7 to 12 Circulars – Edition 7, August 2025
Teaching and Learning 7–10
Consultation – Proposed changes to The Arts Pre-primary to Year 10 curriculum
Contact
Antoniett Halden (08) 9273 6791
Antoniett.Halden@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) is currently adopting and adapting the Australian Curriculum – The Arts version 9 for the Pre-primary to Year 10 Western Australian Curriculum: The Arts.
Teachers and other stakeholders are invited to review the proposed revisions to the curriculum for The Arts and complete the survey on the Authority website at https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/teaching/consultation from Monday, 25 August to Monday, 15 September 2025.
Online consultation sessions will be held to give teachers the opportunity to provide feedback directly. Details of these sessions and registration will be available from Monday, 25 August 2025 on the Authority Events page at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events.
These sessions will use Webex as the delivery platform and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Feedback may also be submitted directly to the Authority at WACAO@scsa.wa.edu.au.
The Arts curriculum will be available for familiarisation in 2026 and for implementation in 2027. The current Pre-primary to Year 10 Western Australian Curriculum: The Arts is the mandated curriculum for teaching in 2025 and in 2026.
Teaching and Learning Outlines now available for Years 7–10 English
Contact
Orietta Stokes (08) 9273 6715
Orietta.Stokes@scsa.wa.edu.au
Sample teaching and learning outlines for the revised Western Australian Curriculum: English Years 7–10 are now available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) website.
The sample teaching and learning outlines exemplify the elements of a teaching and learning program. They are designed to assist Heads of Learning Area and teachers to implement the revised curriculum, by providing a possible way of teaching and assessing the curriculum. They are not mandated.
The sample teaching and learning outlines include:
- comprehensive coverage of the relevant content descriptions for each year level
- resources that may support the teaching of the curriculum
- sample activities, embedding the examples from the revised curriculum where appropriate
- assessment tasks
- integration of the teaching, learning and assessment exemplars (available under the ‘Curriculum Support Materials’ subheading in the Teaching tab on the K–10 English section of the Authority website) for each year level.
The sample teaching and learning outlines for the revised Western Australian Curriculum: English Years 7–10 can be accessed under the subheading ‘Teaching and Learning Outlines’ in the Teaching tab on the K–10 English section of the Authority website at https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/wa-curriculum/learning-areas/english/p-10-english-teaching.
The Australian Curriculum: Languages version 9 for Aboriginal Languages, Arabic, Auslan, Classical Languages, Chinese, Modern Greek, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese
Contact
Nadia Civa (08) 9273 6355
Nadia.Civa@scsa.wa.edu.au
The Australian Curriculum: Languages version 9 for Aboriginal Languages, Arabic, Auslan, Classical Languages, Chinese, Modern Greek, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese is now available to schools.
The Australian Curriculum: Languages version 9 for the listed languages is available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website at https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/wa-curriculum/learning-areas/languages-v1/australian-curriculum-languages.
Language | Language type and learning phase |
|---|---|
Aboriginal Languages | First language, Second Language |
Arabic | Foundation to Year 10, Years 7–10 |
Auslan | First Language (Foundation to Year 10), First Language (Years 7–10), Second Language (Foundation to Year 10), Second Language (Years 7–10) |
Classical Languages | Years 7–10 |
Chinese | Background Language F–10, Background Language 7–10, First Language 7–10 |
Modern Greek | Foundation to Year 10, Years 7–10 |
Spanish | Foundation to Year 10, Years 7–10 |
Turkish | Foundation to Year 10, Years 7–10 |
Vietnamese | Foundation to Year 10, Years 7–10 |
The Years 7–10 curriculum sequence for each Language subject is provided to accommodate students who attend a secondary school that does not offer the language they studied in primary school.
For the remainder of 2025, those schools that have yet to implement version 9 of the curriculum may continue to use the Australian Curriculum version 8.4. In 2026, schools must implement the Australian Curriculum version 9 for the Languages subjects and sequences listed.
Years 7–10: Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics, Science and Technologies online curriculum familiarisation workshops for regional and remote schools
Contact
Chris Kelley (08) 9273 6750
Chris.Kelley@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is offering online workshops to support regional and remote schools with familiarisation of the revised Western Australian Curriculum for Years 7–10 Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics, Science and Technologies.
More information on these professional learning opportunities, including teacher relief, is available in the July Edition of the Circular at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/7to12-circulars/edition-6-july-2025.
Register at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events/curriculum-familiarisation-2025-online-webex-workshops.
