In 2024 the focus will continue to be on developing a contemporary curriculum that is innovative, inclusive and values all pathways. A focus on pedagogy will ensure we are personalising learning to ensure inclusion, connection and engagement. The Curriculum Leaders will support the ongoing innovation and renewal of programs and will be supporting teachers in the documentation and implementation of the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0

The organisation of the school curriculum by learning areas provides a foundation of learning in schools designed to ensure students develop the knowledge and understanding on which the major disciplines are based. However, 21st century learning does not fit neatly into a curriculum solely organised by learning areas. Increasingly, in a world where knowledge itself is constantly growing and evolving, students need to develop a set of skills, behaviours and dispositions, or general capabilities that apply across subject-based content and equip them to be lifelong learners able to operate with confidence in a complex, information-rich, globalised world.

Consequently, the Australian Curriculum focuses on the development of general capabilities in addition to discipline-based learning areas.

The Australian Curriculum has three key design features:

• the learning areas to identify key disciplinary knowledge, skills and understandings
• general capabilities and
• Cross-curriculum priorities.

The content descriptions specify what teachers are expected to teach. They include the knowledge, understanding and skills for each learning area as students’ progress through schooling. The content descriptions provide a well-researched scope and sequence of teaching, within which teachers determine how best to cater for individual students’ learning needs and interests.

An achievement standard describes the quality of learning (the depth of understanding, extent of knowledge and sophistication of skill) typically expected of students as they progress through schooling.

The Australian Curriculum pays explicit attention to how seven general capabilities and three cross-curriculum priorities (listed below) contribute to, and can be developed through, teaching in each learning area.

The seven general capabilities are:

• literacy
• numeracy
• information and communication technology competence
• critical and creative thinking
• ethical behaviour
• personal and social competence
• and intercultural understanding

The three cross-curriculum priorities are:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
• Sustainability.

Assessment and examination requirements for the senior secondary subjects will continue to be the responsibility of SACE.

More information is available at:

www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/parent-information/

including:

• An overview for parents
• Guide for parents to National Literacy and National Numeracy Progressions.