PERSISTENCE, CURIOSITY AND CHALLENGE: STUDENTS EXCEL IN UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY MaPS PROGRAM
07 Jul 2025
...academic excellence
For over a century, PLC Sydney has been a leader in girl’s education, empowering and nurturing independent and purposeful young women who are confident of their ability to make a difference in a changing world.
We are very proud of the regularly outstanding results in the Higher School Certificate, with more than half our students ranking in the top 10 percent in the state, and many of those are in the top one percent. PLC Sydney consistently ranks in the top independent girls’ schools in Sydney. Our primary focus however is her actual learning. Curricula needs to provide a rich, broad and deep grasp of complex concepts and issues.
At PLC Sydney, we offers both NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and Cambridge Assessment International Education courses.
Students in Year 7 follow a compulsory curriculum largely determined by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). with an increasing number of elective subjects introduced from Year 9 onwards, until Years 11 and 12, where the widest possible choice is made available.
All students study Christian Studies from Years 7–10.
In Years 7 and 8, students study courses mandated by the NSW Education Standards Authority.
These include:
- English
- Design and Technology
- Geography (Year 7 only)
- History (Year 8 only)
- Languages – (two of Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese or Latin in Year 7)
- Languages – (one language from Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese or Latin in Year 8)
- Mathematics
- Music (Year 7 only)
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Science
- Visual Arts (Year 8 only)
Students in Years 9 and 10 study a NSW Education Standards Authority program which includes:
The compulsory subjects:
- English
- Geography (Year 9 only)
- History (Year 10 only)
- Mathematics
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Science
And 3 electives chosen from:
- Chinese
- Commerce
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- Food Technology
- French
- Geography
- History
- Italian
- Japanese
- Latin
- Music
- Philosophy and Theology
- Physical Activity and Sports Science
- Textiles Technology
- Visual Arts
- Vivid Literacy and Numeracy
In addition to the NESA subjects offered, Years 9 and 10 students are also offered the opportunity to study Cambridge Assessment International Education courses which are used to supplement learning.
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) elective courses include:
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Combined Science
- Computer Science
- French
- Global Perspectives
- History
- Literature in English
- Music
- Physics
- Sociology
PLC Sydney offers the option of Cambridge International courses in Years 9 and 10 to supplement learning, in addition to the NSW Education Standards Authority courses. It also enables students to sit examinations in globally recognised courses.
Cambridge elective courses offered at PLC Sydney include:
- AS English General
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Combined Science
- Computer Science
- French
- Global Perspectives
- History
- Literature in English
- Music
- Physics
- Sociology
Students start their Cambridge studies in Year 9, with exams for most courses taking place near the end of Year 10.
PLC Sydney also offers an additional course in Philosophy and Theology. The course is run in conjunction with Excelsia College Sydney and Regent College Canada. The course's main objective is to help our students 'make sense' of the world they live in.
In Years 11 and 12 students are prepared for the NSW Higher School Certificate. The HSC is the traditional pre-tertiary qualification for entry into university for students across Australia.
There is a broad range of courses are offered through the HSC with NESA requiring students to study a minimum of 12 units of Year 11 (Preliminary Year) and 10 units in Year 12 (HSC Year).
The English offered at PLC Sydney is either English Advanced, Standard or Extension courses. English as a Second Language is also available for students whose first language is not English.
Other courses available are:
- Ancient History
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Economics
- Food Technology
- Geography
- Languages – Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Latin
Chinese Continuers
Chinese in Context
Chinese and Literature
French Continuers
Italian Beginners
Italian Continuers
Japanese Beginners
Japanese Continuers
Latin Continuers - Legal Studies
- Mathematics – all levels
- Modern History
- Music (Course 1 and 2)
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Community and Family Studies
- Physics
- Studies of Religion
- Textiles and Design
- Visual Arts
We also run 3 one unit courses in Year 11 only. They are:
- Photography, Video and Digital Imaging
- Computing Applications
- Visual Design
Year 11 students are also able to complete the Cambridge AS English General examinations.
In Year 12 we also offer Extension subjects in:
- English
- Mathematics
- History
- Music
- All Languages
- Science
Cambridge A-Levels
NB By 2025, PLC Sydney will introduce Cambridge ‘AS’ level studies to students in Year 11 and 'A' level courses in 2026 (i.e. Year 12). These will be offered alongside the HSC.
PLC Sydney is renowned for its dedicated special education program that helps develop the academic, independent living and social skills of Year 7 to 12 girls with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities.
Contact
For further information about the Transition Program, please contact:
Ms Anna O'Brien
Transition Program Co-ordinator
T (+612) 9704 5690
E: aobrien@plc.nsw.edu.au
...more than half our students ranking in the top 10 percent in the state, and many of those are in the top one percent.
