Year 9 Humanities and Social Sciences: History curriculum teacher support resources – ‘The Pinjarra Massacre: Truth-telling’ – Online workshop

Contact

Max Leech (08) 9273 6740
Max.Leech@scsa.wa.edu.au

On Tuesday, 8 December 2026, the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will deliver an additional online professional learning workshop to support teachers in using the Year 9 teaching and learning exemplar, ‘The Pinjarra Massacre: Truth-telling’. This workshop has been scheduled in response to strong demand and will provide a further opportunity for teachers who were unable to attend or secure a place in the earlier sessions.

The workshop will provide a valuable opportunity for teachers to engage with ‘The Pinjarra Massacre: Truth-telling. An apology on October 28, 2025 to the Bindjareb Noongar people by His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM Governor of Western Australia’. This significant Western Australian history resource has been developed to support implementation of the mandated Year 9 History curriculum content.

The professional learning will focus on teaching this period in Western Australian history, including colonisation and the 1834 Pinjarra Massacre, with an emphasis on historical accuracy, cultural respect and trauma-informed practice.

Teachers will explore resources that integrate cultural knowledge, primary sources and trauma-informed approaches to support confident, respectful and meaningful classroom learning.

The workshop will be held from 9.00–11.45 am on Tuesday, 8 December 2026.

Register for a half-day workshop on the Authority’s Events page at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events/the-pinjarra-massacre-truth-telling-exploring-the-teaching-and-learning-exemplars.

There is no cost to attend; however, places are limited and registration is essential.

Note: the Authority uses Webex as the delivery platform for all online events. Registrants will need to download the application prior to the event to participate.

Years 7–10 English: Updating Judging Standards – Online briefing on Common Assessment Tasks and the collection of student work samples

Contact

Liz Sagar (08) 9273 6721
Elizabeth.Sagar@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) is offering online briefing sessions during Term 4 to guide teachers in administering Common Assessment Tasks and collecting student work samples in 2027. These samples will inform updates to the Years 7–10 English Judging Standards resources.

The briefings will explain how these samples will support refinement of the Assessment Pointers and validation of the Achievement Standards. Participation provides valuable professional learning in assessment and judging student achievement.

Years 7–10 English teachers are invited to attend an online briefing to:

• understand the process and requirements for administering the Common Assessment Tasks
• explore the Common Assessment Tasks
• ask clarifying questions
• express interest in helping collect student work samples to inform updates to the Assessment Pointers.

No prior preparation is required.

The dates for the briefing are:

• Tuesday, 24 November 2026, 2.00–3.00 pm
• Tuesday, 1 December 2026, 3.15–4.15 pm.

Register for a briefing on the Authority’s Events page at https://scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events/years-710-english-updating-judging-standards-online-briefing-on-common-assessment-tasks-and-the-collection-of-student-work-samples.

Note: the Authority uses Webex as the delivery platform for all online events. Registrants will need to download the application prior to the event to participate.

Years 7–10 Health and Physical Education: Updating Judging Standards – Online briefing on Common Assessment Tasks and the collection of student work samples

Contact

Jaime Jenkin (08) 9273 6714
Jaime.Jenkin@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) is offering online briefing sessions during Term 4 to guide teachers in administering Common Assessment Tasks and collecting student work samples in 2027. These samples will inform updates to the Years 7–10 Health and Physical Education Judging Standards resources.

The briefings will explain how these samples will support refinement of the Assessment Pointers and validation of the Achievement Standards. Participation provides valuable professional learning in assessment and judging student achievement.

Years 7–10 Health and Physical Education teachers are invited to attend an online briefing to:

• understand the process and requirements for administering the Common Assessment Tasks
• explore the Common Assessment Tasks
• ask clarifying questions
• express interest in helping collect student work samples to inform updates to the assessment pointers.

No prior preparation is required.

The dates for the briefing are:

• Tuesday, 1 December 2026, 3.30–4.30 pm (Years 7–10 Health Education)
• Wednesday, 2 December 2026, 3.30–4.30 pm (Years 7–10 Physical Education).

