Year 12 Overview

Our Year 12s leave St John’s Grammar ready to pursue further study, prepared for life beyond the classroom and confident to soar. With consistent, excellent academic results, our graduates are self-assured, compassionate and skilled, with the majority of our Year 12 students successful in achieving their first choice in tertiary study.

Whether they choose to pursue further study, volunteer overseas or go to work, St John’s Grammar students graduate ready to seek, strive and soar.

Our graduates study around the world in diverse career areas, as well as at home in Adelaide, where we have fostered a strong partnership with Flinders University and Adelaide University, allowing many of our students to begin University studies while still at school.

Career education in Year 12 is personalised and targeted, with guest speakers from universities around Australia regularly visiting our School to present to students and parents.

One-on-one career counselling ensures every student is fully prepared for life beyond the classroom so they can confidently soar beyond School.

Wellbeing remains a strong focus to ensure students can navigate their adult futures. These sessions include self-regulation, conflict management, study skills, healthy living and making safe choices. Buddy programs with our younger students, House activities, retreats and young leaders all deepen these connections.

All students in the Senior School can access support for their learning and our subject teachers provide one-on-one subject specific support. 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.

Year 12 is a special year for St John’s Grammar students, with events like the Retreat, Formal and Graduation celebrations being highlights on the calendar; and opportunities for leadership, mentoring and support giving our seniors the chance to gain lifelong skills to take into the world as they take flight on their journey into independence.

Tour our Secondary Campus

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

Signature Experiences for Year 12s

Year 12 students have the ability to study at tertiary level through Flinders and Adelaide universities. This opportunity is not for all students due to the increased demand on students time with readings and assignments. It does, however, allow students to receive SACE credits for the subject they study and may be an interesting option for those students looking to advance themselves or branch out into areas of interest outside the Secondary School curriculum.

School Captaincy begins mid-way through Year 11 and finishes part way through Year 12 and offers rewarding position of leadership in their penultimate year of schooling. The role available include School Captain and Vice Captain, students are able to nominate for roles such as Wellbeing Ambassador, Sports Captain, Reconciliation Ambassador and International Student Captain. Similarly a buddy program with the Year 7s offers an alternative leadership opportunity connecting our youngest and oldest Secondary campus students.

One-on-one career counselling ensures every student is fully prepared for life beyond the classroom and students have the opportunity to meet and listen to presentations from local and interstate universities and experience providers.

Year 12 Curriculum

St John’s Grammar students typically choose four or five Stage 2 subjects in Year 12, which they study for the full year. They will also undertake the Research Project if they have not completed it in Year 11. Year 12 is, for many students, the most rewarding of their schooling experience. Students demonstrate the comprehensive skills and knowledge they have developed in their years of schooling, studying subjects they care about and that lead to their chosen future study and career pathways.

To read more about the subjects on offer, download our Year 12 Subject Selection Handbook.

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

Wellbeing program in Year 12

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.

In the final years of schooling, the focus shifts to guided wellbeing practice during pastoral care time. Developmentally appropriate topics and themes are presented in a number of ways, with guest speakers featuring prominently, as students begin to reconcile their life toolkit beyond School.

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 in Year 12

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.