Curriculum for excellence
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)
ACARA widely consulted with the best national talent and expertise and the national curriculum was introduced to improve the quality, equity, and transparency of Australia’s education system.
The three dimensions Structure of the Australian Curriculum
The key elements of the Curriculum learning areas
Achievement Standards
Achievement standards for each learning area or subject describe the learning expected of students at each year level or band of years. Each achievement standard is described in two paragraphs. Typically, the first paragraph describes what students are expected to understand, and the second paragraph describes what students are expected to be able to do having been taught the curriculum content. The set of achievement standards for each learning area or subject describe a broad sequence of expected learning.
The achievement standard for each year level or band should be read as a whole (that is, the ‘understanding’ and ‘skills’ paragraphs are read together) and in the context of what is to be taught (content descriptions) for that year or band. The achievement standards provide a clear description of student learning and are, therefore, a useful starting point or driver for the development of teaching and learning programs. The achievement standard also allows teachers to monitor student learning and to make judgements about student progress and achievement. For each learning area or subject, the achievement standards are accompanied by portfolios of annotated work samples that illustrate the expected learning for each year level or band.
In addition to the subject-specific achievement standards, new learning area achievement standards have been provided for Humanities and Social Sciences, The Arts and Technologies. The default view for Technologies and The Arts is the subject-specific achievement standard; to view the learning area achievement standard select the link at the end of the achievement standard. The default view for Humanities and Social Sciences is the learning area achievement standard; to view the subject-specific achievement standard select the link at the end of the achievement standard. State and territory school and curriculum authorities determine the reporting requirements for their schools and should be consulted about whether learning area or subject-specific achievement standards are to be used for reporting.
A sense of direction
In Year 6 the ACARA supports the Deepening of Knowledge
Lifelong Learning
Understanding and skills in all eight learning areas. The curriculum continues to prepare students for civic, social, and economic participation and personal health and well-being whilst providing increased opportunities for students to make choices and specialize in the learning of particular interest. The curriculum is designed to equip students for senior secondary schooling, including vocational pathways. As well as develops knowledge of the world of work and the importance of lifelong learning, capacities to manage careers, change, and transitions in an uncertain and changing future. Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, and interpersonal and communication skills are developed and applied to work and other diverse contexts, using appropriate behaviors and protocols.
For more information about ACARA
please visit https://www.acara.edu.au/home