Ryde+Secondary+College

Curriculum Review School Visit Questions
What is the timetable structure in terms of: Period length 5 60minute periods Variable weeks Yes Variable days Yes to accommodate grade sport on Tuesdays How many lines 6 Before and after school lessons 2 periods for Year 12 a cycle are off line and have to be negotiated with teachers  Do you use a computer program for timetabling? If so what program and what would you say are the benefits and disadvantages? Yes use Edval. Absolutely love it. Also have bought extra packages "Where is" and "Daily" for all daily organistation etc. Head Teacher admin ecstatic over how easy it has made his job! (and he doesn't have shares in Edval!)  How many hours do core subjects get in junior school? Core subjects all get over BOS hours. DT subjects in Year 7 and 8 are taught on a 13 week cycle. Each teacher teaches own subject the students move on. How many electives are offered in junior school and how many can each student do?How long do they study each elective – eg. 100/200hrs 2 electives only offer 200 hour electives.

Are other subjects offered beyond the core in the junior school? E.g Literacy, learning unit, careers? No specific progams on timetable. How is your languages program organised?  How is sport organised? Grade and rec sport. Year 11 involved in sport  How do you deliver careers? 1 period per fortnight for 1 semester. Year 10 classes withdrawn from different KLAs How many senior subjects are offered?What subjects are offered?Eg.Combinations of VET, Board endorsed, Board developed? TAFE popular, offer many 1 unit course in Year 11 to ease the problem of class sizes decreasing too much in Year 12 as students drop 2 unit subjects.  Is the senior timetable organised differently to junior school? E.g Different number of lines, start and finish times etc. No except for Year 12, 2 periods per cycle off line. Year 7 placed on timetable after seniors so have a policy of no splits for Year 7 and as few room changs as possible. They don't have "home rooms" for teachers.  Have you considered / are you making changes to offerings in the senior school because of the new school leaving age?Offerring non-ATAR maths and English next year.

How do you timetable activities such as: assemblies, scripture, pastoral care/welfare programs? Friday week B lessons shortened to accommodate assembly. Have a huge array of award winning welfare initiatives. Massive involvement from local community groups etc. Happy to share ideas etc

What are the benefits and limitations of your timetable structure? Very happy with timetable structure.

Have you had other timetables in the past – How does this compare? Head Teacher only been there since 2001 doesn't know any different.

How easily can you accommodate wishes of different faculties? E.g longer periods for prac lessons, shorter for other areas. They don't vary the period lengths.They claim home science OK with only 1 hour for cooking but Merrylands said this a problem What sort of feedback have you received from different areas of the school about the timetable? Everyone happy!