College
Life

Extension

The teaching classes within each year group are organised to enable two of the classes in a cohort to pursue higher order concepts in their learning.

Acceleration

Opportunities are provided for girls to learn a subject beyond the usual expectations for the age of the cohort. It is offered because the girls are exposed to the rigour and high expectations of an HSC subject which develops their capacity to think in more complex, challenging ways. The learning attributes acquired from this can propel their thinking and learning to higher levels of operation in other subjects which is beneficial.

Acceleration opportunities:

• HSC Studies of Religion II is offered to a class of Year 10 students with identified strengths in literacy and the humanities.
• HSC Mathematics is offered to a class of Year 9 students with identified strengths in numeracy and algebra.
• Hospitality is offered to Year 9 students interested in attaining Vocational Education and Training qualifications and potentially sitting the HSC exam in Year 11.

Diverse Learning

Diverse Learning at Brigidine is inclusive of all students with a range of learning needs. Each student’s needs are identified and assessed, then an individual plan is created which considers reasonable adjustments to the mainstream delivery of subjects within the curriculum. The adjustments are many and varied but all are designed to enable each girl to access the curriculum and achieve at her level.

Critical Thinking is an important skill which allows us to evaluate the world clearly and rationally. It demands that we question everything to find authentic and plausible truths for ourselves.

Critical thinking is also challenging. It is not comfortable to question what we would prefer to accept passively. It hurts our brains and it is a little disturbing. However, it does enable us to become independent and self-assured, as well as avoid being fooled by others or by our laziness!

In education, critical thinking is a valuable tool. It demands that students gather and assess information confidently and it requires the incisive communication of evaluations and conclusions. It is a process which is applicable in all subjects and encourages pupils to be self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective.

This form of open-minded and rational thought is so highly prized that it has been included as a foundational component of the Australian Curriculum and emphasised as a 21st Century skill by the business world.

The Critical Thinking Course at Brigidine College endeavours to promote higher order thinking and prepare students for their senior studies and their careers.

During Year 7, the girls will learn to appreciate the complexity of defining knowledge and explore contemporary social issues to realise the importance of achieving their own informed evaluations. They will be challenged to ask questions to deepen their understanding and encouraged to voice their views rationally and logically. They will also explore the rumours and lies which masquerade as facts and assess how these may disrupt our thinking and target cognitive bias.

The Brigidine Honours Program is an enrichment opportunity offered to students in Years 7 to 12. Its structured activities are designed to encourage lateral thinking, creativity and depth of analysis.

The Honours Program is divided into three levels: Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Each level requires students to undertake a research project, to attend regular Honours Tutorials and to submit a portfolio containing examples of academic successes in order to establish future learning goals.

The incremental complexity of the levels is intrinsic to the Program. The increased demands made on students, from Junior to Senior Honours, challenge them to become more confident at working independently, to research and investigate thoughtfully and to reflect on the process of their own learning.

Students explore a wide range of philosophical notions, scientific concerns and political debates. They evaluate a variety of topics through multiple lenses and, most importantly, they are invited to express their views and ideas in a myriad of forms and representations.

The Honours Program is designed to inspire, energise, and motivate interested learners.

We are committed to the girls having every opportunity to realise their academic goals. To that end we embrace external options and support the girls who choose to learn subjects in this way.

External Learning Options:

• Open High School for girls studying languages other than French and Italian
• TAFE HSC for girls wanting to complete a course over one year in the evening.
• TVET for girls wanting to pursue an industry accredited course for their HSC
• Lismore Online for students who want to complete an HSC course in an online environment with students from other parts of the state.
• Distance education for students who are only able to attend school part-time or who wish to study a subject which cannot be provided by the school.