Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Parish Primary School is registered by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and is subject to its curriculum requirements. NESA sets and monitors quality teaching, learning, assessment and school standards. It is also responsible for developing Kindergarten to Year 12 syllabuses for NSW schools. 

The NSW curriculum includes the Key Learning Areas (KLAs) of:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science and Technology
• Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) – History and Geography
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
• Creative Arts

In addition at Ss Peter and Paul, a course in Religious Education is taught in theory and practice.

Each KLA includes syllabuses that are inclusive of the learning needs of all students.

Syllabuses identify:

• the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes students are expected to develop at each stage
• outcomes and content that describe what students are expected to know and do cross-curriculum priorities, general capabilities and other important learning for all students.

The primary (K-6) curriculum is organised into four Stages of learning: 

Most students will be working towards the outcomes for their Stage. Some students will be working towards outcomes that are above or below their Stage.

For more information on the NSW curriculum, visit the NESA website or view NESA's Parent Guide.

Stage-based learning is an arrangement that allows for the equitable use of the school’s resources, both physical and human. The grouping of students is an organisational consideration.

The structure of learning as outlined by NESA (the registering body for our system of schools) is divided into stages.

This system allows children to consolidate their learning over a two-year period. For example:

Modelled learning experiences would generally be presented to a mixed ability group to expose children to ideas outside their current thinking and experience. Guided Reading, Reciprocal Reading and Guided Writing groups will be determined by assessment data and will change regularly according to the needs of the students. Independent activities will emanate from these experiences. Content may be literature or other KLA based. Spelling and Comprehension will continue to remain as focus areas for development in the school.

Mathematics would have all children learning the same strand. Number sense would be to a mixed ability group so as to expose and reinforce students to efficient practices. There is flexibility in that explicitly teaching the concept could also be done to the mixed ability whole class group or to students from across the stage who are grouped (from assessment data) into similar position on the learning continuum. Students would then be provided with support from the teacher and school support staff as they undertook individual, partner or cooperative group investigations. The sharing of their learning at the end of the Mathematics lesson would also be with the mixed ability class or identified group to draw out and emphasise the learning.

In the afternoon sessions, children have the opportunity to explore Human Society and Its Environment, Science and Technology, Personal Development, Health, and Creative Arts. These would be organised around a two-year cycle and would engage children in rich learning tasks that invite them to ponder and learn about people and the world. These may be integrated units of works. These would also be implemented to across ability groups. Teachers could use their expertise in organising the learning for the whole stage and model implementation of the strategies for the whole stage group while this would be a professional development opportunity and support role for other staff.

The class groupings are:

Stage 1
2 x classes of Kindergarten
2 x classes of Year 1
2 x classes of Year 2

Stage 2
3 x classes of Years 3 and 4

Stage 3
3 x classes of Year 5
2 x classes of Year 6

However, the number of classes will depend on enrolment figures for each stage.

Class groups will be formed using the same criteria as outlined in the school’s class placement policy. Formation of classes take gender, learning needs and social factors into consideration. Classes will be mixed ability. During Term 4, parents have the opportunity to provide the school with information that provides further background to student placement.

Class groups are formed using the same criteria as outlined in the school’s class placement policy. Formation of classes take gender, learning needs and social factors into consideration. Classes will be mixed ability. During Term 4, parents have the opportunity to provide the school with information that provides further background to student placement.

No. Education in New South Wales is developed around Stages as outlined in the syllabus documents.  This means that children work towards the achievement of outcomes over an approximate twenty-month period. It is the achievement of the outcomes rather than a focus on content that drives the curriculum.

Foundation statements provide the summary of knowledge, skills and attitudes that should be demonstrated by students who have achieved the outcomes for that stage. Teachers design activities based on the foundation statements and outcomes that meet the needs of the student at that time. All students are on a continuum of learning.

Through assessment for and assessment of learning children’s needs are identified and groups are formed to address these needs so that they can progress on the learning continuum. This means that within a classroom, groups will be fluid throughout Key Learning Areas as they change according to student’s needs as identified through assessment.

In English and Mathematics, this means that concepts are modelled to children, taught to specific needs of children in guided groups and then given opportunities to apply knowledge, skills, values and attitudes in individual, partner or cooperative group learning experiences.

These literacy and numeracy skills are utilised in Human Society and Its Environment, Science and Technology, Personal Development and Health to explore concepts about people and our world.

Underpinning children’s learning is the ability for them to set goals and plan, take responsibility for their learning, work cooperatively and problem solve.

The success of the education offered at school is not restricted to academic pursuits but also to the development of the whole child. Our aim is that when children leave Ss Peter and Paul, they will exhibit the following qualities:

• resilience
• persistence
• organisation
• confidence
• interacting positively with others
• innovative mindset

The following are two resources for further information on stage-based learning:

Choosing Multi Age

Learning Theories and Multi Age Classrooms