Courses 11 and 12
Syllabus review surveys – Aviation, English, and Materials Design and Technology
Contact
Aviation
Todd Wallace (08) 9273 6380
Todd.Wallace@scsa.wa.edu.au
English
Leanne Bondin (08) 9273 6374
Leanne.Bondin@scsa.wa.edu.au
Materials Design and Technology
Jennifer Wheatley (08) 9273 6335
Jennifer.Wheatley@scsa.wa.edu.au
Richard Williams (08) 9273 6361
Richard.Williams@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) is seeking feedback as part of its syllabus review process for ATAR and General Aviation, English, and Materials Design and Technology.
The Authority invites teachers of Aviation, English, and Materials Design and Technology and other stakeholders to provide feedback to inform the ongoing review process for the Aviation, English, and Materials Design and Technology Years 11 and 12 ATAR and General syllabuses.
Along with information provided by the Curriculum Advisory Committees, feedback received through the surveys will be considered by the Authority as a part of its syllabus review process.
The surveys opened on Wednesday, 6 August and are available on the Authority website at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/syllabus-review.
The surveys will close on Friday, 5 September 2025.
Implementation workshops for the new Year 12 Careers and Employability course syllabus
Contact
Fran van Oyen (08) 9273 6359
Frances.VanOyen@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will be conducting workshops during Terms 3 and 4 for teachers of the Careers and Employability course.
The purpose of these workshops is to provide teachers with information on the Authority’s assessment requirements for the new Year 12 Careers and Employability syllabus to be implemented in 2026. They are intended for schools offering the Year 11 Careers and Employability course in 2025 and schools planning to offer the Year 12 Careers and Employability course in 2026.
The focus of the workshops will be on developing a course and assessment outline, constructing sample assessment questions, and developing analytical marking keys.
The workshops will include:
- developing a shared understanding of the assessment requirements
- analysing sample support materials provided by the Authority
- a briefing on the format of the externally set task (EST).
These workshops are not compulsory and are free to attend. Schools are responsible for any costs incurred (for example, teacher relief) as a result of attendance at the workshops.
The dates for these workshops are:
- In‑person: Tuesday, 23 September 2025 – Canning River Eco Education Centre, Queens Park Road, Wilson, 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm
- In‑person: Monday, 3 November 2025 – Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre, 36 Dodd Street, Wembley, 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm
- Online: Wednesday, 19 November 2025, 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the online workshop and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Implementation workshops for the new 2026 Year 12 and current Year 11 Humanities and Social Sciences in Action syllabuses
Contact
Meredith Beaton (08) 9273 6781
Meredith.Beaton@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will be conducting implementation workshops to provide teachers with information on the teaching and assessment requirements for the current Year 11 Humanities and Social Sciences in Action syllabus and the new Year 12 Humanities and Social Sciences in Action syllabus to be implemented from 2026.
The workshops are intended for schools offering the Humanities and Social Sciences in Action course in 2025 and schools planning to offer the Year 12 Humanities and Social Sciences in Action course in 2026.
The workshops will focus on:
- developing a shared understanding of the teaching and assessment requirements
- unpacking sample support materials provided by the Authority.
The Year 11 and Year 12 Humanities and Social Sciences in Action syllabuses are available on the Humanities and Social Sciences in Action course page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/humanities-and-social-sciences/humanities-and-social-sciences-in-action.
The workshops are not compulsory and are free to attend. Schools are responsible for any costs incurred (for example, teacher relief) as a result of attendance at the workshops.
Year 11 implementation workshops
- In-person: Wednesday, 10 September 2025 – Kaartij Mia, Hillview Intercultural Community Centre, 1–3 Hill View Place, Bentley, 8.30 am – 11.30 am
- Online: Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 8.30 am – 11.30 am.
Year 12 implementation workshops
- In-person: Tuesday, 21 October 2025 – Kaartij Mia, Hillview Intercultural Community Centre, 1–3 Hill View Place, Bentley, 8.30 am – 11.30 am
- Online: Wednesday, 5 November 2025, 8.30 am – 11.30 am.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the online workshops and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Online assessment workshops for new teachers of the Human Biology General course
Contact
Julie Weber (08) 9273 6381
Julie.Weber@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will be conducting online assessment workshops for new teachers of the Human Biology General course. The purpose of the workshops is to provide teachers who will be teaching the Human Biology General course in 2026 with information on the Authority’s assessment requirements.
The workshops are intended for schools offering the Human Biology General course for the first time and new teachers of the course in 2026. The Human Biology General syllabuses for teaching are available on the course page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/science/human-biology.
The workshops will focus on:
- developing a shared understanding of the assessment requirements
- unpacking sample support materials provided by the Authority.
The workshops are not compulsory and are free to attend. Schools are responsible for any costs incurred (for example, teacher relief) by attending the workshops.
