The breadth of learning opportunities at St Peters
People often talk about the breadth of opportunities available at St Peters outside the classroom. It is easy to overlook that one of the strengths of a St Peters education is the breadth of learning opportunities within the classroom.
In the Senior School students have three learning pathways to choose from – QCAA ATAR, IB Diploma or VET (including various Certificate I or II). St Peters is one of only two Independent Schools in Brisbane that offers these three pathways for Senior. For the QCAA ATAR pathway in Years 11 and 12 our students can choose from 41 subjects. Among the core subjects at a Senior level there are four different Languages, four levels of Maths, five different Sciences and three different types of English. Choice also exists in the Key Learning Areas of Humanities, Business, the Arts, Physical Education and Technology.
Students also have a range of learning in the Junior High Years. For example, in the Key Learning Area of Technology many schools limit their offerings to Information Technology. At St Peters in Junior High; Design Technology, Food Technology, Textile Technology and Digital Technology are also offered.
While the breadth of learning opportunities within the classroom is greatest in the older years, these opportunities are not limited to the Secondary Years. In Upper Primary Years, because St Peters is a P-12 College, students have access to specialist Art and Design Technology subjects taught by specialist teachers in purpose-built facilities. Also, in the Primary Years we use the International Baccalaureate PYP, an internationally recognised curriculum framework that is from Prep to Year 6 which offers a richness and authenticity to the learning experiences of our younger students, in a way that traditional curriculum frameworks cannot.
The size of the College is one of the factors that enables this breadth of opportunities for student learning which is key point of difference to many other schools. Within the constraints of our budget, St Peters endeavours to provide this breadth of learning for our students to provide them with choice and agency in their learning. This helps to enhance student engagement in their learning by tapping into their interests and strengths. This leads to better learning outcomes and higher achievement. The diverse learning opportunities also help students to discover their interests, strengths, and passions in life. The range of offerings at the Senior School level helps students to find a pathway most appropriate to their post-school aspirations. Ultimately offering such breadth of learning in the classroom reflects the College’s commitment to offering a holistic education that develops the whole child.
Tim Kotzur
Head of College
