Secondary School
Year 7-Year 12
Academic Excellence and Exceptional Graduate Pathways
After completing Year 12, our students emerge as young leaders with limitless horizons, equipped with the knowledge, skills and academic results to step confidently into the workplace or tertiary education.
Individual Attention
We deliberately limit our Secondary School class sizes, so that each learner receives time and space to build excellent relationships with teaching staff, access support, and engage deeply in their daily learning.
Leadership Opportunities
Guiding and shaping the leaders and community advocates of the next generation, our Secondary School leadership program combines academic rigour with the further development of key skills and qualities that further equip our graduates for success as they move into the next phase of learning, work and life.
Focus on Positive Education & Wellbeing
Each student benefits from a range of services, strategies and initiatives designed to support holistic student wellbeing – not only their academic results – as they mature into outstanding young adults. From opportunities to engage in mindfulness and exercise, to community- programs promoting connection, we prioritise happy and healthy students.
Support for Personal Development
To complement our broad curriculum, we focus on key character strengths — including perseverance, resilience and self-efficacy — that support personal development. The development of confidence, identity and a sense of self is key as students begin to set their course for the future.
Supportive Subject-Specialist Staff
Experts in Secondary Years education, our teachers’ subject-specific expertise enables a top-tier teaching and learning experience. Our teachers work to offer rich subject content, differentiated learning opportunities, and high levels of student engagement — allowing each learner to access a world-class Anglican education.
Extensive Opportunities
Our College provides opportunity for exploration of new interest and talents within an environment of safety, encouragement and support. In Secondary School, students experience increased agency through subject choices and electives, as well as access to co-curricular programs that allow each learner to broaden their horizons beyond the classroom – setting the foundations for a lifelong love of learning.
Year 7: Subjects
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Digital Technologies
- Health and Physical Education
- Business and Economics
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- Environmental Studies
- Japanese
- Media Arts
- Wellbeing and Values Education (WAVE)
*These subjects are complemented by semester-long Friday afternoon electives made available through our Investig8 Program.
Year 8: Subjects
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Geography
- History
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Digital Technologies
- Health and Physical Education
- Business and Economics
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- Environmental Studies
- Japanese
- Media Arts
- Wellbeing and Values Education (WAVE)
*These subjects are complemented by semester-long Friday afternoon electives made available through our Investig8 Program. Students may continue to further explore elective choices made in Year 7, or to explore new areas.
Year 9: Subjects & Electives
From Year 9, fewer ‘core’ subjects make room in the study load for deeper engagement with specialist subjects. In Year 9, our Core Curriculum comprises:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Geography
- History
- Health and Physical Education
Each learner can choose specialist subjects, which vary between a semester (two terms) and a full year in length. These specialist subjects include:
- Design and Technologies
- Digital Technologies
- Drama
- Food Technology
- Japanese
- Media Arts
- Music
- Sustainability Studies
- Visual Arts
Year 9 students also continue to participate in the Investig8 Program.
Investig8 Program
Our Investig8 Program enriches the available curriculum through a range of electives that focus on:
- Enabling students to develop transferrable skills;
- Creating a portfolio of key competencies for each student;
- Allowing students to either find or follow their passion by exploring areas of learning outside of the general curriculum.
The Investig8 Program takes place on Friday afternoons, with students able to select up to 6 different semester-long electives from Years 7 to 10. Programs on offer as part of Investig8 include:
- Arts and Textiles
- Camping and Outdoor Skills
- Debating/Public Speaking
- Electronic Music Production
- Lego Robotics
- Media Production
- Mindfulness and Personal Wellbeing
- Photography
- Multicultural Cooking
- Skills-Based Cooking
- Sailing
- Creative Writing
- Sustainability – Growing Food
- Sports Science
- Golf
- Football
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Musical Theatre
- Community Service
The Rite Journey
Taking place during Year 9, The Rite Journey program supports the development of self-aware, responsible, respectful and resilient adults.
Designed to help young people manage the transition from child to adult, The Rite Journey aims to:
- Acknowledge & celebrate each student’s shift into adulthood
- Offer conversations & experiences to guide this transition
- Foster connections with positive adult role models
- Educate & include parents/carers in the process
- Connect students with their strengths
- Build self-awareness
Facilitated by teaching staff, in conjunction with experts from The Rite Journey team, the program includes: time spent in single-sex classes with freedom to discuss and unpack gender-specific issues; opportunities to explore and address the physical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual changes happening in students’ lives in a safe and structured way; and a guiding process to help students understand that individual rights should be balanced by reciprocal responsibilities and service to others.
