Curriculum and Pathways

Our Curriculum is developmentally structured to meet the interests, capabilities, and passions of students as they progress through secondary school.

At Irene McCormack Catholic College, Religious Education is regarded as the first learning area, as outlined in the Bishop’s Mandate, and is studied by all students at the College.

As with every school in Western Australia, the College delivers the Western Australian Curriculum mandated by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority in years Seven to Ten. Adapted from the Australian Curriculum, the curriculum consists of the eight learning areas – English, Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Technologies and The Arts.

At Irene McCormack College, we are committed to ensuring that the context in which the curriculum is taught be both relevant to the lives of students and address the contemporary issues they face. With these considerations and the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration in mind, we ensure that the context in which learning takes place gives special attention to the cross-curricula priorities:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
• Sustainability.

We believe in future-focused, lifelong learning and as such ensure that the general capabilities are embedded into our approach to teaching. We are committed to ensuring students develop the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and dispositions that will assist them to live and work successfully in the twenty-first century. We believe that children require and are entitled to have a strong sense of identity and wellbeing, should feel connected with and be able to contribute to their world, feel confident and involved in their learning and be growing into effective communicators.

There are seven general capabilities:

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
• Critical and creative thinking
• Personal and social capability
• Ethical understanding
• Intercultural understanding.

In Years 11 and 12, students are supported to find the right pathway for them to ensure that upon completion of their educational journey at Irene McCormack College, they have the skills, knowledge, and qualifications to continue their journey to live a meaningful, selfless and spiritual life.  Whether their aim Is to Continue their study at University or TAFE, or to find meaningful employment, we have a variety of career and study pathways to meet the individual needs of each child.

Planning a learning pathway to your dream career can be a daunting prospect. Our expert Career Counsellor, VET Coordinator and leadership team can assist you to discover your talents and passions and map out the appropriate study plan.

Our staff can assist students with:

• Planning your career pathway
• Advice for subject selections
• Advice for career choices and goal setting
• Support to develop a resume
• Advice for interview skills
• Skill-based and Workplace learning
• TAFE and Registered Training Organisations

Irene McCormack Catholic College provides extensive choice and opportunities for students in courses leading to achievement of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), and entrance to TAFE and university, or for securing employment.

Our dynamic learning environment ensures students are offered a range of academic pathways tailored to help them achieve excellence at an individual level.

Direct entry through the study of courses that contribute to the achievement of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Each university sets a course entry rank in order to receive an offer for each course. This is seen as the fairest method for student comparison and, as a nationally recognised measure, it is used by many universities as the primary basis for admission. However, Universities may admit students based on other conditions which include prior study, portfolios and interviews.

This generally means that ATARs reflect supply and demand more than the intellectual capacity needed to study the course.

Uni Prep Schools provides an alternate pathway to university through Edith Cowan University. Edith Cowan University aims to enable students from all backgrounds to succeed in higher education and life-long learning. To support this commitment, UniPrep Schools has been approved by ECU’s Academic Board as a four-unit course, based on the existing UniPrep University program. UniPrep Schools will complement students’ senior school commitments by enhancing academic skills development, integrating university experiences, and providing accessible pathways to tertiary study. The program will also equip students with transferable career development skills and digital literacies. The teaching and learning content, digital learning technologies, and assessments are provided to students before the commencement of each unit through the ECU Online Learning Management System.

Students can now complete UniPrep Schools across Year 11 and Year 12 as part of the two-year UniPrep Schools pathway. This program is competitive and has prerequisites.

ViSN is an online learning system provided to students in Catholic schools. The program offers students the opportunity to undertake ATAR subjects not available at their own school. Students are required to work independently online and are assigned by a mentor teacher who both delivers the course and assesses and monitors the student’s progress. Support is available through the following means:

• ViSN Teacher – only a message, email, Teams Call or phone call away. The first point of call when a student needs help with their course.
• School-Based ViSN Mentor – available to help on a daily basis, during school hours. They will also ensure students are progressing as planned.
• Tech Support – the College has technology specialists who can help with ICT issues.
• Online Course Classmates – those doing the same online course can be a big help if students have a question or need to clarify something.
• Parents/Guardians – are a great support to help keep students on track at home.

Online learning is of particular benefit in transitioning to further study, especially university, where more and more courses are being delivered online due to:

• Timetable clash
• Course not available
• Elite athlete away for competitions
• Independent learner
• Health condition prevents regular attendance at school

At IMCC, we believe that students deserve an individualised approach to pathway planning. To support this, we offer access to a range of Vocational Education and Training opportunities. We offer a plethora of opportunities for students to develop industry specific kills and qualifications both on campus and externally at one of our many training provider partnerships. 

The College offers students the opportunity to complete nationally recognised certificate course in several modes:

• Students need to apply using the online application for these very competitive one- and two-year courses, usually around July each year. Students must meet minimum literacy and numeracy requirements to be eligible.
• Students receive offers later in the year, if successful.
• If successful, students will attend TAFE 1 or 2 days a week whilst still completing Year 11 and 12 school studies.

• There are a number of private Registered Training Organisations (RTO) providers that offer VET in School (VETis) programs that allow the student to complete senior school studies and attend a chosen course one day a week.
• Courses may be off-site, face to face in classes or online depending on the course and RTO.
• These courses incur tuition fees that are payable by families.

We believe that our students need a range of opportunities to future proof their pathways. For students to succeed in the ever-changing world of work, they need to be provided with the ability to develop key transferable skills, such as communication, negotiation, and collaboration and have to opportunity for career exploration.

• Students in Years 11 and 12 can access Workplace Learning. Once a week, students are engaged in a real-life work environment. Here, they develop transferable skills, gain real world experience in an industry of their interest, and develop important networks and connections. Workplace learning offers students a hands-on way to pursue their career exploration and can also be used toward graduation. Our Workplace learning program is overseen and directed by our VET coordinator who supports the students both in school and at the workplace. This program has enabled many students to gain direct employment after graduating from the College.

The Workplace Learning Program (WPL) at the College offers GENERAL students enrolled in Career and Enterprise General an opportunity to apply for the program through ONSITE, our third-party provider.

ONSITE is the schools’ industry based Vocational Education and Training third party partner who provide students with the opportunity to undertake industry-based work experience.

The College has developed a partnership with ONSITE, an industry specialist, to further extend the opportunities offered to students. ONSITE build partnerships with industry and training organisations to give students a competitive edge. Through ONSITE, students can access the Workplace Learning program and a selection of Certificate courses. Through the partnership with ONSITE, students gain supported and tailored workplace experience along with a variety of workplace skills.

The WPL program consists of two placements per year where students attend a chosen workplace one day per week for 10 weeks to gain a greater insight into interested industries, workplaces and/or occupations.

Students work in a wide variety of chosen industries including retail, hospitality, real estate, hairdressing, IT, childcare, education, aged care, automotive, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, plastering, painting, agriculture, healthcare to help develop core work skills and gain greater insight into the world of work.

ONSITE incurs a fee that is payable by families.

Extensive career information and advice is available on our Careers page by clicking button below.