and practices. Students learn how to propagate ideas to sustain an economic and environmentally conscious future, whilst analysing the effects of past and present decision making.
Our Humanities programs give students agency to choose areas of study that they are interested in. We offer modern and ancient options, current social and cultural areas of study and research-based field studies.
Students are able to immerse themselves in hands-on practical activities that give them an authentic experience, whether it be geography-based field experiences or social actions where students see their impact.
We are leaders in the Business Innovation in Education field. As the pilot school for the Shark Tank program in Year 11, we have set the standard for all schools undertaking this program. The students enjoy real world authentic opportunities with a great blend of business academia and real-world approaches to learning and immersing students in entrepreneurship.
Subjects
- Modern History
- Ancient History
- Geography
- Society and Culture
- Business Innovation
The Arts
Visual Arts
Tania Madigan
In The Arts, students create artworks through investigation, experimentation, refinement, and resolution as a medium to express their personal, social, emotional, spiritual and physical world view.
In Media Arts, students use communications technologies to creatively explore, make and interpret stories about people, ideas and the world around them
In Visual Art, students learn in, through and about visual arts practices and develop practical skills which inform their work as artists and audience.
In Fashion, Environmental and Graphic Design, students experience and explore the concepts of designers and artworks, and develop practical skills and critical thinking which inform the creation of their own design works.
The visual, design and media arts facilities at Henley High School provide students with a range of outstanding equipment and resources, ensuring students can create artworks in a variety of mediums, including kiln ceramics.
All Visual, Design and Media Arts students have access to industry standard software including the Abode Creative Cloud suite, Studio One, FL Studio and Ableton Live to enable outstanding high end creative opportunities.
Subjects
- Media and Visual Arts
- Fashion, Environmental and Graphic Design
- Design, Creative Arts: Digital Media and Visual Art
Performing Arts
Tania Madigan
In The Arts, students create artworks through investigation, experimentation, refinement, and resolution as a medium to express their personal, social, emotional, spiritual and physical world view.
In Dance, students integrate choreography, performance, and appreciation of and responses to dance and dance making.
In Drama, students create, rehearse, perform and respond to drama. They draw on their experience as a source of ideas to explore and depict real and fictional worlds.
In Music, students listen to, compose, record, and perform music from a diverse range of styles, traditions, and contexts.
At Henley High School, all Performing Arts subjects from Year 8 include authentic assessment tasks which involve large scale productions, such as Music Night, Evening of Dance and the School Musical that are performed to an authentic audience after hours. This ensures students have real world Arts experiences, a high level of engagement and purposeful events where they can strive for excellence.
Subjects
- Performing Arts
- Music
- Dance
- Drama
- Dance, Drama, Music, and School Musical
- Dance, Drama, Music, and Creative Arts (Performing Arts Focus)
Technologies
Advanced Manufacturing and Product Design
Tim Lepley
This Design and Technology course is for students with an interest in emerging technologies, such as CAD, Control Technology, Robotics, Coding and Electronics.
With a strong focus on inquiry-based learning, students will focus on a variety of STEM related topics, which will include Engineering, Electro Technology, CAD modelling and computer aided manufacturing.
Students will develop skills in advanced manufacturing and from there will create a product that meets the needs of an identified client.
Advanced Manufcaturing and Product Design provides an engaging curriculum from Year 9 to SACE. Students develop skills into Architectural and Engineering Drawing in which students learn to use industry standard computer aided design programs.
Subjects
- Year 9 Advanced Manufacturing and Product Design
- Year 10 Advanced Manufacturing and Product Design
- Year 10 Architectural and Engineering Drawing
- Year 11 and 12 Advanced Manufacturing and Product Design
- Year 11 and 12 Architectural and Engineering Drawing
Jewellery Technologies
Tim Lepley
Studies in Jewellery Design allows students the opportunity to design and create a range of projects using traditional skills such as saw piercing, texturing and soldering.
Students use the design process to Investigate, Design, Produce and Evaluate tasks based on a variety of project briefs.
The Jewellery Studio is a unique space that blurs the lines between workshop and classroom. With communal benches and shared tools, it is a creative environment that supports student learning by encouraging each individual to use their skill set to develop a variety of different outcomes.
Students feel a sense of ownership being able to create a range of complex pieces and are able to make connections between their abilities and industry opportunities.
Subjects
- Year 9 Jewellery Design and Manufacturing
- Year 10 Jewellery Design and Manufacturing
- Year 11 and 12 Jewellery Design and Manufacturing
Materials Technologies
Tim Lepley
Materials Technologies is designed for students with an interest in Wood, Metal and Plastics Technology. Students develop a range of fundamental skills and knowledge using a variety of tools and equipment.
Students gain an understanding of a range of production processes and workshop procedures, underpinned with a strong focus on work safety.
Materials Technologies has strong pathways into many sectors of industry. Henley High School in association with the Building and Construction Industry and the Civil Construction Industry aims for students to learn and develop fundamental skills to develop
future industry opportunities. This includes enabling students to make informed choices around transitioning into a Certificate II Trade Training program.
