Parramatta High School

Respect, Responsibility and Honesty

Telephone02 9635 8644

Emailparramatta-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Learning at our school

Find out more about what your child will learn at our school.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is responsible for the curriculum, Kindergarten to Year 12, for all NSW schools.

For the high school years, NESA develops syllabuses for all subjects in 8 key learning areas:

  • creative arts
  • English
  • human society and its environment (HSIE)
  • languages
  • mathematics
  • personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE)
  • science
  • technological and applied studies (TAS).

NSW schools also offer special religious education and special education in ethics via approved providers, where available.

Like all NSW schools, we have developed teaching and learning programs to suit our local context and the needs of our students.

To learn more about the curriculum in NSW, visit:

Stages of learning

There are 6 stages of learning from Kindergarten to Year 12. High school covers Stages 4 to 6.

  • Stage 4 includes Years 7 and 8.
  • Stage 5 includes Years 9 and 10.
  • Stage 6 includes Years 11 and 12.

Curriculum overview

Parramatta High School has an outstanding reputation for delivering quality education to all students. A broad range of subjects are offered to meet students' interests and aspirations.

Parramatta High School provides a comprehensive curriculum that caters to the interests of our students. We provide the unique opportunity to study a variety of languages from Years 7 to 12 including Chinese, Indonesian and French.

Our challenging and innovative programs for gifted and talented students are designed to extend and enrich their learning experience.

We offer excellent support programs for students with special needs. Our experienced learning support team develop individual programs for student improvement.

A highly effective careers program ensures that our students have the best possible access to further education, scholarships, early access schemes or full-time employment at the completion of their studies.

Year 7 and Year 8 subjects

  •  English
  •  Mathematics
  •  Science
  •  History
  •  Geography
  •  PDHPE (personal development, health and physical education)
  •  Sport
  •  Languages such as French and Indonesian
  •  Technology and Applied Studies
  •  Music
  •  Visual Arts.

Year 9 and Year 10 subjects

  •  English
  •  Mathematics
  •  Science
  •  History
  •  Geography
  •  PDHPE (personal development, health and physical education).

Students also make two elective subject choices.

Elective subjects

  •  Commerce
  •  Dance
  •  Design and Technology
  •  Drama
  •  Elective History
  •  Food Technology
  •  French
  •  Graphics Technology
  •  Industrial Technology
  •  Indonesian
  •  Information and Software Technology
  •  Music
  •  Physical Activity and Sport
  •  Textiles and Design
  •  Visual Arts.

Year 11 and Year 12 subjects

  • Ancient History
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese for background speakers
  • Community and Family Studies
  • Design and Technology
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Economics
  • Engineering Studies
  • English as a second language
  • English
  • French Continuers and Beginners
  • Geography
  • Hospitality Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Indonesian Continuers and Beginners
  • Industrial Technology
  • Information Processes and Technology
  • Information Technology Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Legal Studies
  • Mathematics*
  • Modern History*
  • Music
  • PDHPE (personal development, health and physical education)
  • Physics
  • Retail Services Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Society and Culture
  • Software and Design
  • Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation
  • Textiles and Design
  • Visual Arts.

*Extension courses available in these subjects

Further courses available include:

  • Saturday school of community languages
  • Traineeships
  • Opportunity to study at TAFE  (technical and further education).