Special Education
Bass High School’s Support Unit was established in 1998 and consists of three classes.
The Support Unit provides opportunities for students that are experiencing difficulty in regular classes in gaining a School Certificate and/or a Higher School Certificate. This is achieved by providing teaching in small classes that give intensive support to students’ learning.
For those students that require the highest level of support, teaching and learning takes place in two classes that have a maximum enrolment of 10 students per class. For senior students, who do not need the same level of support, a class with a maximum enrolment of 18 students is provided.
A head teacher, two other teachers and three teachers’ aides staff the Unit. In addition, teachers of Mathematics, Science, English, Music, Art, Food Technology, Industrial Technology, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education take Support Unit classes for these subjects.
PLACEMENT IN THE SUPPORT UNIT
Information on how to apply for the placement of a student in the Support Unit is available from its staff at the school. It should be noted, however, that a committee made up of personnel from the Regional Office of the Department of Education and Training makes decisions on placements in the Support Unit. This committee takes account of a number of characteristics including individual students’ needs, test results provided by school counsellors, school histories, family information and numbers of vacancies.
INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLANS AND INDIVIDUAL TRANSITION PLANS
Experience has shown that the most effective way of improving learning outcomes for students enrolled in the Support Unit is to carefully plan the learning programs for students and prepare older students for the transition from school to work, TAFE or other post-school options.
Effective planning involves students, parents/caregivers, outside agencies and teachers in the planning process. Through regular liaison with all parties involved the most effective intervention is ensured by providing for written ‘accountability’ contracts which detail the responsibilities of each participating party to the student. As a consequence, each student has an individual learning and/or transition plan that provides guidance on the focus and emphasis of their respective educational programs.
SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
The subjects taught for the School Certificate in Years 7 to 10 are the same as other classes in the school. Students within the Support Unit study a modified curriculum called “Life Skills” subjects that usually involves a less intense level and pace of learning and assessment. Student achievement is measured against course outcomes that are consistent with the objectives specified in each student’s individual learning or transition plan.
Subjects studied in Years 7 and 8 are:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- History
- Geography
- Languages
- Design and Technology and Technology and Applied Sciences
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Technology (Mandatory)
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
- Languages Other Than English
Students with particular interests and/or talents that they wish to pursue beyond the life skills curriculum are also given the opportunity to integrate into regular classes for electives in years 9 and 10. Over the past few years, students from the Support Unit in these years have undertaken electives in the areas of Visual Art, Food Technology, Industrial Technology, Dance and Music.
Year 10 students are also given the opportunity to participate in a Work Education course.
HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
The NSW Board of Studies has developed syllabuses for the award of a Higher Schools Certificate in Life Skills. The subjects are taught in Years 11 and 12 and include:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Citizenship and Society
- Work and Community Studies
- Technology and Applied Science
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
- Creative Arts
In addition, senior students are able to access additional courses of studies as follows:
- Vocational Education Training (VET) Courses e.g. Construction, Hospitality, Information Technology and Business Services.
- TAFE courses e.g. Shop Fitting, Horticulture and Hospitality.
- Board of Studies endorsed or developed courses available in regular classes e.g. Sports Science, Visual Art.
Senior students in the Support Unit are able to attain a Higher School Certificate (HSC) that could have a combination of Life Skills courses, regular HSC subjects, VET courses (at school or TAFE) and TAFE courses.
WORK EXPERIENCE
In the process of developing Individual Transition Plans for senior students (15 years or older) work experience becomes a major focus. It is also a major component of Work and Community Studies for Years 11 and 12 and the Work Education course for Year 10 students.
A varied and diverse range of work experience supported by references and reports from employers, coupled with a School Certificate or Higher School Certificate, means that students from the Support Unit are able to become more ‘competitive’ on the youth labour market.
This means that the chances of obtaining employment after they have completed their schooling are increased for these students when compared with students that have not had work experience and obtained a school credential.
In the last few years the types of work experience undertaken have been:
- Woolworths – 21 students in the bakery, produce, grocery and variety sections
- Palaris Car Wash
- Cowynn Constructions P/L
- Amaroo Industries
- Sefton Golf Course
- GBBE Constructions P/L
- Marantha Computers
- Best & Less, Bankstown
- Gleeson’s Pharmacy
- Actfame Pty Ltd: Security Systems
- ADF Pty Ltd: Metal Fabrication
- B. Halbert Plumbing Services Pty Ltd
- Target Pty Ltd