Topics include:
- Carpentry and Construction
- Paving and Landscaping
- Safe operation of a range of associated plant,
- machinery and power tools
- WHS in the work place
- Industry site visits.
Subjects
- Design, Technology and Engineering
- Wood Technology and Metal Technology
- Wood Technology and Plastics Technology
- Construction Pathway Focus: Civil and General Construction
- Construction Pathway Focus: Electrical, Refrigeration and
- Metal Engineering
- Metal Technology
- Wood Technology
- Metal Engineering
- Furniture Construction
- Construction Pathway
Health and Physical Education
In Health and Physical Education subjects, students learn to apply specialised movement skills and movement strategies and concepts in a variety of different sporting contexts environments. They also explore movement concepts and strategies to evaluate and refine their own and others’ movement performances.
Students will refine and apply strategies for maintaining a positive outlook and evaluating behavioural expectations in different leisure, social, movement and online situations. They also propose strategies to support the development of preventive health practices that build and optimise community health and wellbeing.
At Henley High School we have a range of subject pathways to Stage 2 which cater for and support all students. The traditional Physical Education course caters for students wishing to develop their complex analytical skills through sport.
The Sports Studies courses (including girls only) are specifically designed to increase student capabilities through collaboration, personal development and individual reflections on performance and engagement in a practical environment.
The Sport and Event Management course allows students to develop skills and knowledge involved in sports administration. Students are actively involved in the organisation and running of major sports events at Henley High School and through the community working with Secondary School Sport.
Subjects
- Health and Physical Education
- Physical Education
- Fit for Life
- Sports Studies
- Girls Sports Studies
- Sport and Event Management
Languages
Ilana Nicolle
Communication is a human imperative. Irrespective of which language, communication involves interaction to convey meaning as well as imagination, creativity and a broad understanding of ourselves and others.
Language learning provides the opportunity for students to engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world and its peoples, and reflect on their experience in various
aspects of social life, including their own participation and ways of being in the world.
Henley High School has a strong languages program, which is primarily focussed on Japanese, with students able to study Japanese from Year 8 to 12.
We also host Japanese students as both long term and as study tours, providing students with authentic opportunities to interact with Japanese language speakers. Our sister school, with whom our students connect virtually and on study tour trips to Japan in the senior years, provides a rich and mutually beneficial learning environment and develops global mindedness amongst our students.
Subjects
- Year 8 Japanese (compulsory)
- Year 9 and 10 Japanese (elective)
- SACE Stage 1 and 2 Japanese Continuers
- SACE Stage 1 and 2 Japanese Beginners
- There is also an opportunity to study additional languages of choice through the School of Languages, when requested.
Home Economics
Child Studies
Kate Meakins
Child studies provides students the chance to develop an understanding of young children and babies in the areas of social, emotional and cognitive development along with how children from birth to eight physically develop, such as their fine and gross motor skills.
Child Studies is an interactive program that provides students the opportunity to gain valuable insight into how young people play, communicate and learn in a variety of settings.
Within our community partnerships, Child Studies is designed to provide the essential skills, knowledge and foundation to begin a pathway into Early Childhood Education and Care.
Students have the opportunity to partake in work experience in a Child Care setting as well as working with the Henley Beach Community Kindergarten.
Subjects
- Year 10 Child Studies
- Year 10 Child Studies (Early Educator)
- Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care
- Year 11 Child Studies
- Year 12 Child Studies
Food, Health and Wellbeing
Kate Meakins
Students will explore nutritional impacts of adhering to the Australian Guidelines to Healthy Eating and the potential impacts of lifestyle disease, on the community. Students undertake cooking practicals to develop skills and knowledge in safe food handling, safe kitchen practices and how to choose and follow healthy recipes.
The Health and Wellbeing program is aligned to the Personal, Social and Community Health strand in the Health and Physical Education curriculum.
As a ShineSA School, this program has a strong focus on individual identity and understanding puberty. Students evaluate and analyse how individuals respond emotionally to different situations and the actions that demonstrate empathy and sensitive behaviours within our community.
Henley High School has large and extensive facilities including new kitchens.
Food, Health and Wellbeing are a compulsory subject within the middle years. Students develop confidence, teamwork and communication skills to actively prepare and cook healthy food choices. Students design menus, food products and packaging as well as health promoting activities within the community.
Subjects
- Food, Nutrition and Health
- Food Design
- Catering and Event Management
- Café Skills
- Health and Wellbeing
- Food and Hospitality
Textiles Technologies
Kate Meakins
Within Textile Technologies students develop, design and use construction techniques to produce textile items within design parameters. Students will investigate fabric construction and properties, sustainability and issues around fast fashion and ethical understanding around textile production in Australian.
Students will develop skills in the safe use of Bernina sewing machines to create two design projects.
A new textiles curriculum pathway was introduced to Henley High School this year is a standalone elective subject that moves away from the traditional aspects of sewing skills.
Students develop critical and creative thinking skills to allow them to design and create projects within textiles using a range of technologies including digital technologies and CAD design.
Subjects
- Fashion and Textile Design
- Fashion, Environmental and Graphic Design
- Jewellery Design
- Business Innovation