The dates for the workshops are:
- Monday, 22 September 2025: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm
- Monday, 27 October 2025: 9.00 am – 11.00 am
- Wednesday, 25 February 2026: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the workshops and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Assessment workshops for the new Physics ATAR Year 12 syllabus
Contact
Ian Wilson (08) 9273 6788
Ian.Wilson@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will be conducting Assessment workshops for the new Physics ATAR Year 12 syllabus. The purpose of these workshops is to provide teachers with information on the Authority’s assessment requirements for the new Physics ATAR Year 12 syllabus to be implemented in 2026.
The workshops are intended for schools offering the Physics ATAR Year 12 syllabus in 2025 and schools planning to offer the Physics ATAR Year 12 syllabus in 2026. The sample support materials will be published in Term 3.
The workshops will focus on developing a course and assessment outline, constructing sample assessment questions and developing analytical marking keys.
Each workshop will include:
- unpacking the sample support materials provided by the Authority
- developing an assessment outline.
The workshops are not compulsory and are free to attend. Schools are responsible for any costs incurred (for example, teacher relief) as a result of attendance at the workshops.
The dates for the workshops are :
- In-person: Monday, 15 September 2025 – Technology Park Function Centre, 2 Brodie-Hall Drive, Bentley, 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm
- In-person: Friday, 19 September 2025 – Telethon Speech and Hearing, 36 Dodd Street, Wembley, 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm
- Online: Friday, 24 October 2025, 9.00 am – 11.30 am.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the online workshop, and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Register at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/all-events/assessment-workshop-for-new-atar-year-12-physics-syllabus.
Online assessment workshops for new teachers of the Science in Practice course in 2026
Contact
Julie Weber (08) 9273 6381
Julie.Weber@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will be conducting online assessment workshops for new teachers of the Science in Practice course. The purpose of these workshops is to provide teachers with information on the Authority’s assessment requirements for the Science in Practice course.
The workshops are intended for schools offering the Science in Practice course for the first time, and new teachers of the course in 2026. The Science in Practice syllabuses for teaching are available on the course page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/science/science-in-practice.
The workshops will focus on:
- developing a shared understanding of the assessment requirements
- unpacking sample support materials provided by the Authority.
The workshops are not compulsory and are free to attend. Schools are responsible for any costs incurred (for example, teacher relief) by attending the workshops.
The dates for the workshops are as follows:
- Tuesday, 23 September 2025: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm
- Tuesday, 28 October 2025: 9.00 am – 11.00 am
- Tuesday, 24 February 2026: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the workshops and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Science in Practice unit approval process for 2026 online information sessions
Contact
Julie Weber (08) 9273 6381
Julie.Weber@scsa.wa.edu.au
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) will be conducting online information sessions outlining the process and requirements for the approval of school‑developed units for teaching in 2026.
These information sessions are intended for schools offering the Year 11 and Year 12 Science in Practice syllabuses in 2026.
The information sessions will focus on:
- developing a shared understanding of the requirements for school-developed units
- outlining the process for unit approval.
The information sessions are not compulsory and are free to attend. Schools are responsible for any costs incurred (for example, teacher relief) by attending the information sessions.
The dates for the information sessions are as follows:
- Thursday, 4 September 2025: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm
- Wednesday, 5 November 2025: 9.00 am – 11.00 am
- Thursday, 26 February 2026: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the information sessions and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Examinations
Front covers for the 2025 ATAR course examinations available to schools
Contact
Lisa Honczarenko (08) 9273 6763
Lisa.Honczarenko@scsa.wa.edu.au
Front covers for the 2025 ATAR course examinations will be available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website on Friday, 29 August 2025 under ‘Examination Materials’ on the relevant course page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials.
The examination front covers should be distributed by teachers of the relevant courses to support student preparation for examinations.
The front covers contain details of the structure of each examination, the allocation of marks and the rules governing the conduct of the examination. Teachers are strongly encouraged to familiarise students with the front covers of both the written and practical examinations.
Note: front covers are not provided for those Language examinations that are set by curriculum authorities in other states.
2025 Dance ATAR course written examination stimulus material distributed to schools
Contact
Terry Pirlo (08) 9273 6722
Terry.Pirlo@scsa.wa.edu.au
Lisa Honczarenko (08) 9273 6763
Lisa.Honczarenko@scsa.wa.edu.au
The stimulus material for the 2025 Dance (DAN) ATAR course written examination has been distributed to schools.
Each teacher of the course and each candidate enrolled to sit the DAN ATAR course examination has been provided with a USB containing the stimulus material.
Candidates will be required to make reference to the stimulus material in their responses to
Section One: Short answer in the written examination.
The USB will not be used during the ATAR course written examination. However, the examination materials will include a Source booklet with stills from the stimulus material.
