About the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA)
The following extract was taken from the scsa.wa.edu.au website
Who We Are
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) is the Western Australian Government certification authority responsible for setting the curriculum for over 1100 schools from Kindergarten to Year 12. Reporting directly to the Western Australian Minister for Education and Training, the SCSA is administered by a board of educators with experience in curriculum and assessment from early childhood to post-graduate university level.
Our curriculum experts are experienced educators who excel in supporting teachers to achieve the best possible outcomes for their students. Our approach to designing the curriculum is based on evidence gathered from teachers working in Western Australian schools, and validated by university-based academics, curriculum specialists and measurement experts. The SCSA conducts regular quality reviews to ensure the curriculum remains relevant and focused on students, their learning needs and aspirations.
The SCSA has been licensing international schools to deliver its curriculum programs overseas for more than 32 years. Schools currently licensed to deliver the SCSA’s curriculum programs are located in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Through the SCSA's curriculum and support provided to international schools, students are able to access a range of desired post-school study and work options.
How SCSA approach curriculum
The SCSA has a rich tradition of providing world-class curriculum programs to Western Australian and international schools. These curriculum programs, adopted and adapted from the Australian Curriculum, are relevant to students' learning needs and aspirations, evidence-based and forward-focused.
The SCSA has set a minimum standard for students in Year 12 for literacy and numeracy based on the Australian Core Skills Framework Level 3. This is a standard regarded as essential for individuals to meet the demands of everyday work and life in a knowledge-based economy.
We are also committed to helping students develop transferrable skills, such as:
- Critical and creative thinking
- Personal and social capabilities
- Intercultural understandings.
These skills are integral to enable students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world, including embarking upon further education, training and work.
By completing our curriculum programs, each year thousands of students have gained entry into:
- Western Australia’s universities
- Australia’s universities, including the group of eight
- Leading universities around the world, including in the United States of America and the United Kingdom
- Other post-school pathways.
We use the latest international research on effective assessment practice to develop support materials for teaching and learning in schools. By reviewing thousands of authentic student work samples from all year levels and year-level syllabuses, we capture a wide range of student achievement. We consult with experienced classroom teachers to independently analyse and validate the ranking of student work samples.
Curriculum programs
Our curriculum programs, and the resources and support we provide, are designed to make a difference to students’ lives. We do this by providing students, teachers and schools with access to high quality, relevant curriculum that maximises students' future opportunities.
International schools can be licensed by the SCSA to deliver the following Western Australian curriculum programs:
- Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline (the Outline) – Kindergarten to Year 10
- Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) – Years 11 and 12, two-year senior secondary school
- Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) – Year 12, one-year senior secondary school.
The Western Australian curriculum offered by the SCSA addresses the diverse learning needs and aspirations of students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The SCSA has adopted and adapted Western Australia’s curriculum from the Australian Curriculum:
- for Pre-primary to Year 10 in eight learning areas
- for Years 11 and 12, by reviewing our established courses as part of a syllabus reform and affirming our focus on rigour and education standards.
The SCSA provides integrated Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines and resource materials to support learning in the early years based on nationally endorsed frameworks. The Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines provide for an effective transition into Pre-primary to Year 10 education.
Kindergarten to Year 10
The Outline provides schools with comprehensive information to:
- plan student learning programs
- assess student progress
- report to parents.
It clearly sets out the knowledge, understandings, skills, values and attitudes that all students are expected to acquire by completing the curriculum set out in the Outline. Successful completion of the curriculum provided within the Outline ensures students are well placed to progress to the WACE program. Visit the following links to explore some of the materials and resources that the Outline provides.
The Principles of Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Western Australian curriculum
Teaching Support Materials
Assessment
Pre-primary to Year 10: Teaching, Assessing and Reporting Policy
Australian Matriculation Program (AUSMAT)
The AUSMAT program is a world recognised pre-university program.
The AUSMAT program provides a seamless transition into universities across Western Australia, Australia and around the world, including leading universities in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
AUSMAT opens pathways to a wide range of career opportunities.
The one-year AUSMAT program is the same as the Year 12 program offered in Western Australia. Successful students will receive the WACE certification, issued by the SCSA on behalf of the Western Australian Government.
Years 11 and 12
Students who successfully complete the WACE or AUSMAT programs will receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR opens in new window) that provides a seamless transition into:
- Western Australia’s universities
- Australia’s universities, including the group of eight
- leading universities around the world, including in the United States of America and the United Kingdom
- a wide range of career opportunities.
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)
The WACE is the Western Australian senior secondary school certificate of education. It is recognised nationally and internationally by universities and other tertiary institutions, industry and training providers.
The SCSA's Years 11 and 12 website provides comprehensive information, syllabus materials and teaching resources. Visit the following links to explore some of the materials and resources that the website provides. Note: many SCSA resources are available for teachers and require a password to access.
VET
What is VET
Vocational Education and Training (VET) provides you with skills and knowledge to perform effectively in the workplace.
A VET qualification prepares you for, or in some instances qualifies you to do, a specific job. VET can contribute directly to your career goals no matter what your destination is. It all counts in some way at different points in your career.
WHY WOULD I CHOOSE VET?
- VET offers many pathways towards your career and vocation aspirations
- VET is nationally recognised which means you can take it anywhere in Australia
- VET contributes significantly towards your Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).
TRAINING PATHWAYS
A VET qualification provides you with essential skills which are transferable across multiple employment and education pathways. You will find information in the post-secondary pathways brochures.
VET AND THE WASSA
Completed qualifications recorded as part of your secondary studies are listed on the Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA) along with individual units of competency achieved.
HOW DOES VET CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE WACE?
VET can contribute towards the WACE as VET credit transfer OR as a VET industry specific course which combines a VET qualification with industry relevant workplace learning.
Visit https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/vet/howvet-contributes-towards-wace