Personal learning plans
At the commencement of study in Year 10, each student engages in the development of a Personal Learning Plan (PLP).
Guided by teachers, and with opportunity to engage with career advisors, information sessions, and excursions to university campuses, students are guided to identify and research future vocations, setting the course for their educational future.
The PLP (which also contributes toward the attainment of the South Australian Certificate of Education or SACE) assists learners to take greater responsibility for their own learning, identify and set key learning goals, and co-author their pathway, including making some early decisions regarding subject selections for Year 11 and Year 12.
South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
Students who successfully complete their Senior Secondary education are awarded the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
The SACE is an internationally recognised qualification that paves the way for young people to move from school to work or further training and study, ensuring that students gain the skills they need for the future, as citizens and members of the workforce.
Each subject or course successfully completed throughout Year 11 and Year 12 (with some subjects available in Year 10) earns ‘credits’ towards the SACE, with a minimum of 200 credits required for students to gain the Certificate. The Certificate is structured around stages of achievement and includes some compulsory subjects.
Subjects and Graduate Pathways
From Years 10-12, students have the opportunity to study:
- English
- Literary Studies
- General Mathematics
- Mathematical Methods
- Specialist Mathematics
- Agriculture
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Psychology
- Economics
- Tourism
- Geography
- Legal Studies
- Modern History
- Design, Technology and Engineering
- Digital Technologies
- Physical Education
- Health and Wellbeing
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Drama
- Food and Hospitality
- Japanese
It is an expectation that all Investigator College graduates depart the College having attained their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) at minimum. There are also opportunities for each student to attain additional qualifications through our Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Community Development Programs.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Investigator College also provides a range of Vocational Education and Training (VET) opportunities, providing qualifications that equip our learners for entry into the workforce.
Certificate II in Horticulture & Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Delivered through our world-class Currency Creek EcoCentre, our most popular VET offerings focus on sustainability, land care and environmental management, equipping students with skills and qualifications for careers in conservation, lands, parks, wildlife or natural area restoration.
Certificate III in Sports Coaching
An entry point into sports, health, nutrition and sports science pathways, our Certificate III in Sports Coaching is delivered in partnership with The Australian College of Sport, and provides students with skills and qualifications for futures in both community and elite-level sport and physical activity.
Community Development Programs
Investigator College prepares students for life beyond school by promoting a sense of community, citizenship and responsibility to the welfare of others and our world.
Students in Years 10 – 12 are encouraged to consider participating in a range of Community Development Programs. In addition to building character and understanding of citizenship and civic responsibility, participation has the potential to contribute toward the attainment of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
Investigator College offers a diverse range of Community Development opportunities including programs provided with and through:
- Australian Air Force Cadets
- Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts Limited
- Australian Army Cadets
- Australian Business Week
- Australian Guild of Music and Speech
- Australian Music Examinations Board
- Australian Teachers of Dancing
- Catholic Education SA
- Ceccheti Ballet Australia Inc.
- Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing
- Construction Industry Training Board
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- Equestrian Federation of Australia
- Guides Australia
- International Music Examinations Board of Australia
- Microsoft Certification Program
- Operation Flinders Foundation
- Royal Academy of Dance
- Royal Life Saving Society (SA Branch)
- AUSTSWIM (SA Business Centre)
- SA Country Fire Service
- Scouts Australia
- Cecilia School of Music (limited options)
- St John Ambulance Australia Cadets
- STV One and All Sailing Program
- Trinity College London
Broad subject offerings, allow students to develop new skills, engage with new activities, embrace technology, and prepare for future study or work.
Access to state-of-the-art learning facilities, technology, grounds and teaching environments to promote deep engagement with learning.
Focus on, and support for, Student Wellbeing and Positive Education as learners navigate their final years of Secondary schooling.
Consistently high standard of academic achievement, with a reputation for excellent ATAR results, and a proud history of highly successful graduates.
and Learning
Key Secondary School Staff
John Robinson
Principal
Jodie O'Donnell
Head of Secondary School
Scott McGregor
Deputy Principal
Enrol in Our World-Class Secondary School
at Investigator College!