Year 11 Overview

In our journey to empowering our students to seek, strive and soar, Year 11 students at St John’s Grammar set high aspirations and are given support to strive achieve their best.

We prepare our students for a world of possibilities and inspire them to find their passions and pursue them beyond their school life.

Packaging subjects with extra-curricular offerings allows opportunities to participate in customised programs including Legal Eagles, Flying Doctors, Business Birds, Global Gliders and Rocket Scientists.

Most of our Year 11 students are accelerated in Year 12 subjects, creating even more choice and flexibility and preparing them for tertiary study and vocational prospects.

All students in our Senior School have access to support for their learning, and our subject teachers provide one-on-one subject specific support in their classes. A Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program enables Years 7 to 12 students to bring a laptop of their choice for use on the School’s network.

Through our Young Leaders program, St John’s Grammar Year 11 students are encouraged to become trailblazers and explore their leadership qualities.

With a unique culture, which enables agency, our students are empowered to advocate for change. They can become Captains and Ambassadors for the school, which allows for leadership and citizenship opportunities at a school level, and in future, leading global change initiatives.

School trips to local, national and international destinations provide wonderful opportunities for growth in Year 11 at St John’s Grammar. SACE studies begin and students have the opportunity to tackle the Stage 2 Research Project and become independent learners and leaders.

Tour our Secondary Campus

Please use our form to book a tour of the Secondary Campus.

Year 11 curriculum

In their studies, St John’s Grammar students will be homing in on their passions and considering their preferred pathways for subjects and fields they wish to pursue in Year 12 and beyond. All students complete their compulsory SACE credits for Literacy and Numeracy and may choose to study the Stage 2 Research Project. Students also have the opportunity to undertake certain Stage 2 electives, giving them insights into what is involved in their final year of study. Packaging subjects with extra-curricular offerings allows opportunities to participate in customised programs including Legal Eagles, Flying Doctors, Business Birds, Global Gliders and Rocket Scientists.

With English and Mathematics as the two core subjects, there is wide scope for students to choose an exciting suite of subjects to allow students to strive for future careers. The range of electives is extensive and caters to student demand.

To read more about the subjects on offer, download our Year 11 Subject Handbook.

We also offer a number of scholarships in a range of areas. Find out more about what we offer on our Scholarships page.

Signature Experiences for Year 11s

We know that Senior School is when students create their own path, and develop their passions, strengths and skills, which is why we support every student to negotiate career and tertiary study pathways.

Students are encouraged to explore and are connected with tertiary providers to ask questions, research and discover the many post-school options available to them before they make their final decisions in Year 12.

Mid way through the year, the Year 11s have the opportunity to nominate and be elected for School leadership roles. As well as School Captain and Vice Captain, students are able to nominate for roles such as Wellbeing Ambassador, Sports Captain, Reconciliation Ambassador and International Student Captain. Commencing their leadership mid-way through the year allows for a Semester of handover with the incumbent leaders. In addition, the opportunity for Year 11s to visit the Junior School to run and coordinate student-interest led lunchtime activity programs provides an alternative leadership activity.

Wellbeing program in Year 11

Wellbeing is at the forefront at St John’s Grammar and our wellbeing program sees students gaining tool to live well, supporting their developing independent in leading healthy, meaningful and purposeful lives in order to soar into their future.

For students interested in pursuing Wellbeing subjects beyond the Year 10 Purposely Well program, Stage 1 and 2 Health and Wellbeing offers a deeper exploration of wellbeing for individuals, and local and global communities.

Pastoral Support

All students are allocated to one of the four Houses, in mixed year level homegroups to enhance multi-year-level camaraderie. Homegroup teachers, Heads of House, as well as the Head of Senior School provide layers of pastoral care for students. Key staff members have undertaken mental health first aid training and support is also available from our Student Wellbeing Coordinator.

Counselling

Qualified counselling support is possible through on-staff counsellors. Students are able to self refer, or can be referred by St John’s Grammar staff, with appointments centrally coordinated to ensure all students have equal opportunity.

Learning Support

A broad range of learners are accommodated within our Exceptional Learners’ Framework. Support at either end of the learning spectrum is provided as well as programs to support those who have unique learning needs around other commitments and responsibilities.

All students also have access to homework clubs as well as tutoring by Old Scholars and staff via The Learning Commons, which is our University-style library, study and collaboration zone.

Extra curricular opportunities for Year 11s

Extra curricular activities in the Secondary School cover the whole spectrum. We have a very high participation rate of extra curricular activities, with most students taking up an activity in addition to their academic studies.

Students can select from a broad range of sporting activities, a specialist music program, and extensive arts programs including band, orchestra, drama and dance. Pedal Prix, triathlons, ski trips, mountain biking club, Subs in Schools and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme are also among the offerings. House activities include debating, chess, public speaking and inter-House sports.

Student-led clubs are also popular, and there are many leadership positions available for each year level. If a student interest is not catered for, students are supported by Home Group teachers to set up something new.

The important elements of House and School life include a range of House sports, including weekly competitions and inter-House challenges, Athletics and Swimming Carnivals, as well as a number of special days and events such as the Festival of Ideas, and celebrations, such as Book Week and Science Week.

Secondary Campus facilities

Our Secondary Campus is located in a peaceful bushland setting in Belair and is easily accessible by car, rail and bus, and incorporates historic Retreat House, St Barnabas’ Chapel and the former Theological College building, in addition to purpose built classrooms and facilities.

These include a large multipurpose Sports Hall, a Design and Technology Centre, Music and Drama studios, a Food Technology Centre, access to 3D printing and robotics, Science laboratories, a University-style library for study and collaboration and a dedicated International Living and Learning Precinct Language Centre complete with boarding accommodation.

An on-site café offers healthy food choices and a large FIFA accredited all-weather sports field provides a functional sports surface all year round, sitting alongside tennis and netball courts, and the St John’s Grammar is serviced by a School bus that runs several routes, south, to the coast and throughout the Hills as well as shuttling between the Junior and Secondary Campuses.