The Mathematics Faculty at St Joseph’s provides students with a learning environment which nurtures individual problem-solving skills, as well as teaching traditional mathematical skills. We encourage students to demonstrate initiative and share their understanding of mathematics in both the academic context, and its applications beyond the classroom. Studying mathematics provides students with skills to learn to describe, reason, predict, calculate, estimate, measure, interpret, and communicate information presented in a numerical, symbolic, geometrical, graphical, statistical, and algebraic form.
Stages 4 and 5
The NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Mathematics K–10 Syllabus describes a continuum of mathematics learning from Kindergarten to Year 10. The Stage 6 syllabuses describe the Preliminary and HSC courses in Years 11 and 12, and therefore represent mathematics learning for all students who study Mathematics in those years.
Students exhibit a wide range of mathematical skills, levels of competence, and aspirations. Some students may be aiming to develop the mathematical skills necessary to function in daily life and various work contexts, other students may seek to address more challenging mathematics to prepare them for the highest level courses in Year 11 and Year 12. For this reason, Stage 5 of the K–10 Mathematics curriculum has been expressed in terms of the three substages, Stage 5.1, Stage 5.2 and Stage 5.3. These substages are not designed as prescribed courses, and many different ‘endpoints’ are possible. As well as studying the Stage 5.1 content, the majority of students will study some or all of the Stage 5.2 content, and many will study some or all of the Stage 5.3 content.
The Mathematics Life Skills outcomes and content is designed to provide a relevant and meaningful program of study for a small percentage of students with special educational needs, for whom the Stage 4 and/or Stage 5 outcomes and content of the Mathematics K–10 Syllabus are not appropriate.
Stage 6
Mathematics Standard
This course is designed to promote the development of skills, knowledge, and understanding in areas of mathematics that have direct application to a broad range of real life situations. Students will learn to use a range of techniques and tools to develop solutions to a wide variety of problems related to their present and future needs and aspirations. The study of Mathematics Standard provides students with valuable support in a range of concurrent Stage 6 subjects. The course provides a strong foundation for the workforce, further training and studies, and for university courses in the areas of business, the humanities, nursing and paramedical sciences.
Calculus based courses
The Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, and Mathematics Extension 2 courses provide the opportunity for students to acquire understanding of important mathematical concepts that have applications in an increasing number of contexts. These courses provide the mathematical background and techniques necessary for concurrent studies in science and economics. The introductory concepts and techniques of differential and integral calculus form a strong basis of the courses and are developed and utilised across the courses, through a range of applications.
