Senior Years

Senior Year students consistently achieve outstanding SACE results with 96% successfully completing their SACE in 2020, the highest ever number of Mark Oliphant College students completed their SACE along with the highest ever number of students receiving a university offer.

Student academic achievement, wellbeing and engagement are tracked and monitored regularly to ensure all students are supported to reach their full potential. Wellbeing is integral in optimising student learning and we aim to develop positive, connected and engaged learners who succeed through resilience and determination. We believe students learn best when they have effective working relationships with their teachers and peers, are highly challenged to achieve their best, and are engaged in authentic learning with real-world connections.

The Senior Years Structure

The Senior Years at Mark Oliphant College comprises of students from Years 10 to 12.

Year 10 students commence SACE through the Personal Learning Plan subject which considers their strengths, passions and career aspirations. Students participate in industry immersion, work experience, alternative and extra-curricular programs.

Year 11 students have an extensive range of SACE subjects and Vocational Educational Training courses to support career aspirations. Students complete compulsory subjects; Research Project, English and Mathematics to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements of the SACE.

Year 12 students are tracked, monitored and counselled effectively to support post school transition options. Study periods are scheduled with home study options for students on track. Practice examinations are held to support the end-of-year examination.

Exams occur at the end of semester for subjects which lead to examination style assessment in Year 12. Exams are important as they provide an opportunity for further assessment as well as providing students with essential study skills.

Curriculum

The Senior Years’ curriculum is determined by two frameworks; the Australian Curriculum in Year 10 and The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) in Years 11 and 12.

We are committed to excellence in teaching and learning, through explicitly teaching subject specific Tier 2 and 3 words and developing student agency strategies across all curriculum areas. Flexibility in design and delivery leads to creative and collaborative work through Professional Learning Teams to support our young people to strive for their highest potential. We use flexible modes of learning through SACE subjects, VET and Flexible Learning Options (FLO). We provide career focused learning, supporting all student pathway aspirations with staff working collaboratively with students to tailor their SACE completion to their preferred pathway. Teachers focus on providing quality differentiated teaching with modifications, adjustments, special provisions and other intervention strategies for targeted groups of students. Targeted support is offered for students through a number of short and long-term intervention programs and activities.

Reporting

Year 10 and Stage 1 are school assessed with grading A to E. Stage 2 is a shared responsibility between our school and the SACE board with grading A+ to E-.

A five-week reporting system to monitor and track student learning is used which includes interim reports in the middle of each term and formal reports at the end of term. Interim reporting outcomes are shared with parents/caregivers via Daymap text message for on track and at-risk students. Analysis of the data allows students to be case managed and identified for targeted intervention processes in line with the school’s Work Completion and Submission Policy. Incremental deadlines are used for SACE compulsory subjects to employ support in a timely manner. The new Daymap parent portal will allow teachers, students and parents to monitor learning progress as each assessment is completed.

Senior Years Contacts

Jenna Miltenoff, Head of SchoolOrio Denti, Assistant Principal
Quality Assurance & School Improvement B-12
Rachel Tomlin, Assistant Principal
Wellbeing, Inclusion & Positive Behavior for Learning B-12
Brodie Cheeseman, Coordinator
Aboriginal Education
Matt Verner, Coordinator
Student Wellbeing & Engagement
Scott Dirix, Coordinator
Tailored Learning Provisions
Sarah Short, Coordinator
Year 10
Courtney Pearce, Coordinator
HASS
Romina Gilardi, Coordinator
Year 11 & Cross Disciplinary Coordinator
Andrea Driedstadt, Coordinator
Science
Larah Stieg, Coordinator
Year 12 & SACE
Sophie Princi, Coordinator
Technologies
Casey Roe, Coordinator
VET & Student Pathways
Alyssa Di Girolamo
Whole School Literacy Improvement
Updated 23rd February 2024