Moderation
Externally set task SIRS reports information session for school providers
Contact
Nick Ognenis (08) 9273 6354
Nick.Ognenis@scsa.wa.edu.au
Secondary School Principals, Deputy Principals, Curriculum Leaders and Heads of Learning Area are invited to register to attend an online information session on the Externally set task (EST) SIRS reports for school providers.
The information session will be held on Wednesday, 20 August 2025 from 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm and will focus on:
- the administration of the EST, assessment and moderation process
- the EST data SIRS reports available to schools
- how schools can use the EST data reports to inform internal comparability and assist teachers to reflect on their marking process.
The information session will also provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions related to the data reports.
The Authority will use Webex as the delivery platform for the information session and registrants will need to have downloaded the application prior to the meeting to participate.
Vocational Education
Nominations open for the 2025 Awards for Outstanding Achievement in VET
Contact
Amber Moffat (08) 9273 6737
vetawards@scsa.wa.edu.au
Student nominations for the 2025 Awards for Outstanding Achievement in VET are open.
Schools are encouraged to nominate Year 12 students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in a Certificate II or higher vocational education and training (VET) qualification for the 2025 VET Awards. VET exhibitions and certificates of excellence (VET) may be awarded for each of the nine industry areas, with the top student in each industry area eligible to be selected as the winner of the Beazley Medal: VET.
Further information about the 2025 Awards for Outstanding Achievement in VET, including the VET Awards Brochure and Nomination Kit, is available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) website on the Exhibitions and Awards page at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/certification/exhibitions-and-awards.
Student success stories related to the VET Awards are available on the Authority blog at https://scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/blog.
Nominations for the 2025 Awards for Outstanding Achievement in VET close at 4.30 pm on Monday, 1 September 2025.
SIRS
The importance of uploading the RSQUAL file for WACE certification
Contact
Kerry Tarrant (08) 9273 6770
Kerry.Tarrant@scsa.wa.edu.au
Schools are advised of the importance of ensuring the VET Qualification Results (RSQUAL) file is uploaded to the Student Information Records System (SIRS) database at the end of each calendar year. The information in the RSQUAL file is used to allocate unit equivalents towards the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and to determine that a student has met the Certificate II or higher requirement.
Please note: The RSQUAL file must only be uploaded once the school has received written verification from the registered training organisation (RTO) that the student has achieved the qualification and the VET unit of competency results (RSVET) file has successfully processed in SIRS without any warnings.
It is also important for schools to ensure that the RSQUAL file processes successfully to SIRS and any error and/or warning messages are resolved before the due dates. If a student does not have the correct number of units of competency linked to a qualification and uploaded to SIRS, the RSQUAL file will not upload successfully.
Failure to upload this file may result in students not achieving their WACE and they may be considered ineligible for first round offers for entry into university and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) courses.
If there are errors in student achievement data after the deadlines that are a result of the school providing incorrect or incomplete data, the school will be charged a fee for updating the data.
If the RSQUAL file is not uploaded at the end of that year for Year 11 students who have completed a qualification this may also prevent students from achieving their WACE in the following year.
The RSQUAL file should be uploaded at the conclusion of the year that the student completes the full qualification (whether that be Year 10, Year 11 or Year 12).
Schools should check that the qualification has been recorded correctly by running the report CSE007 – VET qualifications achieved in full. The pathway to this report is:
Reports > Other Reports > Report type: Achievements > Report: CSE007.
More detailed information about the RSQUAL file is provided in Section 10.6.6 of the Data Procedures Manual 2025, available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manual.
Links are provided to database-specific software programs in Section 14 of the Data Procedures Manual 2025 at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manual.
General Information
Split Circular – Edition 7, August 2025
Contact
Jo Merrey (08) 9273 6348
Jo.Merrey@scsa.wa.edu.au
Edition 7 of the 7to12 Circular will be in two parts. This reflects the volume of items submitted and the annual publication of items focussing on minor syllabus changes in August.
Part 1, issued today, contains a range of items. Part 2, concentrating on minor syllabus changes, will be issued before the end of August.
This decision has been taken due to the quantity of important information which needs to be shared at this time of the year. It is proposed that the August Circular will be permanently split.
2025 collection of Year 12 students’ achievement data
Contact
Kerry Tarrant (08) 9273 6770
Kerry.Tarrant@scsa.wa.edu.au
Year 12 achievement data is due to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority by Thursday, 30 October 2025 as per the 2025 Activities Schedule.
Information about collecting achievement data will be received by schools by Monday, 13 October 2025.
Schools will need to provide the achievement data for:
- Year 12 students for courses (ATAR, General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET industry specific), VET qualifications, VET units of competency, Department of Training and Workforce Development funded VET skill sets and endorsed programs
- non-Year 12 students sitting one or more ATAR course examinations.