HSC & International
Baccalaureate
Redlands was the first school in NSW to offer both the HSC and IB pathways. Our decades long association with both NESA and the IB has helped to build our reputation as a leading provider of a well-rounded global education.
International Baccalaureate
Redlands has offered the International Baccalaureate since 1988, longer than any other school in NSW. Our 30-year association with the IB has helped to build our reputation as a leading provider of a well-rounded global education. The IB is an international qualification and meets the needs of students who are becoming increasingly more globally minded and are looking for an alternative to the HSC. The international awareness and knowledge gained during their studies will be beneficial to our IB students as they pursue careers and opportunities and seek to make a difference in an increasingly globalised world.
The IB Diploma is widely accepted as an entrance qualification for university study worldwide. Detailed information concerning worldwide university entry requirements and the IB Diploma is available on the IBO and AAIBS (Association of Australasian IB Schools).
The IB Diploma
Curriculum
The IB is international in outlook and focus and encourages inter-cultural understanding. It develops critical and high order thinking and analytical skills and university level essay writing skills; and prepares students well for the demands of university study.
The IB course is taught continuously over two years in Years 11 and 12. It provides a liberal educational experience across six academic subjects allowing for focus in the three Higher Level subjects and breadth in the three Standard Level subjects. It encourages:
- A rigorous academic approach to the taught courses
- A critical thinking course – Theory of Knowledge
- The opportunity to develop individual research skills which will take students beyond the confines of the syllabus in their chosen subject area – Extended Essay
- The development of a sense of social responsibility – Creativity, Action and Service.
Bi-lingual and multi-lingual students have the opportunity to study for the Bi-lingual Diploma.
Higher School Certificate
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the highest educational award in New South Wales schools. To be eligible, students must meet HSC course requirements and sit for the state-wide HSC examinations. The HSC is an internationally recognised credential that provides a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue university qualifications at home or abroad, vocational training or employment.
The HSC provides students with the option to study a diverse range of courses, or to tailor a more specialised suite of subjects if they already have a clear passion or career path in mind. Redlands offers a wide range of 1 and 2-unit subjects over Standard, Advanced and Extension level; allowing students flexibility to build their own program of study that suits them as an individual.
Preliminary courses begin at the start of Year 11 and last for three terms. These courses are the building blocks and prerequisites for the HSC. Our students have the opportunity to practise key skills, take calculated risks and learn more about their subjects before beginning their HSC courses in Term 4 of Year 11. In Year 12, students will complete internal assessments that contribute towards their HSC marks, before sitting their final exams at the end of the year.
HSC syllabuses (NESA) are informed by the following values:
Excellence
Respect and Responsibility
Equity and Justice
Inclusivity
Environmental Sustainability
