Our Philosophy
The Social Science Faculty strives to become a faculty of excellence in teaching and learning by encouraging independent thinking and creativity in an intellectually stimulating environment.
Our objectives
- To implement teaching strategies for the development of independent and critical thinking;
- To develop a stimulating and cooperative learning environment for both staff and students;
- To prepare students for active involvement within our contemporary society.
Junior School Courses
All students study Geography for 1 semester (2
terms) in Years 7, 8, 9. In Year 10, Geography is studied throughout the year.
Commerce is studied as an elective subject in Years 9 and 10.
Geography
The aim of the Geography Years 7–10 program is to stimulate students’ enjoyment
of and interest in the interaction of the physical and human environments.
Students achieve this as they develop geographic knowledge, understanding,
skills, values and attitudes and engage in the community as informed and active
citizens.
| Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
| Investigating the World |
Managing Global Environments |
Investigating Australia's Identity |
Issues in Australian Environments |
| Global Environments |
Global Citizenship |
Changing Australia's Identity |
Australia in its Regional and Global Context |
Commerce
The aim of the Commerce Years 7–10 program is to enable young people to
develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to research and develop
solutions to consumer, financial, legal, business and employment issues in order
to make informed and responsible decisions as individuals and as part of the
community.
| Year 9 |
Year 10 |
- Consumer Choice (core)
- Personal Finance (core)
- Investing (option)
- Promoting and Selling (option)
- Running a Business (option)
- Law and society (core)
- Employment Issues (core)
- Political Involvement (option)
- The Australian Economy (option)
- Global Links (option)
- Law in Action (option)
|
- Political Involvement
- Political Philosophy
- Our Economy
- History of Economic Thought
- Running a Small Business
- Business Plan and Accounting
- Law and Society
- Mock Trials
|
Senior School Courses
HSC courses in Business studies, Earth and Environmental Science, Economics,
Geography and Legal Studies are offered to students for study in Years 11 and
12. Our HSC results in these subjects have consistently been considerably above
the state average.
Business Studies
The Preliminary course is based on a study of four compulsory topics (Nature
of Business, Key Business Functions, Establishing a Business, Developing a
Business Plan) and the completion of a Business Research Task. The Business
Research Task is a project undertaken throughout the course to support course
concepts. The HSC course is based on a study of five
compulsory topics (Business Management and Change, Financial Planning and
Management, Marketing, Employment Relations, Global Business). The
ordering of the topics is not prescriptive and in practice may be influenced by
students’ needs, interests and access to case study and other resources.
Business Studies Course Structure
Economics
The Preliminary course is essentially microeconomic in nature, focusing on
aspects of the economic behaviour of consumers, business and governments. Much
of this behaviour is influenced by the operation of markets. Two key markets,
the labour market and the financial market, are examined in detail. The
Preliminary course provides an essential foundation for the HSC course. The HSC
course focuses on the management of an economy and is therefore essentially
macroeconomic in nature. It examines the external framework in which the
Australian economy operates. The course investigates the impact of the global
economy on the Australian economy and the link between economic issues and the
management of an economy, with specific reference to the Australian economy.
Economics Course Structure
Geography
In the preliminary course, students undertake study of two topic areas:
Biophysical Interactions and Global Challenges. They also undertake a major
Geography Project to complete their year 11 assessment. In the HSC Course,
students study three topic areas: Ecosystems at Risk, Urban Places and People
and Economic Activity.
Geography Course Structure
Legal Studies
Legal Studies develops students' knowledge, understanding and skills in
relation to the legal system and its effectiveness in promoting a just and fair
society, with a view to empowering students to participate effectively as
citizens at the local, national and international level. Studied themes include
Justice, law and society, Culture, values and ethics, Legal processes and
institutions, Conflict and cooperation and the Effectiveness of the legal
system. In the preliminary course, students study two broad topics of the basics
of the legal system and the Individual and the State. They then perform a focus
study of two marginalised groups and their position the the law. In the HSC
course, students engage in the topics of Law and Society and a number of focus
studies on crime (compulsory) and two other general themes in law.
Legal Studies Course Structure
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth and Environmental Science is the study of the Earth and its processes. The course aims to provide an understanding of systems and processes in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. It seeks to explore changes that have occurred during Earth’s history, including changes in the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere, and the evolution of organisms since the origin of life on Earth
Earth and Environmental Science Course Structure
Careers and Tertiary Courses
Tertiary courses in Commerce, Economics, Business and Law are very popular
choices for students when they leave Sydney Boys High School.
Consistently, over 35% of students from High selected university courses in
Commerce/Economics, Business and Actuarial Studies while 10% of students
selected combined Law courses, others entered courses requiring further studies
in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Fieldwork
Excursions and fieldtrips remain a part of a wider pedagogical framework
engaging students beyond traditional subject boundaries.
Competitions
Participation in national competitions has remained high with a large number of
students receiving awards of a credit or higher. Competitions include the
National Geographic Australian Geography Competition (where High was ranked
first in Australia), the UNSW PwC Australia and NZ Economics Competition, the
UNSW PwC Business Studies Competition and the Planning Your Own Enterprise
Competition.
2008 Highlights
Apart from the usual mix of competitions and other extra curricular activities
the most notable achievements were: Justin Zuo who came 1st in NSW for HSC
Economics, with another placed 7th, and four boys gaining a top 10 position for
Legal Studies. It was pleasing to see 22 of our boys receiving special prizes
for the Business Studies and Economics competitions.
|
Competitions |
Total Participants |
Distinctions |
High Distinctions |
|
AMP Business Studies |
82 |
28 |
28 |
|
UNSW Economics |
169 |
32 |
12 |
|
Australian Geographic |
764 |
189 |
215 |
|
HSC Results |
Students |
Band 6 % |
Band 5 % |
Band 5+6% |
|
Economics |
69 |
51 |
36 |
87 |
|
Business Studies |
38 |
42 |
42 |
84 |
|
Legal Studies |
31 |
74 |
19 |
93 |
|
Geography |
18 |
61 |
39 |
100 |
2007 Highlights
In the 2007 National Geographic Channel Australian Geography Competition,
Anthony Morris (Year 12) was again outstanding, taking out first in NSW and
Australia in the senior division with a perfect score. John Wormell (Year 9) was
first in Australia at the junior level and equal sixth in NSW at the
intermediate level. Ashwin Rudder (Year 8) scored equal sixth in Australia in
the junior division. Maxwell Phillis (Year 9) came equal ninth in Australia at
the intermediate level. High won the school prize for NSW and was ranked first
in Australia in the competition.
There have been many outstanding achievements by students in Social Science
in 2007. In terms of Band 6 awards, students achieved the following results:
| Subject |
Students |
Band 6 % |
Band 5 % |
Band 5+6% |
| Economics |
90 |
22 |
45 |
67 |
| Business Studies |
20 |
25 |
30 |
55 |
| Legal Studies |
29 |
45 |
45 |
90 |
| Geography |
13 |
31 |
54 |
85 |
Other highlights of 2007 included: a presentation by Don Russell, former
economics advisor to Paul Keating, to Year 12 Economics on Structural Change and
Economic Reform; four Year 9 students who took part in a key inter-school debate
to raise awareness of the Kyoto Protocol and how it could be implemented in
schools; and three of our senior economics students accompanied by Mr Storey
visited Taiwan for the International Taiwan Youth Cultural Conference. Our boys
delivered an impressive presentation on Globalisation and Australian Companies.
Dominic Bowes participated in a live global web cast linking students to discuss
climatic change issues as expressed at the Climatic Change Forum in Bali in
December 2007.
|