Register for a briefing on the Authority’s Events page at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events/.

Note: the Authority uses Webex as the delivery platform for all online events. Registrants will need to download the application prior to the event to participate.

Cross-curriculum Priorities

Contact

Paula Beck (08) 9273 6331
Paula.Beck@scsa.wa.edu.au

The Cross-curriculum Priorities have been updated and are now available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website.

The updated Cross-curriculum Priorities have been adopted and adapted from the Australian Curriculum version 9 to align with revisions to the Western Australian Curriculum.

Updates have been made to the three Cross-curriculum Priorities in the Western Australian Curriculum:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
• Sustainability.

The updated Cross‑curriculum Priorities are available as a combined document at https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/wa-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities.

Mathematics Applications ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR Year 11 2027 – Online syllabus delivery briefing

Contact

Suzie Harman (08) 9273 6768
Suzie.Harman@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) is offering an online briefing for the delivery of the current Mathematics Applications ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR Year 11 syllabuses in 2027.

The purpose of this briefing is to:

• identify the main differences in the current Year 10 Mathematics content compared with the previous curriculum
• provide advice on the delivery of the current Mathematics Applications ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR Year 11 syllabuses in 2027
• provide an opportunity for attendees to ask clarifying questions.

Attendees should be familiar with the current Mathematics Applications ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR Year 11 syllabuses before the briefing.

The syllabuses are available on the course pages under the ‘Syllabus’ tab for:

• Mathematics Applications at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/mathematics/mathematics-applications
• Mathematics Methods at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/mathematics/mathematics-methods.

The briefing is not compulsory and is free to attend.

The dates for the briefing are:

• Tuesday, 24 November 2026, 3.30–4.30 pm
• Monday, 30 November 2026, 3.30–4.30 pm.

Register for a briefing on the Authority’s Events page at https://scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events.

Note: the Authority uses Webex as the delivery platform for all online events. Registrants will need to download the application prior to the event to participate.

Health Studies minor syllabus changes for 2027

Contact

Dino Manalis (08) 9273 6356
Dino.Manalis@scsa.wa.edu.au

The Health Studies ATAR Year 12 syllabus for teaching in 2027 has minor syllabus changes. The updated syllabus is now available on the course page under the ‘What’s Changing’ accordion and labelled as ‘For teaching from 2027’.

Outdoor Education minor syllabus changes for 2027

Contact

Dino Manalis (08) 9273 6356
Dino.Manalis@scsa.wa.edu.au

The Outdoor Education ATAR Year 12 syllabus for teaching in 2027 has minor syllabus changes. The updated syllabus is now available on the course page under the ‘What’s Changing’ accordion and labelled as ‘For teaching from 2027’.

2026 ATAR course examinations general information – Sickness and misadventure provisions for written examinations

Contact

Barclay Jones (08) 9273 6309
Barclay.Jones@scsa.wa.edu.au

It is important for schools to inform students of the rules on sickness and misadventure provisions and on lodging a Sickness/Misadventure Application form.

Consideration may be given to candidates (with the exception of non‑school candidates) suffering from a temporary sickness or misadventure close to or during the examinations.

Candidates may submit a Sickness/Misadventure Application form to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) if they believe their performance in an examination has been affected by the sickness or misadventure.

Providing evidence

If a candidate misses or is unable complete an examination session for health reasons, medical evidence must be provided to verify the nature and severity of the illness/injury. In most cases, that will mean producing evidence from a medical professional who was consulted on the day of the examination or the day before. Medical evidence must be entered by the doctor directly onto Section D of the Sickness/Misadventure Application form. It is important to take a copy of the form to the medical appointment.

If a candidate misses an examination due to misadventure, Section C of the Sickness/Misadventure Application form should be completed by a person not related to the candidate, who is a witness to the misadventure; for example, an attending police officer.

Submitting a Sickness/Misadventure Application form

Applications related to the written examinations should be submitted immediately following the candidate’s last written examination. Only one Sickness/Misadventure Application form should be used to cover all written examinations for which the application is being made.

