Academic
OUR MISSION IS TO ASSIST STUDENTS TO BECOME SELF-DIRECTED AND INDEPENDENT LEARNERS, INTRINSICALLY MOTIVATED, WITH A DEEP LOVE OF LEARNING THAT WILL EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN LEARNING NOW AND IN THEIR FUTURE LIVES.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Santa Maria College consistently performs well and considering we are not an academic selective school our results are outstanding. We consistently rank highly in terms of median ATAR.
Our academic curriculum is consistent with the Western Australian curriculum and offers a diverse range of subject choices. We have and continue to invest time and resources into research and development in the areas of how girls learn and the best way to deliver the curriculum.
Our Goal
Santa Maria College aims to not only prepare our girls for the world of work but also for life. We want our girls to see how their learning is relevant to their lives today, to their future lives and to a changing world of work. We want to ensure they have the attributes to be young women who can make a difference in society.
Santa Maria College Vision
The College has developed a vision, a vision that Connects Learning to Life. We want to ensure our students are equipped for the future and that our teaching and learning provides our students with the skills they will need. Our staff have been collaborating and identifying the critical attributes that we believe our students need. The attributes we have identified, and are committed to developing in our students can be viewed  HERE.
We tailor our curriculum for girls, and we encourage and support them to strive for the best possible results across all key areas.
BEYOND THE CORE SUBJECTS
Santa Maria’s core learning areas include English, Mathematics, Science HaSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) and Religious Education. These are complemented by a program of elective subjects and co-curricular activities. These programs add an extra dimension to the compulsory areas of study and further enables girls to discover their interests and passions.
In the area of electives, Santa Maria has developed four Science electives for Years 7 – 10. These electives provide students with an opportunity to see exactly what a future in science could look like. Learn more HERE and view the video below to get further insight.
ENHANCED LEARNING PROGRAM
Our Enhanced Learning Programs is one of our points of difference at Santa Maria College. It is unique, and it provides our students with hands-on experience utilising the critical skills, we believe, will be required in the future.
The purpose is to extend our girls learning beyond the classroom curriculum and to give them ways to explore things that are a little bit different from what we do every day in class in a more authentic way. Learn more HERE.
CURRICULUM HANDBOOKS
GIFTED AND TALENTED
To ensure that those with exceptional ability are challenged and extended, our Enrichment Centre staff have developed a program called IGNITE, which is offered in Years 5 – 8.
Each IGNITE unit is made up of a variety of:
- creative,
- high-order,
- lateral thinking and
- problem-solving activities.
This exciting program provides opportunities in the areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and creative arts, and challenges students beyond their comfort zone.
In Years 5 -7 Ignite is offered through a withdrawal program while in Year 8 students select IGNITE as an elective.
Hear more from Dr Chrissie Fossey about the program below.
LEARNING SUPPORT
Sometimes the move from primary school to secondary school can be challenging and students find it difficult to keep up with the increased workload. Support for literacy and numeracy is provided by Learning Enrichment teachers and is undertaken both within the classroom and in small groups.
Our goal is to provide early intervention to students, with gaps in their learning or learning difficulties, to enable them to thrive in their studies.
Santa Maria’s Enrichment Centre provides support to students from Years 5 – 12. Literacy and numeracy support teachers, who have specialised qualifications, assist students both within the classroom and in small groups.
WHY A GIRLS' SCHOOL?
Research has shown that girls in all-girls’ schools achieve significantly stronger academic results than any other group in Australia. If you are interested in the benefits please read our Why a Girls’ School?
EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD
– NELSON MANDELA