Senior School Curriculum

At St Philip’s we aim to best prepare students to flourish in this ever-changing world. We place a very strong focus on the development of the whole person with our graduates becoming kind- hearted and resilient individuals who enjoy a sense of wellbeing and success, as well as having the ability to be critical and creative thinkers. We believe students need to achieve balance in their lives through opportunities to develop personal and life skills, to learn to work efficiently and to still have time to play. We provide an education that is well-rounded academically, socially, emotionally and physically.

At the senior level, students are expected to take greater responsibility for their own academic performance and behaviour. We encourage our students to continue to develop their learning strategies so that they can become responsible for their own academic performance. We prioritise our relationship with students, helping them to refine the skills they need to successfully engage in an ever-changing world. We aim to create a positive learning environment which encourages each student to develop their talents and abilities in a course which best suits their interests, learning styles and future ambitions. It is important that students choose their subjects wisely.

If you have any questions at all regarding the Senior School and/or Stage 1 and Stage 2 courses please email the Director of Learning and Curriculum, Mr Steve Kimber.

View academic results from 2022.

All Year 10 students complete the Personal Learning Plan (PLP), a subject that provides the opportunity to begin to earn credits towards the completion of their Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET). We offer electives including Stage 1 Mathematical Methods and Certificate III in Fitness, and various Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses which can also contribute towards the NTCET.

Students can follow one of two pathways in Years 11 and 12 - the Academic Pathway or the Employment Pathway. The Academic Pathway leads to NTCET and, for most students, an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).  Students following the Employment Pathway will receive a NTCET certificate only.  The aim of the Employment Pathway is to ensure that those students following this pathway get a job or an apprenticeship by the end of Year 12, therefore programs are developed based on students’ individual strengths and interests. Opportunities to participate in VET also exist for students in the Senior School. 

In Year 11, a few students may already know exactly which career path they intend to follow, but most students are still trying to work out what direction their future will take.  These students should follow their interests and their aspirations whilst keeping in mind the requirements of completing the NTCET. The subjects are semester based which gives students the opportunity to change and try different areas of learning throughout the year. In Year 11, a whole range of leadership opportunities and experiences open up.  The Year 11 Leadership Course is considered by many to be the highlight of their school years and gives students 10 credits towards completion of the NTCET.    In Year 12, the subjects are worth 20 credits and students must complete a minimum of three subjects at a C level or higher to achieve their NTCET and four and a half subjects to gain an ATAR. All Stage 2 subjects are two semesters in length therefore students need to choose wisely as it is not possible to change their subjects.