Applications can be posted to arrive by the due date of Tuesday, 24 November 2026.

Post completed forms to:
Confidential – Attention Special Provisions
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority
PO Box 816
Cannington WA 6987

Electronic applications are not accepted.

Applications will be considered only if made on the correct form, available from examination centres and the Authority website from September 2026 at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/forms/forms.

The completed form and all supporting evidence must be received by the Authority no later than 4.30 pm on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Late application forms will not be accepted.

Further details on the Application for Sickness/Misadventure are available on the Authority website at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/special-provisions and in the Year 12 Information Handbook – Part II: Examinations available at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/year-12-information.

2027 ATAR course examination dates

Contact

Barclay Jones (08) 9273 6309
Barclay.Jones@scsa.wa.edu.au

The 2027 ATAR course written and practical examination dates are available on the Examination timetables page of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website.

The 2027 ATAR course written examinations are scheduled from Wednesday, 27 October to Thursday, 18 November 2027.

The 2027 ATAR course practical examinations are scheduled from Saturday, 25 September to Sunday, 24 October 2027.

Further information on the 2027 ATAR course written and practical examinations is available in the May Edition of this Circular at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/7to12-circulars/edition-5-may-2026 and on the Examination timetables page at
https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/examination-timetables.

Details of the principles for setting the dates of the Year 12 course written examinations and projected date ranges for the 2028, 2029 and 2030 Year 12 ATAR course written examinations are also available on the Examination timetables page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/examination-timetables.

2027 Year 12 Drama ATAR course written examination – Change to Section Two layout

Contact

Lisa Honczarenko (08) 9273 6763
Lisa.Honczarenko@scsa.wa.edu.au

A sample of the new layout and instructions for Section Two of the Year 12 Drama ATAR course written examination, which will be implemented from 2027, is available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website.

This change has been implemented to assist students in completing the examination and does not impact on the requirements of the course and the examination.

The sample of the new layout and instructions can be used to prepare students for the Drama ATAR course examination and is available under the ‘Examination materials’ accordion on the Drama course page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/arts/drama.

Recording of enrolment and achievement of VET units of competency (delivered through VET credit transfer) or VET qualifications – Year 9 students, 2027

Contact

VETinfo@scsa.wa.edu.au

Permission must be obtained from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) by Thursday, 10 December 2026, if schools wish to have a student’s Year 9 achievements in vocational education and training (VET) units of competency (delivered through VET credit transfer)/VET qualifications recorded towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).

The Application for recording of enrolment and achievement of VET units of competency (delivered through VET credit transfer)/VET qualifications – Year 9 students, 2027 is available in the Achievements accordion on the Authority’s Applications and order forms page at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/forms/forms.

Schools should apply only if the studies for these students are part of a longer‑term program where:

• students are in remote community schools where learning programs relate directly to the local industry, or
• students are accessing VET as part of an individual education program (IEP)

and

• a valid opportunity has been presented which supports an ongoing and coherent training pathway.

Completed application forms must be emailed to VETinfo@scsa.wa.edu.au by Thursday, 10 December 2026.

2027 Activities Schedule

Contact

Perpetua Joseph (08) 9273 6771
Perpetua.Joseph@scsa.wa.edu.au

The 2027 Activities Schedule is now available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) website.

An explanation of the changes to the 2027 Activities Schedule is also available as an accompanying document. Both documents are available in three locations:

• https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/activities-schedule
• https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/resources/activities-schedule
• https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/further-resources/activities-schedule.

The 2027 Term Calendar will be made available during Term 4, 2026. The electronic calendar will be available to download on a term-by-term basis, with Term 1, 2027 becoming available in January.

The dates in the 2027 Activities Schedule and Term Calendar are coded by coloured icons:

• Pink activity relates to or includes primary schools
• Orange  items to be received by the Authority
• Blue  items to be available to or received by schools/providers
• Green  significant to schools and the Authority.

Any updates to the 2027 Activities Schedule will be noted in the Kto6 and 7to12 Circulars and the electronic calendar.