At Blackwood High, we've built specialist programs for students whose needs sit outside the mainstream curriculum. These programs let us adapt to individual circumstances while keeping students connected to our community.
This program exists for our international students who need to build their English language proficiency before joining mainstream classes.
ISEC runs for 10 to 20 weeks, depending on each student's starting point. It's available for Years 9 and 10, and it's designed to develop both language skills and cultural understanding in a supportive environment.
Students work on strengthening their written and spoken English while studying introductory courses in Science, Mathematics, English as an Additional Language, Physical Education, Art/Design, and Humanities. By the time they finish ISEC, they're ready to step into regular classes with confidence.
We've had international students come here from all over the world. Some arrive at age seven like Terence Tao, who completed Year 11 and 12 Mathematics and Physics while studying Year 8 Geography, Biology and Chemistry. Others arrive in Year 9 needing language support before they can tackle the full curriculum. ISEC helps bridge that gap.
This is a full-fee program for international students. If your young person is coming to Australia to study and needs English language support, contact the school on (08) 8278 0900 to discuss whether ISEC suits their needs.
Some Year 12 students are ready for university-level work. We don't want to hold them back.
Our Extension Studies program allows high-achieving Year 12 students to enrol in university topics at Flinders University or Adelaide University. These aren't dumbed-down versions of university subjects. They're the real thing, taught by university lecturers, alongside university students.
Successful completion of two topics (one per semester) earns 20 SACE credits towards the compulsory 60 Stage 2 credits. These subjects can also be used for ATAR calculation. More importantly, students get a taste of what university study actually feels like before they finish school.
This program requires a special application form and a meeting with the Assistant Principal Senior Years. We need to make sure your young person is genuinely ready for this level of work. University subjects demand a different kind of independence and time management than school subjects.
Most students who are strong at mathematics take Mathematical Methods in Year 11 and 12. Some students want to go further.
Stage 1 Specialist Mathematics A and B is designed for students with a real passion for mathematics who want to explore complex, abstract ideas. We're talking about vectors, matrices, proof, and advanced trigonometry. This is Mathematics for students considering Engineering, Physics, or pure Mathematics at university.
There's a prerequisite: students must be enrolled in Stage 1 Mathematical Methods at the same time. You can't do Specialist Maths on its own. The two subjects work together, with Methods providing the foundation and Specialist Maths extending into more sophisticated territory.
Who These Programs Are For
These specialist programs serve different students with different needs. ISEC helps international students build the English skills they need to succeed here. Extension Studies challenges our highest achievers to step up to university-level work. Specialist Mathematics stretches students who love abstract thinking and complex problem-solving.
What these programs have in common is flexibility. We're willing to adapt the standard curriculum when a student needs something different. That might mean intensive language support, university subjects, or advanced mathematics. Whatever the need, we'll work with families to find a solution.
Other Specialist Programs
Our Special Interest Football and Netball programs are covered separately on the Specialist Interest Programs page. Those programs have been running for decades and attract students from well outside our zone. They're a different kind of specialist program, focused on athletic development alongside academic achievement.
