Senior School Academics
Iona Presentation College aims to build a lifelong desire to learn by offering an education that caters to the needs of all students and encourages them to extend themselves at every level, developing critical and creative thinking skills.
We believe in educating the whole person by meeting the spiritual, intellectual, psychological and social needs of each student.
An Iona education consists of a myriad of opportunities that suit a range of abilities and interests—this includes our Learning Enhancement program for students who will benefit from some remedial assistance, as well as extension opportunities in our Academic Excellence program for students who require more intellectual and academic stimulation.
Through the combination of 'teaching' and 'learning', our aim is that students will leave our supportive community as resilient well-educated individuals, with strong values and a lifelong curiosity to learn. Iona graduands will be engaged, caring and active citizens of the world, able to set goals and see them through.
In addition to the core disciplines promoting numeracy, literacy and physical wellbeing, the College places a high emphasis on Digital Technologies, Languages and the Arts.
Year 7 & Year 8
Exploring Opportunities
This is an exciting time in our young people’s lives —a time when they can have self-doubt and can equally be full of spirit and energy whilst they explore and learn about who they are and what they can do.
In Years 7 and 8, students work in a learning environment covering the core disciplines of English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS), Science, Religious Education and Health and Physical Education. Alongside these courses, students in Year 7 engage in a number of specialist areas which include; Design Technologies, Digital Technologies, Performing and Production Arts and a Language (French or Italian). As students’ progress to Year 8, they are given increased opportunity to select part of their course linked to specific interests in each of the elective areas.
Year 9 & Year 10
Exciting Choices and Building Strong Foundations
Year 9 and 10 continue developing core disciplines as well as providing opportunities to choose to study subjects of interest in more depth. Even though some students will already know their chosen pathway, others will still be exploring their options. All students are encouraged to consider individual interests and abilities whilst developing strong foundations for good study habits.
New and exciting elective opportunities are introduced, including Outdoor Education, Media and Film Production, Innovation and Technologies, Children Family and the Community, Physical Education Studies, Materials Design Technology: Wood, Materials Design Technology: Textiles and more.
In Year 10, students, with help from their parents and experienced Iona staff, will embark on the exciting journey of making the first series of decisions regarding their future. They will be guided through this process by key personnel at the College and will participate in the Careers program.
Year 11 & Year 12
Preparing to Make a Difference
Emulating the values of the Presentation Sisters, our students in Years 11 and 12 are encouraged to be good role models and significant contributors to the culture at Iona. With support and guidance, Iona offers unlimited opportunities for these students to achieve their personal best.
The College offers a wide range of courses, preparing students for university, Colleges of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and the workforce. In Years 11 and 12, students at Iona embark on either an ATAR or an Access Learning Pathway. Students work alongside the Director of Academics and Pathways (Years 10 – 12) to discern the best pathway for their journey. They are provided with an array of opportunities and personalised, targeted support from expert Year 11 and 12 teachers.
Students on both pathways are provided with the best opportunities to prepare them for life outside of school. Specifically on an Access Pathway, students in Year 11 are afforded the opportunity to participate in INSTEP – a workplace learning program – once a week. Additionally, in Year 12, students on this pathway are provided the opportunity to obtain a Certificate IV qualification which, for most students, allows direct entrance into university.
Religious Education
In the Senior School, Religious Education is an academic subject with the same systematic demands and rigour as other subjects and promotes valuable 21st century learning skills such as critical thinking, writing, use of technology and collaboration. All students attending the College participate in our Religious Education program from Years 7 to 12, and it is also offered as an ATAR subject in Years 11 and 12.
The College teaches the mandated Catholic Education Western Australia Religious Education Curriculum.
Academic Co-curricular
Academic Co-curricular activities offered at the Senior School include, but are not limited to:
- Future Problem Solving
- Luminosity
- Ethics Olympiad
- Philosothon
- da Vinci Decathlon
- Debating
- Mock Law Trials
Academic Excellence
Learning Enhancement
